with $100k coming in, swapping out of Reading

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

next stop after reading

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

$247

pricier each month than Reading

You'd pay for Albuquerque. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

1% more expensive than Reading(vs $1,478/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$236/mo more in state tax than Reading

vs 3.07% in Reading

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$247 less than Reading

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

04a house here

$351k

13% more expensive than Reading

vs $311k in Reading

05metro size

924k

vs 433k in Reading

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Reading only manages 157 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Reading's 2.

A real upgrade on things to do: 1.4× Reading's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

25% higher than Reading

vs 65/100 in Reading

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

11% higher than Reading

vs 85/100 in Reading

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

0% fewer than Reading

vs 0 nonstops in Reading

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