CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is moderately cheaper than Albuquerque — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $74,500 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.8%
Albuquerque
89.2
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries2.2%
Albuquerque
96.1
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation4.8%
Albuquerque
103.5
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.8%
Albuquerque
93.6
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+13.6%
Albuquerque
77.9
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$74,500
$5,500 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9309. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Albuquerque has 25.8% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.