
Albuquerque vs Tucson
$151/mo more in Tucson
AlbuquerqueTucsonAbout 370 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Tucson leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 286 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,507/mo in Tucson. $2,356/mo in Albuquerque. +$1,812 a year.
Albuquerque
$2,356
left each month
Tucson
$2,507
+$151 vs Albuquerque
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 191 households moved Albuquerque → Tucson (avg AGI $64,607). 170 went the other way. The whole move →
+$151 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Albuquerque | Tucson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,000 | $6,922 | −$78 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,615 | $1,496 | −$119 |
| Take-home pay | $5,385 | $5,426 | +$41 |
| Rent | $1,119 | $1,009 | −$110 |
| Getting around | $547 | $547 | $0 |
| Groceries | $376 | $376 | $0 |
| Healthcare | $423 | $423 | $0 |
| Utilities | $235 | $235 | $0 |
| Everything else | $329 | $329 | $0 |
| Left over | $2,356 | $2,507 | +$151 |
Salary to match Albuquerque
$80,500
Gross pay in Tucson that leaves the same amount as $84,000 in Albuquerque.
Tax difference
+$1,147
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 23.1% in Albuquerque, 21.6% in Tucson.
More about Tucson
Albuquerque, NM in full
High desert, 278 sunny days, and housing that's still cheap.
Tucson, AZ in full
Phoenix weather and hiking at a serious discount, on lower wages.
The other way
Start in Tucson.
Tucson → Albuquerque →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Tucson than Albuquerque?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Tucson leaves about $151 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,119 in Albuquerque and $1,009 in Tucson.
Does Tucson have state income tax?
Tucson is in Arizona, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Albuquerque to Tucson?
The paycheck is taxed in Arizona. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Albuquerque and Tucson changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.