CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $77,800 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.6%
Albuquerque
89.2
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Albuquerque
96.1
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Albuquerque
103.5
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Albuquerque
93.6
Lexington
92
Utilities4.2%
Albuquerque
77.9
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$77,800
$2,200 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9728. 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×

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Albuquerque has 13.6% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

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

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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)

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.