CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Albuquerque is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 11.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $89,400 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+46.0%
Albuquerque
89.2
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries+9.5%
Albuquerque
96.1
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.7%
Albuquerque
103.5
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.8%
Albuquerque
93.6
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities+94.2%
Albuquerque
77.9
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$89,400
$9,400 more needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 1.1173. 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×

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 46.0% higher housing costs compared to Albuquerque.

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

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

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)

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.