St. Paul is the best place to live than Albuquerque because of its excellent education and exceptional hospitals and clinics. In contrast, Albuquerque has a higher crime index, masking the city’s lower cost of living than St. Paul’s.
St. Paul, Minnesota, is a vibrant and diversified city with a warm Midwestern ambiance that appeals to families, young professionals, and retirees. Saint Paul is booming and overflowing with new energy and skill due to a regular influx of graduates from the city’s various schools and institutions.
Albuquerque is the gateway to the beautiful area along the Rio Grande. There’s a bustling entertainment industry, filming locations, restaurants, shopping, and the world’s largest balloon fiesta here, as well as Native culture in Albuquerque.
Both cities are unique and differ a lot. Nonetheless, St. Paul offers a lot more advantages than Albuquerque.
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What are the Pros and Cons of St. Paul vs. Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has a diverse cuisine and lower pricing, but it has a higher unemployment rate and crime rate. On the contrary, St. Paul offers exceptional education and healthcare options but experiences extreme winters and higher pricing.
Living in St. Paul
Pros
- Superb healthcare options
- Job growth
- Environmentally conscious transit
- High-quality education
- Leisure
United Hospital, the largest hospital in the east metro, is in St. Paul.
Hospitals such as Gillette Children’s Hospital, Regions Hospital, Bethesda Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospital are also in St. Paul.
Aside from hospitals, there are also several clinics in St. Paul and its surroundings. Several clinics include the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Medical Center campuses.
Manufacturing, food and hospitality, healthcare, professional services, finance, retail, and educational services are significant industries in St. Paul.
Although St. Paul’s unemployment rate isn’t that low, the city still offers several job opportunities to its residents.
While unemployment rates remain low, job options continue to expand. 3M, Ecolab, Securian Financial, Travelers, Allina Health, and Lawson Software are just a few of the well-known employers in St. Paul.
In addition, the suburbs provide additional work opportunities within a reasonable distance.
Environmentally aware mobility is a priority for St. Paulites. Over 4,000 individuals have contributed to their Pedestrian Plan, which aims to preserve and improve the safety and wellness of walking.
The city also hires out Nice Ride bikes. People use bicycling and ridesharing so often that more workers carpool or bike to work than the national average.
The Green Line, a metro light rail that travels between St. Paul and Minneapolis 24 hours a day with over 20 stations, is always available.
St. Paul’s public school system is one of the largest in the state and has an excellent reputation among parents. In addition to its K-12 and recreational activities, it offers a head start and early childcare services.
University of Northwestern, Macalester College, Concordia University, University of St. Thomas, Bethel University, St. Paul College, Metropolitan State University campuses, and University of Minnesota campus are among the universities and colleges in St. Paul.
Throughout the year, St. Paul holds many festivals and fairs, with something to suit everyone’s tastes.
At Little Mekong Night Market, you may see artists, food, and performances that are evocative of a traditional Asian night market. At the Irish Fair of Minnesota, you may enjoy Irish music, dancing, cuisine, and family activities.
Como Zoo and Lantern Lighting Festival are among St. Paul’s family favorites. In addition, the Como Town amusement park is perfect for the kids as well.
Plus, the proximity to the world-famous Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, provides an additional opportunity for kids of all ages to enjoy shopping, dining, entertainment, and a themed amusement park.
Cons
- Higher cost of living than ABQ
- Extreme winters
In St. Paul, the cost of living and living standards are often higher than the national average.
Minneapolis’ cost of living is higher compared to other states. However, compared to other cities under Minneapolis, St. Paul has one of the lowest prices.
Minneapolis’ median house value is $212,800, 15% more than the national average, whereas St. Paul’s is just $178,400, which is lower.
That indicates that, on average, St. Paul is less costly to live in and has a higher home value among other cities in Minneapolis.
Nevertheless, St. Paul still has a higher cost of living than Albuquerque.
St. Paul experiences extreme weather, especially during winter.
