Median rent is 8% lower in Albuquerque ($1,145/mo vs $1,238/mo). Buying is cheaper in Kansas City, where the median home runs $242,900 versus $291,500. Households earn more in Kansas City ($69,166 vs $68,317 a year). Taken together, Kansas City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 93.2 against 93.6 — about 0% lower overall prices.
City A
Albuquerque, NM
City B
Kansas City, MO
How much would you need to earn in Kansas City, MO to maintain your standard of living from Albuquerque, NM?
Equivalent salary in Kansas City, MO
$74,660
You could earn $340 less (0% lower) and break even.
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
Kansas City
Missouri
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
Median rent is modestly lower in Albuquerque at $1,145/mo compared to $1,238/mo in Kansas City (8% gap). Median home values are within 17% of each other: $291,500 in Albuquerque and $242,900 in Kansas City.
Metric
Albuquerque
Kansas City
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · 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
Kansas City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Albuquerque has cleaner air on average: 28.0 AQI (Good) compared to 57.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Albuquerque if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 28.0).
Kansas City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 93.2 versus 93.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Kansas City.
Median rent is $1,145/mo in Albuquerque, NM and $1,238/mo in Kansas City, MO. Albuquerque, NM has the lower rent by about 8%.
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque, NM and $69,166 in Kansas City, MO. Kansas City, MO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Albuquerque, NM has better air quality on average: 28.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM is equivalent to roughly $99,547 in Kansas City, MO (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
