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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Albuquerque leads at an index of 85 with rent at just $1,457/month — 23% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
These cities are a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Albuquerque leads at an index of 85 with rent at just $1,457/month — 23% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Why Albuquerque ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 85 on the cost index, residents save roughly 26% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,457/month while the median household pulls in $65,604/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 85, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $338,329 — $129,041 below the national median.
Bottom line: Albuquerque, NM leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Albuquerque, NM — cost index 85, rent $1,457/mo, income $65,604
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AlbuquerqueNM | 85 | $1,457 | Details |
| 2 | AtlantaGA | 110 | $1,888 | Details |
560,274 residents · New Mexico
Albuquerque is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,457/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 85. Income sits at $65,604. Nothing too surprising there.
510,823 residents · Georgia
The #2 spot goes to Atlanta, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,888/month — saving renters $84 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 110. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Albuquerque (ranked #1) has a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,457/mo, while Atlanta (ranked #2) has a cost index of 110 and rent of $1,888/mo — a 25-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Albuquerque is $1,457/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $438 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Albuquerque is $338,329, which is 5.2× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.