Indianapolis is a sustainable city with good employment growth and accessibility to the Midwest. The city is one of the best places to have excellent work-life stability compared to Albuquerque. In contrast, Albuquerque will allow you to enjoy the rewards of countryside living.
Indianapolis or popularly known as Indy, is America’s crossroad city. The place has good road access to nearby towns, creating better economic opportunities for its people. You can appreciate the bonuses of living in a city where the cost of living is cheap, yet big jobs are available in the metro.
Albuquerque, the Duke City, is an excellent place to savor a wonderful suburban life, appealing to retirees. The area is rich with outdoor happening, and you will find good food everywhere in town.
Both living in Albuquerque and Indianapolis will give you a small-town vibe, but Indianapolis’s growing economy edges the things ABQ has to offer. At least an inclusive assessment of the two places will beat your curiosity of which area is a lot better.
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What Are the Pros and Cons of Albuquerque Versus Indianapolis?
Albuquerque has good wineries, breweries, and cheap living costs, making it more attractive to retirees, but watch your safety when exploring the city limits. In contrast, Indianapolis is suitable for people seeking a sports-oriented city, an excellent work-life balance, but the climate in the town is quite harsh.
Both cities share common grounds for their affordability but making a complete contrast will help you choose one.
Living in Indianapolis
Pros
- Commodity Prices Are Low-Priced
- Sports King City
- Bigger Job Prospect Awaits You
- The Crossroads of America
- The City Aspires to Be Environmentally Conscious
The cost of living in Indianapolis is cheaper than in many cities in the United States. Only 47 other American cities are more affordable to live in than Indianapolis. Essentials like utility, transportation, health, and housing do not exceed the national average.
Indianapolis residents can enjoy all of the facilities of larger cities, such as amusement, vast and varied places to eat, culture, sporting events, and straightforward aviation access, at a fraction of the usual big city living costs. Housing, in particular, is incredibly inexpensive in Indianapolis, whether you want to live in the suburban areas or the downtown area.
People in Indianapolis place a high value on sporting events. If you love sports, you are fortunate to live in Indy due to the city’s significant leagues and happenings.
Indianapolis is home to the Indiana Pacers of the NBA and the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. The Indianapolis 500, the city’s most significant racing event, is something that you should not miss.
People with a stable outlook in life looking to land a good job want to check Indianapolis. The city offers many job opportunities in the business and healthcare sectors. Skilled workers, research-based and technical labor, and governmental, transportation, and warehouse management, are also growing sectors.
Anthem Inc. is one of more than 90 major corporations with headquarters in the city. Simon Property Group, Finish Line, and the NCAA sit in town.
Indianapolis is the crossroad of America because its location is the intersection of almost every route going to the Midwest. The town’s central position is at the crossing point of four primary Interstate Highways: I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74.
To travel east to west in the United States, you must pass through Indiana to enjoy the existence of Great Lakes Erie and other tourist spots.
The city has an accessible intersecting route and is also home to Indianapolis International Airport. The airport handles all significant United States airline companies and offers nonstop flights to over 40 domestic routes. According to USA Today, the airport obtained the top satisfaction rate for medium-sized airports in 2016.
Thrive Indianapolis, the city’s sustainable development plan, aims to set a purpose of maximizing green space and tree shield all through the town, acknowledging its functionality in minimizing flash floods, environmental damage, and heat, and also gradually improving life quality.
Indianapolis focuses on promoting ride-sharing and reducing reliance on car ownership. However, the city has limited public transportation, so the local government concentrates on the alternative riding experience.
Cons
- Bad Weather
- Limited Public Transportation
Indianapolis has its fair share of bad weather, which can be brutal at times. It will take you some time to get out of the cold winter season, which lasts from November to February. There are a few outdoor spots where you can genuinely enjoy the freezing days, but not for long periods.
Tornadoes are common in the Midwest, particularly in the great plains. Fortunately, they are both catastrophic and inescapable. Every year, Indiana has an average of 22 tornadoes.
