CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Scranton is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $78,400 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.9%
Albuquerque
89.2
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+4.8%
Albuquerque
96.1
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Albuquerque
103.5
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Albuquerque
93.6
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+36.7%
Albuquerque
77.9
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9801. 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×

Scranton, PA

Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
67
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Albuquerque has 24.9% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

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

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

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)

Scranton, PA
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.