$100k a year, no longer in Orlando

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

from orlando

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

$43

more expensive each month than Orlando

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

23% cheaper than Orlando(vs $1,937/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$492/mo more in state tax than Orlando

vs 0% in Orlando

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$43 less than Orlando

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

04a house here

$351k

13% cheaper than Orlando

vs $402k in Orlando

05metro size

924k

vs 2.8M in Orlando

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Orlando has the edge here, logging 216 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Orlando's 10.

Lighter on events: Orlando packs 3.7× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

31% higher than Orlando

vs 62/100 in Orlando

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

3% lower than Orlando

vs 97/100 in Orlando

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

84% fewer than Orlando

vs 146 nonstops in Orlando

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