on $100k a year, leaving Cincinnati

change
Albuquerque, NM cityscape

instead of cincinnati

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

$99

the monthly premium over Cincinnati

A small premium for Albuquerque. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

4% cheaper than Cincinnati(vs $1,549/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$159/mo more in state tax than Cincinnati

vs 3.99% in Cincinnati

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$99 less than Cincinnati

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

04a house here

$351k

11% more expensive than Cincinnati

vs $316k in Cincinnati

05metro size

924k

vs 2.3M in Cincinnati

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Cincinnati only manages 162 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Cincinnati's 3.

52% fewer events than Cincinnati. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

13% higher than Cincinnati

vs 72/100 in Cincinnati

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

2% lower than Cincinnati

vs 96/100 in Cincinnati

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

51% fewer than Cincinnati

vs 47 nonstops in Cincinnati

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as albuquerque:

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