CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
AZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Albuquerque is slightly cheaper than Tucson — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $81,200 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.9%
Albuquerque
89.2
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Albuquerque
96.1
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Albuquerque
103.5
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Albuquerque
93.6
Tucson
94.8
Utilities+14.9%
Albuquerque
77.9
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 1.0147. 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×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Tucson has 2.9% 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

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

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)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.