$100k a year, no longer in Boulder

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

instead of boulder

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

$602

cheaper each month than Boulder

Albuquerque is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

33% cheaper than Boulder(vs $2,216/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$125/mo more in state tax than Boulder

vs 4.4% in Boulder

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$602 more than Boulder

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

04a house here

$351k

55% cheaper than Boulder

vs $783k in Boulder

05metro size

924k

vs 327k in Boulder

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Boulder only manages 178 of those. Warm, not extreme: 34 days clear 95°, vs 13 back in Boulder.

A month here packs 7.0× the events of Boulder.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

3% higher than Boulder

vs 79/100 in Boulder

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

12% higher than Boulder

vs 84/100 in Boulder

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

86% fewer than Boulder

vs 169 nonstops in Boulder

04 · see also

same energy as albuquerque, different zip code:

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