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Albuquerque, NM cityscape

next stop after tampa

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

$16

lighter monthly cost than Tampa

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Albuquerque is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

25% cheaper than Tampa(vs $1,996/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$492/mo more in state tax than Tampa

vs 0% in Tampa

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$16 more than Tampa

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

04a house here

$351k

6% cheaper than Tampa

vs $374k in Tampa

05metro size

924k

vs 3.3M in Tampa

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Tampa has the edge here, logging 243 pleasant days a year. Summer is real but not punishing: 34 days top 95° vs Tampa's 3.

Things to do run about even with Tampa.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

31% higher than Tampa

vs 62/100 in Tampa

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

2% higher than Tampa

vs 92/100 in Tampa

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

66% fewer than Tampa

vs 68 nonstops in Tampa

04 · see also

if albuquerque appeals, also worth a look:

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