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Can You Afford a 2-Bedroom in Albuquerque? The Salary Math.

A 2-bedroom in Albuquerque runs $1,464/month per HUD Fair Market Rents. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $6,685/year before taxes. The Albuquerque median wage of around $61,400 puts most workers in the stretch zone for a 2-bedroom.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $1,464/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$35,460$2,45559.6%Too much
Early career (25th pct.)$61,400$4,08635.8%Stretch
Median$61,400$4,08635.8%Stretch
Experienced (75th pct.)$74,530$4,80530.5%Stretch
Top earners (90th pct.)$99,690$6,17723.7%Comfortable

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25–30% | Stretch 30–40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 2-Bedroom in Albuquerque

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Education Administrators, All Other
$84,400/yr median
Web Developers
$76,870/yr median
Nurse Anesthetists
$219,420/yr median
Audiologists
$77,440/yr median
Real Estate Brokers
$77,940/yr median
Administrative Services Managers
$112,260/yr median
Nuclear Engineers
$142,640/yr median

Keep exploring Albuquerque

Top paying jobs in AlbuquerqueCost of living in AlbuquerqueCan you afford a 1-bedroom?Can you afford a 3-bedroom?

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 2-bedroom in Albuquerque?
You need roughly $6,685/year gross to keep a 2-bedroom at $1,464/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That assumes a 27% effective tax rate and single filing.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Albuquerque?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Albuquerque is $1,464/month (FY2025). FMRs set the baseline for affordable housing calculations and vary by metro area.
Is Albuquerque expensive for renters?
Albuquerque is close to the national average in cost. The RPP of 95.55 means prices are roughly in line with the U.S. average.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in Albuquerque?
The following occupations in Albuquerque have median salaries that keep 2-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Education Administrators, All Other, Web Developers, Nurse Anesthetists, Audiologists, Real Estate Brokers, Administrative Services Managers, Nuclear Engineers.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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