CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Albuquerque, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Abilene is moderately cheaper than Albuquerque — 5.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $84,500 in Albuquerque. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.9%
Abilene
73.8
Albuquerque
89.2
🛒 Groceries+2.5%
Abilene
93.8
Albuquerque
96.1
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Abilene
101.1
Albuquerque
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.4%
Abilene
91.4
Albuquerque
93.6
Utilities4.1%
Abilene
81.2
Albuquerque
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Albuquerque, NM
$84,500
$4,500 more needed in Albuquerque

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 1.0564. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Albuquerque, NM

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

Albuquerque has 20.9% higher housing costs compared to Abilene.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Albuquerque, NM

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.