Atlanta is a better place to live compared to Albuquerque. It lures millennials for its cost of living lower than the national average and a strong job market. Comparatively, ABQ will charm you with its great outdoors and stunning view of Mt. Sandia.
The city of Atlanta has a lot of things to brag about. It has world-class restaurants and excellent locales, including the Tony award-winning Alliance Theater. Also, the city is becoming the national center of commerce with lots of job opportunities.
Albuquerque, on the other side, is a gem of New Mexico. It is the most extensive metro city in the state that offers a panoramic view of the Sandia Mountains.
There are more things to learn about these two cities. Thus, let’s explore Atlanta and Albuquerque further in this city comparison.
List of Contents
What are the Pros and Cons of Atlanta vs. Albuquerque?
Living in Atlanta and Albuquerque has highs and lows. Atlanta has fun and exciting activities to enjoy but has a poor transit system. In comparison, ABQ is culturally rich but has a struggling economy.
Atlanta Living
Pros
- Strong job market
- Learning institutions
- Charming and diverse neighborhood
- More outdoor spaces to enjoy
- Festivals and other seasonal celebrations
- Nice mix of cultural diversity
People are lured towards this metro city in Georgia because of its thriving job market. It has a plethora of Fortune 500, 100, and 1000 companies spread throughout its territory. Big names like Delta Airlines, UPS, and Home Depot have headquarters in Atlanta.
Aside from commerce, the entertainment industry is also booming in Atlanta. The Turner Studios, Pinewood Atlanta Studios, and Screen Gems studios attract a skilled workforce. As a result, more jobs are available for the locals, too.
Other sectors like healthcare and education similarly provide jobs to the residents. Thus, when you move to the city, you will have a higher chance to get a job based on your skills.
Moving with your family to Atlanta means getting a quality education for your kids. Atlanta has 202 public elementary, middle, and high schools.
You can also choose from its 383 private schools, where some of them belong to the Best High School Ranking. Universities and colleges are also available in the city.
You will not have a hard time looking for the right neighborhood for your family to move to Atlanta. The city encompasses various communities that can cater to every family’s needs. You can choose the most popular areas like Grant Park, Inman Park, and Decatur.
Or choose the Midtown and Buckhead for young professionals. The Eastside and the Westside are great options giving you access to transportation. The Fairlie Poplar District is more historically and culturally inclined.
Green spaces and public parks are some of the best offerings in the city. There are 21 acres of green spaces in the city. Even though you are at the center of a metropolis, there are places to get some peace. It can also help if you take a stroll in the Centennial Olympic Park or the Chastain and Piedmont Park.
The people of Atlanta love to celebrate everything about life. There is plenty of festivals and music gatherings to look forward to every year. The arts and crafts fair, weekend farmer’s market, and culinary meetings exist.
Atlanta has one of the highest LGBT groups per capita.
There are various nationalities in the city showcasing their cultures and diversity.
Seeing people wearing hijab, pride colors, and other expressions is a way of life.
Cons
- Terrible traffic
- Owning a car is a must
Like other megacities in the US, Atlanta’s traffic congestion is overwhelming. The public transit system is poorly managed to result in additional commute time. It is a major letdown in the city.
Most residents own a car to lessen the inconvenience caused by the traffic. The city also has a poor walkability score.
The flawed transit system pushes commuters to own vehicles. It is better to go around the city by car than rely on the public transport system. If you have a family, getting a car is ideal.
Albuquerque Living
Pros
- Naturally beautiful with tons of recreational activities
- Culturally rich and proud of its indigenous heritage
- Greatly celebrated local art scene
- Amazing beer scene
- Everything is below average
ABQ is blessed by natural beauty wherever you go. It has a panoramic view of the Sandia Mountains plus its picturesque city landscapes. With its surrounding beauty, there are lots of things to do.
You can quickly head to the Cibola National Forest to hunt, fish, and horseback ride. Or visit the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge to see an extraordinary view of the Rio Grande River.
One thing the city always boasts about is its indigenous heritage. Among the cities in the US, ABQ has a higher percentage of residing Native Americans. Almost 5% of its population are Native Americans.
Twenty-three tribes live in the city, including Fort Sill Apache, Navajo, Jicarilla, and more. It is an excellent place if you want to immerse yourself in the country’s indigenous heritage.
ABQ is not only culturally enriched. It is also a place to express your creativity and artistry. The city celebrates local talent through exhibitions, events, and workshops.
The 516 Arts Gallery, for instance, is the perfect venue to showcase modern art and talents. You have the creative space to show your work, pop art, and artistic skills.
The preservation of Hispanic culture and art is also evident in the city. The National Hispanic Cultural Center gives importance to the old Spanish culture and art of the city.
