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 city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, 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.
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
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).
Is Albuquerque cheaper than Kansas City?
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.
How much is rent in Albuquerque vs 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%.
Which has higher salaries — Albuquerque or Kansas City?
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.
Which city has better air quality?
Albuquerque, NM has better air quality on average: 28.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Albuquerque or Kansas City?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Kansas City to match my Albuquerque income?
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: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
