same $100k income, fresh start from Naples

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out of naples

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

$739

cheaper each month than Naples

Not a fortune, but real money. Albuquerque runs cheaper than Naples month over month.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

45% cheaper than Naples(vs $2,719/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$492/mo more in state tax than Naples

vs 0% in Naples

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$739 more than Naples

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

04a house here

$351k

48% cheaper than Naples

vs $679k in Naples

05metro size

924k

vs 404k in Naples

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Naples actually gets more: 261 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Naples's 0.

·outdoorscore

81/100

40% higher than Naples

vs 58/100 in Naples

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

16% higher than Naples

vs 81/100 in Naples

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

32% fewer than Naples

vs 34 nonstops in Naples

04 · see also

same energy as albuquerque, different zip code:

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