$100k a year, no longer in Lafayette

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

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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

$398

the monthly cost of moving past Lafayette

Albuquerque costs more than Lafayette, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

12% more expensive than Lafayette(vs $1,332/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$242/mo more in state tax than Lafayette

vs 3% in Lafayette

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$398 less than Lafayette

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

04a house here

$351k

76% more expensive than Lafayette

vs $200k in Lafayette

05metro size

924k

vs 414k in Lafayette

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Lafayette gets 211 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. Summers run hot, though: 34 days above 95° vs Lafayette's 7.

8.4× the events of Lafayette, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

88% higher than Lafayette

vs 43/100 in Lafayette

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

11% higher than Lafayette

vs 85/100 in Lafayette

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

667% more than Lafayette

vs 3 nonstops in Lafayette

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