Indianapolis experiences the least public transit in its state. The primary mode of transportation is their bus system because there is no rail or metro transit in the area. There isn’t enough mass transit to cover such a large extent.
If you are resettling to the metropolis, you need a car to get around the urban areas and nearby places.
Living in Albuquerque
Pros
- Place for Retired People
- Great Winery and Brewery
- The Pink Mountain Is a Tourist Spot
- The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
- Low Service and Product Prices
Albuquerque has no other respectable condition other than its finely mild winter season. There is no heavy snowfall in the area, and older people will love the fact that you do not need to have a massive pile of snow on your lawns.
ABQ’s surroundings are primarily covered in trees, making it the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a good afternoon coffee while admiring some of the neighborhood’s beautiful art buildings.
Albuquerque utilizes its area to produce great wineries and breweries. Several small breweries have received medals at prestigious events such as the Great American Beer Festival.
There are dozens of breweries located throughout the city. If you want to visit various breweries in a single visit, head to the busy Brewery District on Candelaria between Edith and I-25.
The town’s winery is also noteworthy. Casa Rondeña is one of Albuquerque’s most prestigious wineries. D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, located near historic Old Town, serves French country cuisine alongside highly acclaimed and beloved wines.
The Sandia Peak Tramway, known as the pink mountain, is the most fabulous aerial cable car in the United States, stretching from Albuquerque’s northeast edge to the Sandia Mountains’ Crestline.
The mountain’s changing color from green to pink draws visitors from all over the world. Tourists can enjoy spectacular views of the Rio Grande Valley from a viewing platform atop Sandia Peak, as well as discover miles of trekking and road cycling trails.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque displays traditions from traditional Pueblo cultures and modern Pueblo art. The facility is best known for its Pueblo pottery and wall paintings collection, including more than 20 murals and over 2,500 ceramics, jewelry, archeological pieces, and drawings.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center hosts traditional Native dances every Saturday and Sunday.
Albuquerque is among the lowest cost of living rates in New Mexico. You will pay less if you want to live here since utility, transport, and home values are preferable.
You can discover better deals and lower-cost meals and grocery stores in the central market. Because of the affordable housing prices in the surrounding area, you can make the best investment by purchasing a home.
Cons
- It Is Not Safe in Albuquerque
- Economic Difficulty
- The City Is Hotter Than You Think
It is difficult for Albuquerque to maintain neighborhood safety. The rate of violent crime in ABQ is among the highest in the nation. The most violent crime offenses are forcible rape, with a record of 179 cases in the mid-2021. Aggravated assault recorded a total of 2,943 also in mid-2021 data.
Even though Albuquerque has a low cost of living, the job market is not competitive. It is tough to find an appropriate job because few large corporations reside in the metropolitan area. With 7.4%, ABQ’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average.
Living in ABQ will necessitate you to have a steady career to pay the bills, or else you will need to look for better job prospects outside of town.
Recording occasional 100 degrees Fahrenheit on hot days is quite common in Albuquerque, making it not that inviting to people, especially elders. The city sits in a large desert where heatwaves are continuous. If you cannot tolerate this kind of heat, then ABQ is not the place for you.
Albuquerque Or Indianapolis – Which Is Cheaper?
Indianapolis is a more reasonably priced city, with a lower living cost than average, making it less expensive than Albuquerque. Home values are 29.7% lower in Indy than in ABQ, as is the overall index, 8.3% lower.
Indianapolis is way more affordable than Albuquerque, even if both cities do not surpass the national average.
Comparison Table of Living in Albuquerque, New Mexico vs. Indianapolis, Indiana
| Living Expenses | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Housing and Rent | 88% | 61.9% |
| Utilities | 97.2% | 90.2% |
| Food And Groceries | 96% | 93.6% |
| Transportation | 89.4% | 90.8% |
| Health | 81.1% | 86.8% |
| Miscellaneous | 97.1% | 99 |
Based on the Data of which 100 = U.S. National Average
>100 means more expensive
<100 means cheaper than the U.S. average
Housing and Rent Costs
Indianapolis has a lower home value of nearly $143,000 than ABQ, which has a higher house price of $203,500. When you choose to lease in Indy over ABQ, you save about $300. Indianapolis rents for $1,163 per month, while ABQ rents for $1,339 per month.
