on $100k a year, leaving Springfield

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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

swapping out of springfield

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

$349

below Springfield's monthly cost

Albuquerque gives you room Springfield doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

22% cheaper than Springfield(vs $1,913/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$75/mo more in state tax than Springfield

vs 5% in Springfield

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$349 more than Springfield

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

04a house here

$351k

6% cheaper than Springfield

vs $373k in Springfield

05metro size

924k

vs 460k in Springfield

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Springfield keeps to 147 pleasant days a year. Warm, not extreme: 34 days clear 95°, vs 1 back in Springfield.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 7.0× more on the calendar than Springfield.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

23% higher than Springfield

vs 66/100 in Springfield

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

8% higher than Springfield

vs 87/100 in Springfield

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

12% fewer than Springfield

vs 26 nonstops in Springfield

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