$100k a year, no longer in Duluth

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

from duluth

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

$233

less monthly outlay than Duluth

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

4% cheaper than Duluth(vs $1,559/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$163/mo less in state tax than Duluth

vs 7.85% in Duluth

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$233 more than Duluth

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

04a house here

$351k

39% more expensive than Duluth

vs $252k in Duluth

05metro size

924k

vs 282k in Duluth

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Duluth only manages 132 of those. Warm, not extreme: 34 days clear 95°, vs 0 back in Duluth.

A real upgrade on things to do: 1.4× Duluth's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

11% higher than Duluth

vs 73/100 in Duluth

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

203% higher than Duluth

vs 31/100 in Duluth

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

475% more than Duluth

vs 4 nonstops in Duluth

04 · see also

if albuquerque appeals, also worth a look:

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