The city where you can find the famous Disneyland is a major tourist destination. Between the two cities, Anaheim is better than Albuquerque.
There may be setbacks like the cost of living, but Anaheim is generally better.
The weather is excellent. The crime rates are lower.
It is also about 25 miles away from LA, making it more exciting.
Here, I will give you a point-by-point comparison between the two cities.
Read on to find out why I choose Anaheim over Albuquerque.
List of Contents
What are the pros and cons of Albuquerque vs. Anaheim?
We all know Anaheim as a Disneyland city. It’s a place with a healthy economy and excellent weather. On the other hand, Albuquerque takes pride in its low cost of living and manageable crime rates.
Anaheim is famous worldwide as a tourist destination. But one thing I can assure you is that Anaheim is also a great place to live.
If you consider moving to Anaheim, you should know what makes Anaheim a great city.
The city is elegant and comes with beautiful sceneries.
The weather is excellent. The economy is healthy.
The city can also offer many outdoor activities.
Despite these downfalls, you will find Anaheim exciting.
Read on to find out.
Anaheim Living
You can love many things in Anaheim, from the weather to outdoor activities.
Pros
Here are the things I am sure you will like about Anaheim
- A Great Weather
- A Healthy Economy
- Outdoor Activities
If there is something consistent, you can trust South California to have great weather all year round.
The summers are sunny.
The winters are mild.
And the most important of all, gloomy days here are rare.
And Anaheim is right smack in the middle of everything.
When seasons change, the transition is always subtle. You would not even think about it until it has already changed.
The unemployment rate in California stands at 8%.
Anaheim has an unemployment rate of 6.4%. The numbers are much lower than the rest of the state.
It means that the city’s economy is doing great in general.
You know that the city depends mainly on tourism. But aside from the tourism industry, Anaheim also has oil, gas, and mining industries. The city also has manufacturing, agriculture, and trade.
What’s in it for you?
Well, for starters, there are many job opportunities for you.
And I think that is an essential aspect to consider.
There will never be dull moments here in Anaheim.
It is because there are many things to do here.
Disneyland, for starters, calls Anaheim home.
And millions of people come here to visit every year.
Aside from Disneyland, there are also other places to see.
Yorba Regional Park and Anaheim Garden Walk are two of the most popular.
The city of Anaheim also comes with two sports arenas. These are Angel Stadium and Honda Center.
Finally, take note that there are beaches nearby. You can always go there anytime you are free.
Cons
Not everything in Anaheim is rosy. It also has a few problems that its residents have to deal with.
Here they are.
- Cost of Living
- Tourist Dependent
- Crime Rates
- Overcrowded
Anaheim is an expensive city to live in.
The city’s cost of living alone is higher than California’s cost of living average. It is also costlier than the national average.
Houses here can reach up to almost US$800,000, which is slightly higher than the state average.
The city has only about 360,000 residents.
But every year, the city welcomes more than 25 million people from all corners of the globe. It only means that there are more tourists in the city than residents.
The dependency on tourists can pose a problem in some instances. Pandemics can affect the economy negatively.
Aside from the economic effects, it can also impact the environment.
The crime rates are never as alarming as their neighbors when you look at the data. But I would have to be honest.
The crime rates are still high.
Anaheim’s crime rates are higher than the national average, contributing significantly to property crimes.
However, it is interesting that violent crimes here are lower than the national average. It is still safe but certainly not the safest option around.
Orange County, where Anaheim is, is the sixth most populated county.
Add Anaheim, a tourist destination, to the equation, and we get more competition for almost anything. There is more demand for all things in Anaheim.
Aside from the demand, the overcrowding harms the traffic in Anaheim. The city is also car-dependent, and it does not help any bit.
If you are commuting, this is a problem you have to contend with regularly.
Albuquerque Living
Albuquerque is famous for its low cost of living. It is one of the most affordable cities in the US.
Aside from the cost of living, the city is also famous for its outdoor activities. The food here is fantastic as well.
Pros
Here are a few advantages of living in Albuquerque.
- Housing and Rent
- Amazing Food Choices
- Traffic
Housing and rental costs are more affordable in Albuquerque than in most cities in the US.
It is easier to find homes in the lower spectrum of the hundred thousand here. Homes here can cost you even as low as US$200,000. You will never see a dent in your wallet when you buy a home in Albuquerque.
Suffice to say, the cost of living in Albuquerque is generally lower. That means almost everything here is affordable.
Rental costs are unbelievably cheap here as well. You can easily find properties for rent for as low as US$800 per month.
Before moving to a city, it also helps explore your food options.
Of course, there are far more important considerations like the job market, crime rates, and the like. But food is another aspect you should look into.
Food in Albuquerque is on a higher notch than its neighbors.
If you love food, you will love Albuquerque too.
Here, you will have different options to choose from.
There are Chinese, Italian, and Spanish cuisines here. American food is, of course, available as well.
Contrary to most major cities, Albuquerque has manageable traffic.
Once in a while, you may stop at a traffic light. But nobody gets to spend 2 hours in their cars here because of heavy traffic.
Being late for a meeting due to heavy traffic is not common here.
Cons
Naturally, there are downsides to Albuquerque that you should know.
Here are a few of them.
- Not Enough Jobs
- The Weather
- Crime Rates
One of the downsides of living in Albuquerque is unemployment.
The jobs are not enough to cater to the city residents.
