same $100k income, fresh start from Detroit

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out of detroit

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

$154

pricier each month than Detroit

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

1% more expensive than Detroit(vs $1,472/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$137/mo more in state tax than Detroit

vs 4.25% in Detroit

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$154 less than Detroit

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

04a house here

$351k

34% more expensive than Detroit

vs $262k in Detroit

05metro size

924k

vs 4.3M in Detroit

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Detroit keeps to 160 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Detroit's 0.

Noticeably quieter than Detroit. About 53% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

72% higher than Detroit

vs 47/100 in Detroit

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

5% lower than Detroit

vs 99/100 in Detroit

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

83% fewer than Detroit

vs 135 nonstops in Detroit

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