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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Albuquerque at index 99 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Albuquerque at index 99 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Albuquerque (index 99, rent $1,457); Mesa (index 105, rent $1,554). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Why Albuquerque ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 13% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,457/month while the median household pulls in $65,604/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 91, though Healthcare (102) lags behind. Home prices average $338,329 — $129,041 below the national median.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Albuquerque, NM — cost index 99, rent $1,457/mo, income $65,604
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AlbuquerqueNM | 99 | $1,457 | Details |
| 2 | MesaAZ | 105 | $1,554 | Details |
560,274 residents · New Mexico
Albuquerque earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And for many people, the 99 cost index sits 13 points below the national baseline, and the $65,604 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $338,329 — $129,041 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 91, while Healthcare trails at 102.
511,648 residents · Arizona
Real talk: Mesa earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 105 cost index sits 7 points below the national baseline, and the $78,779 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $432,764 — $34,606 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 96, while Housing trails at 112.
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 99 and rent of $1,457/mo, while Mesa (ranked #2) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,554/mo — a 6-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.