Median rent is 62% lower in Albuquerque ($1,145/mo vs $2,997/mo). Buying is cheaper in Albuquerque, where the median home runs $291,500 versus $1,191,500. Households earn more in Irvine ($136,719 vs $68,317 a year).
City A
Albuquerque, NM
City B
Irvine, CA
How much would you need to earn in Irvine, CA to maintain your standard of living from Albuquerque, NM?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Albuquerque
New Mexico
Irvine
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Albuquerque — median rent of $1,145/mo versus $2,997/mo in Irvine, a 62% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Irvine: the median home is $1,191,500 versus $291,500 in Albuquerque — 76% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Albuquerque
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Irvine
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Albuquerque (avg AQI 28.0) but not yet for Irvine.
Pick Irvine if you prioritize higher median household income ($136,719/yr).
Pick Albuquerque if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,145/mo median).
Is Albuquerque cheaper than Irvine?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Albuquerque vs Irvine?
Median rent is $1,145/mo in Albuquerque, NM and $2,997/mo in Irvine, CA. Albuquerque, NM has the lower rent by about 62%.
Which has higher salaries — Albuquerque or Irvine?
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque, NM and $136,719 in Irvine, CA. Irvine, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Albuquerque or Irvine?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Irvine to match my Albuquerque income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