If there’s a place to appreciate a local beer scene, ABQ will be at the top of the list. The city has tons of breweries that offer crafted beers and cool taprooms. Some of them would even provide brewery tours like the Wildflower Wheat.
The La Cumbre Brewing, on the one hand, earned the spot to have the best beer in the city. Other breweries you can visit are the Nexus Brewery & Restaurant or the Tractor Brewing Co.
Living in ABQ can save you a lot of money, especially when coming from a major city in the United States. The living cost is below average, from housing expenses to healthcare. You can already have a comfortable life without spending too much.
Cons
- High crime rate
- Education system
Albuquerque has a reputation of having a higher crime rate compared to other cities in the US. The rate is twice the national average. When you choose to live here, you should select safer neighborhoods.
Vista del Mundo, Heritage East, Tanoan East are some of the safest areas in the city. They enjoy 24/7 security patrol.
The city’s public school is not the best in the country. It is at the lowest-ranking city in the US for child learning. 1 out of 5 New Mexicans barely reads a book meant for grade school needs. The city needs a significant improvement in terms of its education system, too.
Atlanta vs. Albuquerque – Which is cheaper?
Atlanta is cheaper than Albuquerque in terms of cost of living. The housing cost in Atlanta is 27.3% more expensive than ABQ. You need $259,000 to buy a house in Atlanta, while only $203,500 in ABQ.
| Living expenses | Atlanta | Albuquerque |
| Housing | 112% | 88% |
| Food & Groceries | 98.8% | 96% |
| Health | 91.8% | 81.1% |
| Utilities | 103.6% | 97.2% |
| Transportation | 122.7% | 89.4% |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more expensive than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
- Housing cost
- Utility cost
- Food & Groceries cost
- Transportation cost
- Health care cost
Housing costs in both cities are below the national average. But it is more expensive to buy a property in Atlanta than ABQ. The rate can range from $250,000 and up.
The elite neighborhoods like Kingswood and Tuxedo Park in Atlanta even have rates of up to $2M.
Utility post is also more expensive in Atlanta than ABQ. The average phone bill is $180.74, $123.80 for electricity, and $70.39 for water. Compared to ABQ with $142.85 energy and $152.27 phone bill.
Food cost is comparable with only a 2% price gap – Atlanta being slightly expensive. Basic groceries like milk, eggs, bread, and potatoes will not cost you more than $3.
Transportation cost is also higher in Atlanta than in ABQ. Atlanta is notoriously known for heavy traffic, and it would cost you more for gas when in the city.
With an average drive of 26 minutes, spending on gas is $2.64 per gallon. It can go up depending on your driving distance, too.
Health is 10% costlier in Atlanta than in Albuquerque. Visiting a doctor for a minor consultation will cost $119 while $108.83 in ABQ. The cost of medicine is also more expensive in Atlanta.
Is Atlanta bigger than Albuquerque?
Albuquerque is bigger than Atlanta by land area and population. ABQ has a total area of 189.5 square miles, while Atlanta has 134.0 square miles.
ABQ has four main quadrants that encompass the city’s suburbs and neighborhoods.
It has Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest.
These quadrants have respective transit lines. North-south has Route 66 while East-West has Rail Runner.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has 242 neighborhoods surrounding the entire city. They can range from high-rise districts down to high-density communities. Most neighborhoods in high-density areas have middle-income earners.
Is Atlanta safer than Albuquerque?
Albuquerque is safe than Atlanta in terms of violent crime recorded. Atlanta even ranked 5th among the cities in the US, with the highest crime rate following NYC and Chicago.
Factors like population density, urbanization, and economic conditions affect the rate of crime. Still, there are efforts from the city government to reduce the crime rate in Atlanta. Based on the recent survey, public safety in the city drastically improved.
In comparison, Albuquerque also suffers from a high level of violent crime. Most of those recorded are substance-related violence. Some residents in the city have a history of drug abuse.
Is Albuquerque warmer than Atlanta?
Albuquerque is warmer than Atlanta due to its semi-desert, warm temperate climate. The highest temp can go as high as 100 °F in ABQ while only 90 °F in Atlanta.
Nevertheless, Atlanta or Hotlanta is one of the cities in the US that suffer extreme urban heat. The weather in this city is scorching in the summer.
The summers in the city are hot due to the increased humidity level.
For ABQ, it is normal to have warm weather because of its geographic location.
Residents typically have air conditioners because of the level of temperature.
Is Atlanta better than Albuquerque?
Atlanta is better than Albuquerque for several reasons. Compared to ABQ, it is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States. It is the best place to seek employment and exhibits steady economic growth.
It is easier to move to a city with growth and a high employment rate.
The city is not only ideal for families but retirees and young professionals.
Families with kids would also love relocating to the city for its education system and diverse neighborhoods.
Are you considering moving to Atlanta or Albuquerque? Let me know your thoughts and concerns below.