on $100k a year, leaving Myrtle Beach

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out of myrtle beach

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

$288

under Myrtle Beach, every month

Albuquerque gives you room Myrtle Beach doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

14% cheaper than Myrtle Beach(vs $1,727/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$50/mo less in state tax than Myrtle Beach

vs 6.5% in Myrtle Beach

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$288 more than Myrtle Beach

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

04a house here

$351k

3% cheaper than Myrtle Beach

vs $361k in Myrtle Beach

05metro size

924k

vs 397k in Myrtle Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Myrtle Beach actually gets more: 249 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Myrtle Beach's 0.

83% more happening than in Myrtle Beach.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

40% higher than Myrtle Beach

vs 58/100 in Myrtle Beach

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

71% higher than Myrtle Beach

vs 55/100 in Myrtle Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

0% fewer than Myrtle Beach

vs 23 nonstops in Myrtle Beach

04 · see also

if albuquerque appeals, also worth a look:

compare albuquerque with: