$100k salary, packing up from Fayetteville

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out 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

$128

more each month than Fayetteville ran you

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 Fayetteville(vs $1,477/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$117/mo more in state tax than Fayetteville

vs 4.5% in Fayetteville

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$128 less than Fayetteville

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

04a house here

$351k

36% more expensive than Fayetteville

vs $258k in Fayetteville

05metro size

924k

vs 392k in Fayetteville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Fayetteville only manages 193 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Fayetteville's 14.

180% more happening than in Fayetteville.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

59% higher than Fayetteville

vs 51/100 in Fayetteville

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

24% higher than Fayetteville

vs 76/100 in Fayetteville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

475% more than Fayetteville

vs 4 nonstops in Fayetteville

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