Compared to Albuquerque, Bakersfield in California is way better. There are many advantages. One is that Bakersfield has high-quality public schools. The city is also promising when it comes to job opportunities. And it’s near LA!
Albuquerque, on the other hand, is generally cheaper than Bakersfield. But the city is famous for its spike in crime rates over the past few years. It is also not as promising when it comes to providing jobs to its citizens.
The problem with the job market, plus the low wages Albuquerque provides to its citizens, could perhaps be the reason why the crime rate is higher than most major cities in the US.
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What are the pros and cons of Albuquerque vs. Bakersfield?
For starters, you have a lot of activities that you can do in Bakersfield. It is affordable, has good public schools, and has a healthy job market. Crimes in both cities are high, but it is higher in Albuquerque.
If there is one thing about Albuquerque, it is its affordability. The city is one of the most affordable cities in the US (and even North America).
Bakersfield Living
There are many considerations to think of before moving to Bakersfield. The job market is healthy, but the crimes are steadily increasing. You may have a lot of options for outdoor activities, but the weather here is hot.
Be in the know about Bakersfield.
Pros
Here are the positive sides of Bakersfield.
- Outdoor and Indoor Activities
If there is one thing about Bakersfield and the rest of California, you will never get bored here.
Bakersfield has a wide array of outdoor and indoor activities for you and your family. And yes, you will surely be busy here.
For example, Hart Memorial Park is a place that deserves mention. You can also go to the California Living Museum or even the Fox Theater.
Whether it is music, museums, or outdoor activities like swimming or hiking, you can get it here.
- A Healthy Job Market
Aside from the indoor and outdoor activities, Bakersfield has another critical advantage. And that is that the city presents its residents with many fantastic opportunities.
Recently, the city saw an increase of about 10.6% in job growth. And the numbers are not going down anytime soon.
The city is home to some of the country’s large companies. Giants like Amazon, Esparza Enterprises, and Allied Universal have headquarters here.
And so, whether you are a young professional or somebody just looking into shifting careers, Bakersfield is a great choice.
- Affordable
Surprised?
But yes. Bakersfield is one affordable city. It may not be the cheapest city, but it is not that bad, especially when you put it side by side along LA and San Francisco.
Housing costs here, for example, are about 11% lower than the rest of the country. And when it comes to costs, you know for a fact that housing and rent is significant contributor.
The same is true with other aspects of your budget like food and utilities. They are pretty much more affordable than most cities.
- Decent Public Schools
Bakersfield has a lot of high-quality public schools to offer its residents.
The city has about 33 elementary schools and eight middle and high schools. And these numbers matter, especially if you transfer to the town with your kids.
Cons
Bakersfield is not all about the advantages. Let us see what the other side of the coin has to tell us.
- Increasing Crime Rates
- Nature and its Disasters
- Pollution
This aspect is the most crucial downfall that you have to know.
Bakersfield has an increasing crime rate.
As of this writing, its crime rate is higher than the national average, highlighting property crimes.
Whatever the reason is, this is something you should know. Bakersfield has a crime rate higher than the national average.
Now, this is important.
Did you know that in Bakersfield, natural disasters are common?
One such example is wildfires.
Bakersfield has a climate similar to a desert. And this is a perfect opportunity for wildfires to start.
And this is something you need to consider before moving here.
First of all, did you know that Bakersfield is an oil-producing city?
It means that the pollution here is something that is out of bounds.
And pollution, in many ways, harms the quality of the air you breathe. Hence, fresh air might not be easy to find here.
Albuquerque Living
One of the many things Albuquerque is famous for is its cost of living. It is more affordable than most cities in the country and North America. Aside from the cost of living, there are a lot of indoor and outdoor activities that you can do here.
Pros
Let us talk more about what makes Albuquerque attractive.
As mentioned earlier, the cost of living here is cheap.
It is true to almost everything in the city. But if there is one thing worth mentioning, it is the city’s housing costs.
The housing and rental costs are way below the national average, for starters.
Homes in Albuquerque can be cheaper than US$200,000. And they are already decent properties you can own.
Not only that, but the rental costs here are also affordable. Rent here can cost you around US$800 per month.
Now, that is cheap!
Before moving to another city, I always make it a point to check out food options.
Like, you cannot just move to a city and eat fast food all year round, right?
If you adore food, Albuquerque is a great choice.
The city has a wide variety of food options to choose from. You can have food here with Chinese, Spanish, or American influences. And they are all delicious.
Albuquerque is a melting pot of different cultures. And this is the reason why food here is as varied as anyone would want them to be.
For a big city, Albuquerque has decent road situations.
Like, if you are from New York or LA, you would thank the traffic gods for something so manageable.
You can experience getting stuck in traffic. But you will not be staying that long in the streets.
Being late for work because of traffic is unheard of here.
Cons
Now, here are a few downsides you need to know.
- The Scarcity of Jobs
- Bad Weather
- Crime Rates
Before you move to Albuquerque, make sure to have a job waiting for you here.
The unemployment rate is at around 6% per annum. And that is worrying!
There are years that the numbers even get worse.
Before you move here, find a job.
Do you like mild weather? If so, Albuquerque is not for you.
Here, the weather gets extreme all year round.
Either the weather is too hot, or it can be too cold. There is nothing in between!
Temperatures here can reach the 80s from June to September. And when you thought you would love the cold, the temperatures drop to their coldest around winter.
One crucial aspect of Albuquerque is that it struggles with its crime rates.
It could be due to concerns related to generational poverty. With the city not providing enough jobs, poverty tends to be higher.
And with the increasing number of people living under the poverty line, the crimes also increase.
Over the past few years, Albuquerque saw a spike in crimes. And this should be something you need to consider.
