on $100k a year, leaving Portland

change
Albuquerque, NM cityscape

next stop after portland

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

in our guides

#1

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best mid-sized US cities

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable cities near national parks and wilderness

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for young professionals

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best affordable cities to live car-free

read the guide
#6

of 10

Most vibrant and affordable cities

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for families

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for families who love the outdoors

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for couples

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for work-life balance

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave New York for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best affordable cities in the Mountain West

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Boston for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Portland for

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave DC for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for creatives and artists

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities in the Southwest

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$930

lighter monthly cost than Portland

Move to Albuquerque and the monthly math gets easier. Portland's rent is the headline; Albuquerque's is a footnote.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

35% cheaper than Portland(vs $2,285/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$133/mo less in state tax than Portland

vs 7.5% in Portland

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$930 more than Portland

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

04a house here

$351k

35% cheaper than Portland

vs $543k in Portland

05metro size

924k

vs 566k in Portland

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Portland only logs 145 pleasant days. Summers run hot, though: 34 days above 95° vs Portland's 0.

1.4× the events of Portland, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

14% higher than Portland

vs 71/100 in Portland

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

4% lower than Portland

vs 98/100 in Portland

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

1050% more than Portland

vs 2 nonstops in Portland

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