same $100k income, fresh start from Durham

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out of durham

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

$79

cheaper each month than Durham

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Albuquerque is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

12% cheaper than Durham(vs $1,684/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$117/mo more in state tax than Durham

vs 4.5% in Durham

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$79 more than Durham

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

04a house here

$351k

15% cheaper than Durham

vs $415k in Durham

05metro size

924k

vs 609k in Durham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Durham barely cracks 178 pleasant ones. Summers run hot, though: 34 days above 95° vs Durham's 19.

A similar weekend lineup to Durham.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

62% higher than Durham

vs 50/100 in Durham

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

18% higher than Durham

vs 80/100 in Durham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

41% fewer than Durham

vs 39 nonstops in Durham

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