on $100k a year, leaving New York

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

if you left new york

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

$2,243

lighter monthly cost than New York

Albuquerque runs on a fraction of New York's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

55% cheaper than New York(vs $3,329/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$403/mo less in state tax than New York

vs 10.73% in New York

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$2,243 more than New York

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

04a house here

$351k

52% cheaper than New York

vs $739k in New York

05metro size

924k

vs 19.5M in New York

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

New York keeps to 171 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs New York's 1.

99% fewer events than New York. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

4% higher than New York

vs 78/100 in New York

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

6% lower than New York

vs 100/100 in New York

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

89% fewer than New York

vs 215 nonstops in New York

04 · see also

cities that play in albuquerque's register:

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