on $100k a year, leaving Fayetteville

change
Albuquerque, NM cityscape

instead of fayetteville

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

$8

pricier each month than Fayetteville

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

7% cheaper than Fayetteville(vs $1,606/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$125/mo more in state tax than Fayetteville

vs 4.4% in Fayetteville

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$8 less than Fayetteville

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

04a house here

$351k

4% cheaper than Fayetteville

vs $367k in Fayetteville

05metro size

924k

vs 590k in Fayetteville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Fayetteville keeps to 170 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Fayetteville's 16.

A month here packs 5.3× the events of Fayetteville.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

27% higher than Fayetteville

vs 64/100 in Fayetteville

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

15% higher than Fayetteville

vs 82/100 in Fayetteville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

64% more than Fayetteville

vs 14 nonstops in Fayetteville

04 · see also

neighbors of albuquerque on the map of tradeoffs:

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