dayblip

Raleigh vs Albuquerque

Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data

Compare a different city:

VS

QUICK ANSWER

Albuquerque is 11% cheaper than Raleigh overall.Raleigh has a cost of living index of 105 vs Albuquerque at 93 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing Raleigh costs 26% more.

Pierre
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Raleigh
NC
105
COLI index
VS
Albuquerque
NM
93
COLI index

Category Breakdown

CategoryRaleighAlbuquerqueDifference
Overall COLI10593-11%
Housing13298-26%
Groceries104101-3%
Transport107103-4%
Healthcare102101-1%
Utilities101100-1%

Median 1BR Rent

Raleigh
$1,600/mo
Albuquerque
$1,150/mo

Median Home Price

Raleigh
$390,000
Albuquerque
$270,000

Median Household Income

Raleigh
$72,428
Albuquerque
$52,338

Share Your Result

Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family

Frequently Asked Questions

Albuquerque is cheaper to live in overall. Raleigh has a cost of living index of 105 while Albuquerque has an index of 93, where 100 represents the US national average. Albuquerque is 11% cheaper than Raleigh overall.

The median 1-bedroom rent in Raleigh is $1,600 per month compared to $1,150 in Albuquerque. The median home price in Raleigh is $390,000 versus $270,000 in Albuquerque. Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities.

Raleigh has a cost of living index of 105 and Albuquerque has an index of 93, both measured against a US national average of 100. An index above 100 means more expensive than the national average — below 100 means cheaper.

To maintain the same purchasing power as a salary in Raleigh, multiply by 0.89. For example a $75,000 salary in Raleigh is equivalent to approximately $66,429 in Albuquerque.

Raleigh has a median household income of $72,428 per year versus $52,338 in Albuquerque. Higher incomes must be weighed against cost of living. Use the Dayblip salary tools to see specific job salaries in both cities.

Whether moving from Raleigh to Albuquerque is worthwhile depends on your salary, lifestyle, and priorities. Albuquerque is 11% cheaper overall — with the biggest difference in housing. Use the Dayblip cost of living calculator to enter your specific salary and see the exact dollar impact.

Last updated: June 2026

Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.