When you compare Albuquerque with Buffalo, Albuquerque is better. Buffalo is more livable than Albuquerque. But Albuquerque is cheaper. Also, both cities have high unemployment rates, but Buffalo’s is higher.
Both cities have a low cost of living compared to other major cities in the US. Both cities also have high crime rates compared to the rest of the country.
But when comparing these two cities, Albuquerque would win by a small margin.
Here, I will tell you all about the pros and cons of living in each of the two cities. I will discuss costs, crimes, and a lot more.
Why did I choose Albuquerque over Buffalo?
Here, I will tell you why.
List of Contents
What are the pros and cons of Albuquerque vs. Buffalo?
Buffalo is more livable than Albuquerque. But the downfall of Buffalo is its unemployment rate which is higher than Albuquerque’s so is the cost of living.
One crucial factor you should consider when moving to Buffalo is education and the weather.
The quality of education here is competitive.
Pair that with an affordable cost of living, and you have a nice-enough city to choose from.
Both cities, as I mentioned earlier, have high crime rates. But the crime rates in Albuquerque are higher than in Buffalo.
Let us discuss more on these matters.
Buffalo Living
There are many considerations to look at your move to Buffalo.
Here, you will have great weather. Winters may be harsh, but it is something that Buffalo is always prepared for.
Pros
Here are the things I am sure you will like about Buffalo.
- A Livable City
- Affordable
- The Quality of Education
- The Weather
Overall, Buffalo is a livable city.
When you look at the data, you will find that most of its residents live better than those in other cities.
The data considered different factors like quality of education, crime, and cost of living. It also finds the happiness level of the residents.
Such numbers point out that the residents of Buffalo are happier.
Yes, there may be people living below the poverty line. But those that live above this line live a life of happiness and satisfaction.
One of the most critical factors is the overall cost when considering a new place.
The cost of living is an essential element that makes or breaks a city.
Buffalo is an affordable city. Its cost of living is below the national average. And this only means that living in Buffalo is cheaper than in other cities in the US.
The overall average housing and rental costs, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and groceries are more affordable.
The overall quality of education in Buffalo is commendable. Educational institutions here rank high on the national and statewide levels.
Compared to other cities, there are better schools in Buffalo.
The graduation and enrolment rates are also high. The city maintains a healthy teacher-to-student ratio.
Such quality of education catapulted the city into higher rankings. The town is most preferred, especially to families with kids.
You may know Buffalo for its freezing winters.
No, I will not deny that.
But aside from its winters, Buffalo has warm summers and mild springs. The autumns in Buffalo are colorful.
Winters can be cold in the city. And you may think that snowfall can be a hassle.
But not, it is not.
The city of Buffalo has the equipment and workforce to handle everything that winter brings.
When snowfall cripples other cities, it cannot do that with Buffalo.
Cons
Now, let us check out the other side of the coin.
What are the things you should look out for when in Buffalo?
Here they are.
- Crimes
- The Poverty Rate
- Albuquerque Living
The crime rates in Buffalo are higher than in other cities in the country.
Every day, about half of the city residents think and worry about crime—half of the population worries about their safety every day.
If you want to relocate here, you should think about it.
The poverty rate in Buffalo is at 24.6%.
This number only means that almost a quarter of the residents of Buffalo are living below the poverty line.
Compared to other cities in the US, the percentage is high.
The national average poverty rate in the US runs at around 10 to 13%.
The Job Market
Before you move to a new place, it is always essential to peek at how healthy the job market is.
In Buffalo, the unemployment rate soared to a little more than 9%
When you say Albuquerque, one thing always comes to mind – the cost of living.
Albuquerque is more affordable than most cities and even North America.
Aside from the lower cost of living, Albuquerque presents its residents with many indoor and outdoor activities.
Pros
Here are a few significant factors that could make you love Albuquerque.
- Housing and Rent
- A Culinary Experience
- Traffic
An undeniable advantage of living in Albuquerque is its housing and rental costs.
Here, this part of your budget will never put a dent in your wallet.
If you look at the numbers, almost everything in Albuquerque is cheap, especially rent.
Did you know that housing and rental costs here are below the national average?
In this city, you can find decent homes at less than US$200,000. And these homes are already of good quality.
When it comes to rental costs, Albuquerque is also affordable.
Here, you can rent properties for as low as US$800 per month.
Now, that is what I call cheap.
What makes me want to move to a city?
Well, aside from the city being livable – low crime, healthy job market, affordability – it is always the food.
When it comes to food, Albuquerque is on another level.
Albuquerque is a perfect place for you if you love food as much as I do.
Here, you have many choices.
From Chinese, Spanish, and Italian to, of course, American food. You can all have them here.
The city has a diverse mix of cultures. And this is one of the reasons why the food here is fantastic.
If you hail from New York or LA, I am sure you would love the traffic here in Albuquerque.
For a major city in New Mexico, the traffic is manageable. And that is not bad at all!
Yes, you may stop at a traffic light. Yes, you can experience getting stuck in traffic. But you will not be staying in the streets for hours.
Is rushing to work in the mornings a habit?
You will never be late here.
Cons
Here, let me flip to the other side of the coin.
Allow me to tell you a few downsides of living in Albuquerque.
- A Struggling Job Market
- The Weather
- High Crime Rates
Having jobs is essential, especially when moving to a new city.
Before you move to Albuquerque, ensure you already have one.
Albuquerque has an unemployment rate that is higher than the national average. As of this writing, it sits at 6% per year. And yes, it is growing by the minute.
Also, you should note that aside from the struggling job market, their wages here are also not as compatible as in other cities.
