Albuquerque vs Tacoma (hotels, house, find a job)

[dpgtfc]

My wife has job offers in both places.

Tacoma offers 61k with maybe relocation up to 5k paid.

Albuquerque offers 65k with 10k bonus/relocation.

Cost of living is lower in ABQ and we have discussed Pro's and Cons.

I'm in IT, basically entry level (less than 3 years experience doing Web development in PHP) and will have to find a job. Seattle is flooded with unemployed IT Pros, ABQ has very little Tech jobs.

What are some Pros and Cons?

Which city is best in general (In your opinion), and which do you think would be best in our situation?

[Josseppie]

The biggest draw back to Albuquerque is they are kind of isolated. They are the only big city in New Mexico and they have no pro sports teams and the nearest drive to a "major" city is like 5 hours or more. A lot of people move there then over time do not like being so isolated.

[shoe01]

Tacoma I believe is in the shadow of Mt. Rainier which is a good or bad thing--might be beautiful but you don't want it to erupt. I could be wrong, but I've heard that Tacoma might be threatened if the mountain "lost its cool."

I'd go with Albuquerque and try to move to Rio Rancho or someplace similar. You can always fly out if you want. I believe it has a decent airport.

[dpgtfc]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

The biggest draw back to Albuquerque is they are kind of isolated. They are the only big city in New Mexico and they have no pro sports teams and the nearest drive to a "major" city is like 5 hours or more. A lot of people move there then over time do not like being so isolated.

Sports aren't a huge concern of mine, generally too expensive to go to the games. I do like tailgating, but not as much as sitting at a bar/grill with friends, or at their house watching a game.

The isolation is, for sure, something to consider, and we put it on our list of cons.

Originally Posted by shoe01

Tacoma I believe is in the shadow of Mt. Rainier which is a good or bad thing--might be beautiful but you don't want it to erupt. I could be wrong, but I've heard that Tacoma might be threatened if the mountain "lost its cool."

I'd go with Albuquerque and try to move to Rio Rancho or someplace similar. You can always fly out if you want. I believe it has a decent airport.

That is correct, Mt. Rainer overshadows much of Tacoma. I'm not worried about natural disasters. I live in missouri and have to fear tornadoes constantly, and they happen more frequently than volcanic eruptions or earthquakes (missouri is also known for a dangerous fault - New Madrid fault). Everywhere has something, though ABQ does seem to have less, less earthquake chance, less tornados, volcanos farther away, etc.

Rio Rancho would just suck if we have to commute to ABQ everyday. When we visited we experienced some traffic issues. Kinda sucks that there is only one highway going north and south, and so many people live up north. Kind of creates a congestion.

[backdrifter]

There's lots of traffic in the Tacoma/Seattle area too. On the freeways at least. Don't know if you've visited Tacoma, but the traffic can be atrocious in the Sea/Tac metro area sometimes. The area is absolutely beautiful however. And though there are probably a lot more tech companies in the Sea/Tac area, even if there are also lots of unemployed techies. I'd consider that a pro for Tacoma.

[Josseppie]

Sports was just but one example, if you are into the arts or theater you should see what kind of plays make it there Maybe they have a good theater district but that is something you should look into if you like to see plays etc.

I know Seattle/ Tacoma does.

[desert sun]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

The biggest draw back to Albuquerque is they are kind of isolated. They are the only big city in New Mexico and they have no pro sports teams and the nearest drive to a "major" city is like 5 hours or more. A lot of people move there then over time do not like being so isolated.

I live here and Ive never heard anyone say that they dont like it here cause its isolated, if people dont like it here its cause of the hispanics,the people,the poverty and the way New Mexico works as a state, its not for everyone.

[desert sun]

Originally Posted by dpgtfc

My wife has job offers in both places.

Tacoma offers 61k with maybe relocation up to 5k paid.

Albuquerque offers 65k with 10k bonus/relocation.

Cost of living is lower in ABQ and we have discussed Pro's and Cons.

I'm in IT, basically entry level (less than 3 years experience doing Web development in PHP) and will have to find a job. Seattle is flooded with unemployed IT Pros, ABQ has very little Tech jobs.

What are some Pros and Cons?

Which city is best in general (In your opinion), and which do you think would be best in our situation?

Washington is a pretty place but I would choose ABQ, there are so many people here from the NW(Oregon and Washington) so ABQ must have something that attracts them all,I see more OR and WA plates more than any other state besides the ones that border us.


If you move to WA you'll be wishing for sun
If you move to ABQ you'll be wishing for rain

[brandonlee206]

If you are in IT then move to Seattle. When your unemployed up here you can launch a start up where as in ABQ you may end up cleaning hotels to get by.