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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

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Albuquerque

nm · metro 924k

photo: Lad Fury / pexels

a dispatch from

albuquerque

NM

35.08°N

106.65°W

Albuquerque is green chile on everything, the Sandia Mountains turning pink at sunset (the name literally means watermelon), and the Balloon Fiesta in October when 500+ hot air balloons fill the sky. The old town adobes feel like the 1700s, the food fuses Native, Mexican, and Spanish in ways you won't get anywhere else. Breaking Bad fans will recognize half the city, and locals are good-natured about it.

metro924k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$157

more expensive each month than Birmingham

Albuquerque edges out a little pricier. Close enough that the decision rides on the days, not the dollars.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

6% more expensive than Birmingham(vs $1,407/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$75/mo more in state tax than Birmingham

vs 5% in Birmingham

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$157 less than Birmingham

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$351k

35% more expensive than Birmingham

vs $261k in Birmingham

05metro size

924k

vs 1.2M in Birmingham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Birmingham keeps to 171 pleasant days a year.

Lighter on events: Birmingham packs 2.1× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

33% higher than Birmingham

vs 61/100 in Birmingham

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

19% higher than Birmingham

vs 79/100 in Birmingham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

15% more than Birmingham

vs 20 nonstops in Birmingham

04 · see also

neighbors of albuquerque on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

spartanburg

$5/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

greenville

more things to do

turn the page

see also

spokane

$460/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare albuquerque with:

SpartanburgGreenvilleSpokane