Utility Costs
If you want to save finances on necessities, you’ll probably want to relocate to Indianapolis. Living in Indianapolis will save you money on utilities compared to Albuquerque. Rates of the two cities are still lower than the national par.
Food and Groceries Costs
Both urban areas are budget-friendly, but Indy has a slight edge for grocery shopping. In Indianapolis, foods and other basic groceries are reasonably priced. Indy received only 93.6 % in this category, which falls short of the national average.
Transportation Costs
Albuquerque’s public transportation system is less costly than that of Indianapolis. The bus fare in ABQ is $1, while it is $1.75 in Indianapolis. Both cities have similar pricing because they rely solely on bus transit as their primary transportation.
Health Care Costs
Albuquerque’s healthcare costs will be lower for your medical expenses, dental treatment, and diagnostic facilities. The difference between ABQ and Indy is only about 5.7% because neither city’s healthcare costs exceed the national average.
Taxes
Indianapolis has a consolidated sales tax rate of 7%, which is significantly smaller than Albuquerque’s 7.88%. Indiana’s state-wide estimated average property tax rate is 0.81 %, while it is 1.05 % in ABQ’s county.
Is Albuquerque Safer Than Indianapolis?
Albuquerque is unsafe compared to the tier of estate crime committed in Indianapolis. ABQ has a thriving criminal history for property mischief, with an index of approximately 85.3, which is more heightened than the national standard of just 35.4.
Property crime in ABQ is rampant, but so is the violent crime in Indianapolis. Indy edges ABQ in the violence index of the FBI, where most assaults are related to homicide, robbery, and manslaughter. Both cities gave us a proportion of their not so appealing sector.
When you want to move to either Indianapolis or Albuquerque, it is highly advisable to choose your neighborhood because criminality is a constant conflict. It would be okay if you stood vigilant enough not to be a target of possible trouble.
Is Albuquerque Bigger Than Indianapolis?
Indianapolis has over 877,903 residents in its 361.6 square miles, making it significantly larger than Albuquerque. ABQ only has 187.2 square miles, where 562,540 of its people reside.
Indy is the 15th greatest populated city in Indiana State and the third most populous city in the Midwest, trailing only Chicago and Illinois. On the other hand, Albuquerque is the most populous city in New Mexico.
Both city’s population density does not gain a vast gap where Indy got 2,428 per square mile while ABQ has 3,004.7 per square mile.
Is Albuquerque Warmer Than Indianapolis?
Albuquerque keeps getting hotter when you compare it to Indianapolis. The city has an average of 280 sunny days and recorded a temperature high of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, Indy has only 186 sunny days with a record high of 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
ABQ has consistently recorded high temperatures over the last several years. In contrast, Indianapolis has warm conditions but not as severe as ABQ. The town is near an immense desert, which explains why rising temperatures occur. Indy has colder weather because its snowfall of 22 is close to the national average of 28.
Is Albuquerque Better Than Indianapolis?
You will find better career opportunities in the premises of Indianapolis than in Albuquerque. Both cities share common grounds on low living costs, but Indy offers a more robust economy and accessible routes to other towns, which ABQ struggles to provide the same to its people.
The crossroads of America, Indianapolis, will give you a good job market and a sustainable environment where you can appreciate the extras of living a good life and paying less in your bills. The economy of Indy is growing fast that a lot of businesses are putting offices in the town. The city is highly accessible to many places going Midwest.
Albuquerque, or Duke City, is a good retirement location for people who want to live in a spot where the winters are not intense. The place also has a decent proportion of wine and breweries, which is very popular among older adults.
Indianapolis and Albuquerque have an exceptional reputation for offering low living costs and small-town vibes. Still, Indy edges ABQ when it comes to workforce potential and ease of access to other surrounding towns.
Albuquerque, New Mexico versus Indianapolis, Indiana– Where do you consider moving? Let me know your thoughts below.