Albuquerque or Bakersfield – Which is cheaper?
When it comes to costs of living, Albuquerque is cheaper than Bakersfield. 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 | Bakersfield | Albuquerque |
| Housing | 105 | 88 |
| Food & Groceries | 99 | 96 |
| Health | 88.8 | 81.1 |
| Utilities | 111.7 | 97.2 |
| Transportation | 103.6 | 89.4 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
Perhaps one of the most critical parts of your budgeting should be housing and rental.
It is the most essential, especially when moving to a new city.
Between the two cities, Albuquerque is the cheaper option.
Here, you can rent a 900-square foot apartment for about US$1,500 per month. In Bakersfield, the same property can cost you nearly US$2,000 per month.
Albuquerque is 12% cheaper than the national average when it comes to housing and rental costs.
On the other hand, Bakersfield is 5% higher than the national average.
Utility Costs
Utility costs are also way cheaper in Albuquerque compared to Bakersfield.
For instance, consider the usual bills – for electricity, heating system, and garbage disposal.
In Albuquerque, utility bills average around US$144 per month. In Bakersfield, it can go up to as much as US$160 monthly.
Of course, your costs would vary depending on how much electricity you use. But Bakersfield is 11.7% higher than the national average for overall utility costs. On the other hand, Albuquerque is 2.8% cheaper than the US national average.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries are deal-breakers when it comes to the cost of living.
Both cities sit below the national average when it comes to this aspect. Suffice to say; both cities are cheaper than most cities in the US when it comes to food and groceries.
However, between the two cities, Albuquerque is cheaper by 3%.
Bakersfield is 1% cheaper than the national average. Albuquerque is 4% more affordable.
Most grocery items are cheaper in Albuquerque. However, it is interesting to note that chicken is much more affordable in Bakersfield by a few cents.
There is not much difference in the cost of food and groceries between the two cities for whatever it’s worth.
If there is such a difference, the variance would not be too significant for you to notice.
Transportation
Transportation Costs
In this part of your budget pie, Bakersfield is losing.
Bakersfield is higher than the national average by 3.6%. On the other hand, Albuquerque is 10.6% cheaper than the rest of the US.
One liter of gas, for example, is just US$0.67 in Albuquerque. In Bakersfield, it can go up to as much as US$1 per liter.
It should also follow that all other modes of transportation are more expensive in Bakersfield. A monthly pass for public transport costs US$41 in Bakersfield; US$11 is more costly than Albuquerque’s US$30-per month pass.
When moving to Bakersfield, living near your home would be an advantage. Otherwise, the transportation costs can put a dent in your wallet.
Healthcare
When it comes to healthcare costs, Albuquerque is cheaper than Bakersfield.
It is evident, especially in the costs of medicines. Professional doctor’s fees are also more affordable in Albuquerque.
For starters, medicines for colds that should be good enough for six days cost around US$9 in Bakersfield. The exact amount of drugs only cost around US$6 in Albuquerque.
Even professional fees differ in massive amounts between the two cities.
A 5-minute doctor’s consultation in Bakersfield can cost you around US$120. In Albuquerque, the same services cost only US$87.
The differences are glaring.
And if you feel that the cost of healthcare takes up a considerable slice of your budget, take note of these numbers.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Bakersfield?
In terms of land area, Albuquerque is bigger than Bakersfield. Albuquerque has a land area of 187.2 square miles. Bakersfield’s land area is 142.2. Square miles.
Albuquerque is also more significant when it comes to population size.
The latest number for Albuquerque stands at 562,200 residents. On the other hand, Bakersfield has a population of 403,400.
Albuquerque also has a population density higher than Bakersfield. The latter only has 2,598 people per square mile. It is lower compared to Albuquerque’s 3,002 per square mile.
Is Albuquerque safer than Bakersfield?
Bakersfield is safer than Albuquerque. Both cities have problems when it comes to their respective crime rates. But Albuquerque’s crime rates are much higher than Bakersfield’s.
Let us start with the crime index.
Albuquerque has a crime index of 70.66. It is higher than the crime index in Bakersfield, which only sits at 57.14.
What does this mean?
The numbers only point out that Bakersfield is much safer than Albuquerque overall.
During the past three years, Bakersfield saw a 69.44%-increase in its crimes. Although high, Albuquerque’s increase is higher at 83.78%.
Most of the crimes in Bakersfield are at moderate levels. However, only one type of crime sits high in numbers. This type of crime relates to the city’s problems with drugs.
As of this writing, Bakersfield sits at 83.65 for problems with people using and dealing with drugs. Although this is already high, Albuquerque’s number is again higher at 85.04.
Property crimes like vandalism and theft are also rampant in Bakersfield at 70.37. In Albuquerque, it is 85.88.
To summarize, both cities have concerns with their respective crime rates. But comparing the two, you would be safer in Bakersfield.
And that, in itself, is already a great advantage.
Is Bakersfield better than Albuquerque?
Bakersfield is better than Albuquerque in many respects. The job market is healthier here. You would also be able to find suitable schools for your kids if you want them to tag along. Most important of all, the crime rates are lower.
Choosing between the two would not be complicated.
One of the primary considerations is your safety. How are you from falling victim to crimes? How safe is the job that sustains you?
Bakersfield offers you an environment safer than Albuquerque.
As you already know, Albuquerque has a crime rate higher than Bakersfield. And this is a big deal.
Albuquerque may be cheaper than Bakersfield. But Bakersfield is not all that bad. In some aspects, it is more affordable than the national average, which is a good thing.
Finally, the public schools here are top-notch.
The wages and the job market are also competitive here.
What more could you ask?
Are you choosing Bakersfield or Albuquerque?
Let me know.