The city’s winter season is bitterly cold, with temperatures plummeting below zero and wind chills making it feel even worse. Blizzards are also common, and they can last for days. Until the roads are clear, driving can be dangerous.
Living in Albuquerque
Pros
- Green chile
- The mesmerizing Sandia Mountains
- Small-town atmosphere
- Affordable city
- Rich history
Every big city has a signature dish, but Albuquerque is known for its green chile. Green chile is in many Albuquerque eateries’ menus. If you enjoy chile-flavored foods, Albuquerque will not disappoint you.
Albuquerque’s cuisine has a unique blend of cultural influences, apart from green chile. Anything from Mexican to Native American food, fabulous international cuisine is available. Yanni’s Mediterranean Bar and Grill is a must-visit if you’re in the Nob Hill area.
The city has a diverse community, and it is no wonder that it reflects on its cuisine.
The Sandia Mountains, lying just east of Albuquerque, provide hiking paths with spectacular vistas and snow deep enough to ski in the winter.
Furthermore, the mountains have brilliant colors ranging from pink to purple and green to blue. The colors appear to change every minute, casting a spell on anybody fortunate enough to stare.
If you want to soak in the scenery, take the Sandia Tramway to the observation deck, which is at an astounding 10,378 feet.
Albuquerque has all the services, shopping, leisure, and entertainment a big city would provide.
Luckily, it preserves the small-town atmosphere, making it a nice place to live. People in Albuquerque are also friendly and welcoming.
People in Albuquerque are friendly enough to make the transition more manageable, and its small-town antics make meeting new people simple.
Albuquerque is among the top five most cost-effective cities in the county.
Albuquerque has among the lowest median rentals, food, and healthcare prices. Furthermore, rent in this neighborhood is frequently less expensive than the national average.
Housing prices in Albuquerque are also lower than the national average.
You might think of leaving the boxes for a bit after the Albuquerque movers transport your stuff to your new house and explore the city.
The White Sands Proving Ground, a notable landmark in the southeast, lies in ABQ.
Old Town, rich in Mexican culture and history, is worth visiting. A variety of businesses, museums, and galleries are in Old Town.
Cons
- Crime ridden city
- Weaker job market than St. Paul
Albuquerque also has one of the country’s highest rates of violent crime.
In 2016, the city had the highest incidence of violent crime in New Mexico, with 1,117 occurrences per 100,000 people. The violent crimes in ABQ are about three times the national rate of 386 events per 100,000 Americans.
Currently, Albuquerque is still among the most dangerous cities in the USA. Also, visiting and living in St. Paul is safer than ABQ.
The unemployment rate is around 6% most years, although it can spike when the national economy suffers a setback for whatever reason.
Albuquerque has a greater unemployment rate of 5.5%, higher than the national average of 3.7%.
Albuquerque’s unemployment rate is higher than St. Paul’s 4.20%. As a result, Albuquerque’s job market is weaker than St. Paul’s.
Albuquerque or St. Paul – Which is cheaper?
Overall, living in Albuquerque is 8.6% more affordable than living in St. Paul. However, healthcare costs are 2.8% higher in Albuquerque.
| Living expenses | Albuquerque | St. Paul |
| Housing | 88.0% | 94.7% |
| Food & Groceries | 96.0% | 100.2% |
| Health | 81.1% | 78.9% |
| Utilities | 97.2% | 97.5% |
| Transportation | 89.4% | 109.6% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing
Housing expenses in Albuquerque are 7.1% lower than in St. Paul. The median monthly rent in St. Paul is now $1,174, with a median home price of $374,760 compared to ABQ’s median house price of $332,426 and median monthly rent of only $1,041.
Food & Groceries
St. Paul’s food and grocery prices are higher than ABQs. For example, the cost of 1 carton of eggs in ABQ is only $1.72, compared to $1.90 in St. Paul.