Most of those who relocate to Albuquerque would find that the weather here needs to get used to.
If you like your weather mildly, this city is not for you.
Because in Albuquerque, you get nothing but extreme weather.
From June to September, the weather can be so hot. It can sometimes reach the 80s!
And from October until January the following year, you get the cold weather. The freezing weather happens around December to January.
By February, the cold will be out for a while. But this does not mean you get good weather all the time. Because once the hot season is out and about, you will again get all that scorching hot weather.
Before you move to a new place, a significant consideration is its crime rates.
How safe will you be when you move?
Albuquerque struggles with its crime rates. Over the past few years, Albuquerque saw a spike in the crime rates.
The numbers say that most residents of Albuquerque feel unsafe.
And this is a consideration you have to think about before moving here.
Albuquerque or Buffalo – Which is cheaper?
When it comes to costs of living, Albuquerque is cheaper than Buffalo. 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 | Buffalo |
| Housing | 88 | 36.9 |
| Food & Groceries | 96 | 98.5 |
| Health | 81.1 | 97.2 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 107.1 |
| Transportation | 89.4 | 102.4 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
One of the most glaring differences between the two cities is the cost of housing and rent.
Buffalo is cheaper than Albuquerque by 51.1%.
If you look at the numbers, both cities lie below the national average regarding housing costs. Albuquerque is at 88 points, 12 points below the national average. On the other hand, Buffalo sits at 36.9 points which is way lower than the national average.
Buffalo is 63.1 points lower than the US national average when computing the difference.
And that is impressive!
And I will not blame you if you decide to go for Buffalo upon seeing its housing costs.
But I hear me out on the other factors that make Albuquerque the better option.
Utility Costs
Here is where Albuquerque starts winning.
Albuquerque is cheaper than Buffalo when it comes to its utility costs.
And when we talk of utility costs, this should cover costs of electricity, heating, garbage disposal, and the like.
It is an essential aspect of your budget.
Looking at the numbers, Albuquerque is cheaper by 2.8 points than the national average. On the other hand, Buffalo is more expensive than the national average by 7.1 points.
Food and Groceries
Now, this is a deal-breaker.
Both Buffalo and Albuquerque sit below the national average for food and groceries.
It is safe to declare that the two cities are cheaper than most cities in the US in this aspect.
However, Albuquerque is cheaper than Buffalo by 2.5 points compared to the two. Buffalo is at 98.5, while Albuquerque is at 96.
Most grocery items are cheaper in Albuquerque. There may be a few items like beer where Albuquerque is more expensive. But generally, you would save a lot of money on food and groceries when you choose Albuquerque.
Transportation Costs
Another glaring difference between the two cities is their variance in transportation costs.
For starters, Buffalo’s transportation costs sit above the national average. Albuquerque’s transportation costs are below the national average.
When the national average is at 100, the transportation costs in Buffalo are at 102.4. It is 2.4 points more than the national average.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is at 89.4. It should be around 10.6 points lower than the national average.
Healthcare
When it comes to healthcare costs, Albuquerque is cheaper than Buffalo.
It is apparent especially in the costs of medicines. Professional doctor’s fees are also cheaper in Albuquerque.
The differences are glaring.
Both cities are below the national average. But Buffalo is just a wee 2.8 points below that line.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is 18.9 points below the national average. That sums up to a 16.1-point difference between the two cities in the cost of healthcare.
Healthcare is an essential aspect of your budget.
Never ignore these numbers.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Buffalo?
In terms of land area, Albuquerque is bigger than Buffalo. Albuquerque has a land area of 187.2 square miles. Buffalo’s land area is 40.38 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, Buffalo has a population of 279,400.
Albuquerque also has a population density lower than Buffalo. The latter has about 6,436 people per square mile. The city is higher compared to Albuquerque’s 3,002 per square mile.
The gap between the population density is mainly brought about by Buffalo’s small land area and continuously growing population.
Is Albuquerque safer than Buffalo?
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 Buffalo feel safer than those in Albuquerque.
First of all, is the crime index.
Albuquerque’s crime index is much higher than Buffalo’s. Buffalo is at 44.50, while Albuquerque is at 70.66.
That only means that people in Buffalo generally feel safer.
These past three years, Buffalo saw a 53.70%-increase in all crimes. It is a considerable number. But the digits are not as high as Albuquerque’s increase, 83.78%.
Most crimes in Buffalo are at moderate levels. Although mild, the highest of them relates to drug use which sits at 58.16. Although this is high, Albuquerque has a higher number which is 85.04.
Property crimes like vandalism and theft are also common in Buffalo.
These types of crimes are at 53.77 in Buffalo.
The same kinds of crimes are at a staggering 85.88 in Albuquerque.
In general, both Buffalo and Albuquerque struggle with their crime rates. But when you compare the two, Buffalo is safer.
Is Buffalo better than Albuquerque?
Albuquerque is better than Buffalo in many aspects. The most crucial factor to think of is the job market. Albuquerque has a healthier job market compared to Buffalo. Plus, it is more affordable.
Choosing between the two cities is a bit hard.
If there are differences, it would be by a small margin.
Both have high crime rates. Both are affordable.
But what sets Albuquerque apart is that it is way more affordable than Buffalo.
Also, Albuquerque’s job market is struggling. But Buffalo’s job market is struggling more than Albuquerque’s.
Buffalo has a higher unemployment rate. It simply means that when you are in Buffalo and out of jobs, it would be hard for you to get a new one compared to when you are in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque is better.
How about you?
Are you choosing Buffalo or Albuquerque?
Let me know in the comments below.