And for those working, the wages are not as competitive compared to its neighboring cities.
And having a job is essential.
It is also important to recognize that you have a healthy job market to lean on when you lose your job.
The unemployment rate in Albuquerque is much higher than the national average. It is advisable that you already have a job waiting before heading to Albuquerque.
The weather in Albuquerque is something that needs some getting used to.
The weather here is always too hot. If it is not too hot, it is too cold.
When it comes to the weather in Albuquerque, everything seems to border on the extremes.
And so, if extreme weather bothers you, you may want to reconsider your decision to move to Albuquerque.
How safe are you if you move to Albuquerque?
This question can make or break your stay in Albuquerque because it is always essential to check out a city’s crime rates before moving in.
How safe will you be?
Over the past few years, Albuquerque struggled with its crime rates. The spike in its numbers also worries most.
Suffice to say, most of the residents of Albuquerque do not feel as safe. And this is something you need to consider before moving.
Albuquerque or Anaheim – Which is cheaper?
When it comes to costs of living, Albuquerque is cheaper than Anaheim. Albuquerque is, in fact, one of the cheapest cities in the US and even in North America. From housing to food to utilities, everything is affordable here.
| Living Expenses | Albuquerque | Austin |
| Housing | 88 | 257.1 |
| Food & Groceries | 96 | 102.5 |
| Health | 81.1 | 95.9 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 97.4 |
| Transportation | 89.4 | 118 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
One of the most apparent differences between the two cities is the cost of housing and rent.
Albuquerque, as mentioned earlier, is cheaper than Anaheim. But the most shocking revelation here is the difference between the two cities.
Comparing housing and rental costs, Anaheim is 169.1% more expensive than Albuquerque. And that is a huge variance to think of.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is about 12% lower than the national average.
And that is impressive!
Utility Costs
In this aspect, Albuquerque is still more affordable than Anaheim.
However, the difference is a mere 0.2%. This variance is enough for one to say that when it comes to utility costs, both cities may be the same.
When we talk of utility costs, this should cover electricity, heating, garbage disposal, and the like.
And this is an essential aspect of your budget.
Albuquerque and Anaheim have utility costs lower than the national average at 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.
Food and Groceries
Now, this is a deal-breaker.
First off, Anaheim is higher than the national average for food and groceries. It is higher by 2.5%.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is lower than the national average by 4% in food and groceries.
It is safe to say that Albuquerque is winning over Anaheim in this aspect of the budget pie.
Most grocery items are cheaper in Albuquerque. There may be a few items like beer where Albuquerque is more expensive. Examples are beer and other alcoholic drinks.
But generally, you would save a lot of money on food and groceries when you choose Albuquerque.
Transportation Costs
The cost of transportation is where Anaheim again makes it above the national average.
In Anaheim, transportation cost is 18% more than the national average.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is 10.6% cheaper than the national average. And this is a glaring difference between the two cities.
Transportation cost is an essential aspect of your budget. How else are you going to work?
Healthcare
Albuquerque is still cheaper than Anaheim when it comes to the cost of healthcare.
That is an obvious fact.
Just look at the costs of medicines and professional doctor’s fees. You would highly likely spend less when in Albuquerque between the two cities.
Healthcare is an essential aspect of your budget.
Never take this aspect of your budget for granted.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Anaheim?
In terms of land area, Albuquerque is bigger than Anaheim. Albuquerque has a land area of 187.2 square miles. Anaheim’s land area is 50.3 square miles.
Albuquerque is also larger when it comes to population size.
The latest number for Albuquerque stands at 562,200 residents. On the other hand, Anaheim has a population of 349,000.
On the other hand, Albuquerque has a population density lower than Anaheim. The latter has about 6,949 people per square mile. This city is bigger compared to Albuquerque’s 3,002 per square mile.
Is Albuquerque safer than Anaheim?
In both cities, crime rates are high. But when you compare the two, the crime rates in Albuquerque are higher. In a nutshell, people in Anaheim feel safer than those in Albuquerque.
First of all, is the crime index.
Albuquerque’s crime index is much higher than Anaheim’s. Anaheim is at 46.76, while Albuquerque is at 70.66.
The numbers speak that people in Anaheim generally feel safer than those in Albuquerque.
Also, in the past three years, Anaheim saw an increase in crimes of about 59.72%. Albuquerque, however, saw a rise of 83.78%.
Most crimes in Anaheim are at moderate levels. But if there are crimes in high percentages, these are property crimes like vandalism and theft. Anaheim has its numbers sitting at 61.11%
I know this is a large percentage. But looking at Albuquerque, you could say that you will be safer in Anaheim. Albuquerque has a higher number which is 85.04%.
The same is true with other types of crimes. Anaheim has a generally lower crime rate compared to Albuquerque.
It is thus safe to declare that you will be safer in Anaheim.
Is Anaheim better than Albuquerque?
Anaheim is better than Albuquerque in many aspects. The most crucial factor to think of is the crime rates. Anaheim is safer than Albuquerque. It is near the beach and has excellent weather.
Choosing between the two cities is easy.
The best advice is to prioritize your safety, job, and the weather.
True, Anaheim may be more expensive than Albuquerque. But the compensation of jobs in Anaheim all makes up for the difference.
Plus, LA is more accessible when you are in Anaheim compared to when you are in Albuquerque.
Anaheim is better.
How about you?
Are you choosing Anaheim or Albuquerque?
Let me know in the comments below.