Albany Jefferson City

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 87.7 → 88.0
Rent Delta: -$87/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $87/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Albany to Jefferson City shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 87.7 to 88.0 (100 = US average), so a Albany salary needs to be multiplied by 1.00 to hold the same purchasing power in Jefferson City. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,129/month in Albany to $1,042/month in Jefferson City - a lower monthly bill of $87, or $1,044/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $58,830 in Albany versus $59,255 in Jefferson City - a raw gap of $425 higher. The Jefferson City labor market has 71,510 tracked jobs against 49,030 in Albany, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Albany and Jefferson City are 300 and 463 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 12.8:1 at destination. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Albany
Jefferson City
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 87.7
RPP 88.0
Albany
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,129/mo
$1,042/mo
Jefferson City
💼 Wages
$58,830
$59,255
Jefferson City
🔒 Crime
300 per 100K
463 per 100K
Albany
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
12.8:1
Jefferson City
👶 Childcare
$6,591/yr
N/A
Tie
🌿 Environment
2663 violations
6246 violations
Albany

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albany to see what you'd need to earn in Jefferson City to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Jefferson City
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jefferson City more expensive than Albany?
Jefferson City has an RPP of 88.0 compared to Albany's 87.7 (100 = national average). Jefferson City is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Jefferson City is $1,042/mo vs $1,129/mo in Albany.
What are salaries like in Jefferson City compared to Albany?
The median salary in Jefferson City is $59,255 compared to $58,830 in Albany. That's a +$425 difference.
Is Jefferson City safer than Albany?
The violent crime rate near Jefferson City is 463 per 100K vs 300 per 100K near Albany (state-level data). Albany has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Jefferson City to match my Albany salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Albany salary by 1.00. For example, a $75,000 salary in Albany would need to be $75,262 in Jefferson City. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)