Health
Healthcare fees are cheaper in St. Paul. A doctor’s visit in ABQ can only cost you $108.83. In Albuquerque, healthcare costs are 2.8% higher than in St. Paul.
Utilities
Both ABQ and St. Paul’s utility costs don’t differ much. However, utility costs in St. Paul are slightly higher. A one-minute local prepaid mobile tariff can cost about $0.25 in St. Paul. Whereas it only costs $0.16 in Albuquerque.
Transportation
When riding a taxi, the standard tariff with a 1-kilometer distance costs $1.55 in St. Paul compared to ABQ’s $1.37.
Is Albuquerque bigger than St. Paul?
Albuquerque is thrice the size of St. Paul, with a land area of 188.9 mi². Aside from land area, St. Paul is less dense yet offers a better economy to its residents than ABQ.
With a land area of 188.9 mi², Albuquerque is vastly more extensive than St. Paul. Albuquerque has a population of 942,000, making it three times denser.
In comparison, St. Paul only has a land area of 56.2 mi². The city’s population is only 317,664 as of 2022.
Although both cities have an unemployment rate higher than the national average, St. Paul is better than Albuquerque when it comes to the economy. The city has a lower unemployment rate of 4.20% compared to ABQ’s 5.5% unemployment rate.
Thus, Albuquerque has a more extensive area size and a denser population. However, St. Paul has a better economy than Albuquerque.
Is St. Paul safer than Albuquerque?
The safety scale of St. Paul is 48.01, whereas Albuquerque’s is merely 29.24. Albuquerque also has a higher crime rate of 70.76 than St. Paul, 51.99. Therefore, St. Paul is safer than Albuquerque.
If you live in St. Paul, you have a one-in-128 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. At the same time, one-in-25 can be a victim of property crime.
In Albuquerque, your chances of becoming a victim of any crime are double. In ABQ, you have a one-in-twenty risk of becoming a victim of property crime. You have a one-in-75 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
The crime index in St. Paul is 51.99, compared to 70.76 in ABQ. Furthermore, St. Paul has a safety value of 48.01, but ABQ has a lower safety scale of 29.24.
Therefore, St. Paul is safer than Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque hotter than St. Paul?
St. Paul’s average annual maximum temperature is 83°F with extreme winters. In contrast, Albuquerque has a higher yearly average peak temperature of 93°F and lesser rainfall. Hence, Albuquerque is hotter than St. Paul.
Summers in Saint Paul are hot and humid; winters are cold, snowy, and windy; and the weather is partially overcast all year. The temperature ranges typically from 9°F to 83°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below -10°F or rising over 91°F.
On the other hand, Albuquerque has a year-round temperature range of 27°F to 93°F. Compared to St. Paul, ABQ has a lesser average monthly rainfall and snowfall.
St. Paul has 194 sunny days per year, but ABQ has an average of 280 sunny days annually. Winters in St. Paul can get extreme as well. It gets bitterly cold, and blizzards are common.
Hence, ABQ is hotter than St. Paul.
Is Albuquerque better than St. Paul?
Residents in St. Paul have access to high-quality schools, excellent healthcare, and job possibilities. On the other hand, Albuquerque has a more varied cuisine, warmer winters, and lower living costs, but it also has a higher crime rate. As a result, St. Paul is superior to ABQ.
St. Paul boasts plenty of pros to its residents. The city has high-quality education that parents don’t want to miss. Plus, living in St. Paul gives you access to superb hospitals and clinics.
Although St. Paul experiences extreme weather and a higher cost of living than ABQ, the city has a lower crime and unemployment rate. You won’t have to be anxious about your safety and job hunting.
On the other hand, Albuquerque gives off a small-town vibe despite its vast land. Low costs and taxes are also prevalent in the city, which help you save money.
However, if safety is a big deal to you, ABQ is not the best place. Plus, if you are looking for a job, you may have difficulty looking.
As a result, St. Paul is better than Albuquerque.
Are you considering moving to St. Paul or Albuquerque? Let me know your thoughts and concerns below.