CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Columbia, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Columbia is moderately cheaper than Albuquerque — 6.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $74,900 in Columbia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing22.4%
Albuquerque
89.2
Columbia
69.2
🛒 Groceries2.0%
Albuquerque
96.1
Columbia
94.2
🚗 Transportation5.6%
Albuquerque
103.5
Columbia
97.7
🏥 Healthcare5.6%
Albuquerque
93.6
Columbia
88.4
Utilities+10.4%
Albuquerque
77.9
Columbia
86

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Columbia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Columbia, MO
$74,900
$5,100 less needed in Columbia

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9361. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Albuquerque has 22.4% lower housing costs compared to Columbia.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.