with $100k coming in, swapping out of Philadelphia

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out of philadelphia

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

$457

cheaper each month than Philadelphia

You'd feel the difference in Albuquerque. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Philadelphia.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

20% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$77/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$457 more than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$351k

11% cheaper than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

924k

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Philadelphia only logs 173 pleasant days. Summers run hot, though: 34 days above 95° vs Philadelphia's 2.

Noticeably quieter than Philadelphia. About 77% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

17% higher than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

6% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

81% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as albuquerque:

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