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So what I see, logically, is that when all it said and done, moving from a moderate priced city like Denver or Phoenix to a moderate-low cost of living city like Albuquerque is a zero sum game when it comes to purchasing power. That's why relative cost of living is not really the issue with me; I'm moving out of LA for sure once I graduate from my program in May, and all the cities I'm looking at are dramatically more affordable than LA.
Quite true... although, coming from Idaho, my disposable income was increased due to higher pay and cheaper cost-of-living, but that is an extraordinary circumstance. In most cases you'll find no real difference. All factors pretty much adjust relative to one another.
If you have good credentials and/or experience, you can always try using prior pay as leverage, though, just to bump up from the average on the basis that you've become used to a certain "standard of living". The "index" may go down, but the prices of groceries, clothes, services, etc. doesn't change by much for the average-spending middle class citizen from place to place. If you can get past the drones (no offense to HR, but statistical parameters and reality are often mutually exclusive), any fair, "worked-their-way-up" employer will sympathize with that in a negotiation.
This is a good time to note that NE Albuquerque is not exactly the low cost-of-living part of town.
Yes and no. Apartment rentals tend to be a little higher in this area (zips 87111 & 87112), but privately owned rental units are cheaper. I have a very nice 2 bedroom-1 bath triplex, fireplace, private patio, assigned parking, washer/dryer included (and on-site landlord - great response time for repairs!) for $650. The average rate in my area seems to be $550 to $650, although the $550 units I've seen were just a step above a dump, IMO. I'm a block from walking trails and have easy access to major bus routes. Plus it's an area you can walk in after dark. The apartments offer all the bells and whistles and that's what you're paying for. But if you don't need the business center, the pool or the weight room, you can find tons of great deals in the 87111 & 87112 areas.
This is a good time to note that NE Albuquerque is not exactly the low cost-of-living part of town.
Yes and no. Apartment rentals tend to be a little higher in this area (zips 87111 & 87112), but privately owned rental units are cheaper. I have a very nice 2 bedroom-1 bath triplex, fireplace, private patio, assigned parking, washer/dryer included (and on-site landlord - great response time for repairs!) for $650. The average rate in my area seems to be $550 to $650, although the $550 units I've seen were just a step above a dump, IMO. I'm a block from walking trails and have easy access to major bus routes. Plus it's an area you can walk in after dark. The apartments offer all the bells and whistles and that's what you're paying for. But if you don't need the business center, the pool or the weight room, you can find tons of great deals in the 87111 & 87112 areas.
This qualifier of my point is good to note. When I first moved to Albuquerque, I predicted that I'd only be working 40 hours/week, as this is my first salaried job. Come to find out, I'm working many evenings and weekends, so now I don't have much time for the pool or workout facilities that I'm paying for. If you see yourself as not needing those facilities for whatever reason, it's best to look for places that don't offer them and offer the "perk" of substantially cheaper rent instead. Plenty of options in the area.
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