on $100k a year, leaving Albuquerque
changea dispatch from
fort collins
CO
40.59°N
105.08°W
Fort Collins is the home of New Belgium Brewing (Fat Tire's origin) and a thriving craft beer scene with more breweries than Boulder. Old Town's brick streets and historic storefronts are charming enough that they're said to have influenced Disney's Main Street USA designers. CSU keeps the energy young. The foothills rise right outside town, and Rocky Mountain National Park is an hour away. Quieter than Boulder, less expensive.
the verdict
the monthly premium over Albuquerque
Fort Collins costs more than Albuquerque, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
a quick ledger.
$1,971/mo
32% more expensive than Albuquerque(vs $1,489/mo)
4.4%
$125/mo less in state tax than Albuquerque
vs 5.9% in Albuquerque
$5,996/mo
$357 less than Albuquerque
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$572k
63% more expensive than Albuquerque
vs $351k in Albuquerque
371k
vs 924k in Albuquerque
field notes, weather & such.
177
pleasant days a year, in fort collins.
Albuquerque gets 205 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. A real winter, not a brutal one: 44 days under 20°, vs 6 in Albuquerque.
Lighter on events: Albuquerque packs 42.0× more into a month.
69/100
15% lower than Albuquerque
vs 81/100 in Albuquerque
Closest outdoor draw: Rocky Mountain National Park, 31.3 mi.
86/100
9% lower than Albuquerque
vs 94/100 in Albuquerque
169
635% more than Albuquerque
vs 23 nonstops in Albuquerque
in the same ballpark as fort collins:
