Why do Koreans live in Albuquerque? Surprisingly good reasons

When thinking of cities in the U.S. with large Korean populations, most people first consider places like LA, New York, Atlanta, or Dallas. Who would think of Albuquerque, New Mexico?

I used to think of Albuquerque as just a desert with cacti and a place where western movies are filmed. However, when you look into it, there are surprisingly good reasons why Koreans are settling down here.

First and foremost, the housing prices stand out. After living in California, seeing the housing prices in Albuquerque honestly makes your eyes widen. In LA or Orange County, even older homes easily exceed $700,000 or $800,000, but in Albuquerque, you can still find homes in the $300,000 range. Rent is also less burdensome compared to major cities in California. In a world where salaries are slowly rising but rent and grocery prices are increasing faster, this is not something to overlook.

The weather is also better than expected. When you think of New Mexico, you might assume it's scorching hot in the summer, but Albuquerque is a high-altitude city at over 5,000 feet. The sunlight is strong, but the humidity is low, so it's different from the kind of weather where you sweat profusely just standing still during the Korean monsoon season. However, the sun is so strong that if you don't wear sunscreen, your face can get sunburned quickly. In winter, it does snow, but it's not to the extent that you have to shovel snow every day like in northern mountainous areas.

Some people come here for education. There is a large public university in the city called the University of New Mexico, commonly referred to as UNM. It's a research-focused university with a medical school and law school, attracting professors, researchers, healthcare professionals, and international students. So, even though the community isn't large, there are opportunities to meet Koreans around the university.

For nature lovers, it's a really nice place. The Sandia Mountains are right next door, so you can go hiking on weekends without needing to travel far, and cyclists can use the Bosque Trail that runs along the Rio Grande. Riding the Sandia Peak Tramway to the top of the mountain offers stunning views that make you question if you're really in a city in the middle of the desert.

Of course, there are some inconveniences for Koreans. It's hard to expect a lifestyle where you can drive 10 minutes to an H Mart, go to a restaurant for seolleongtang, or visit a Chinese restaurant for jajangmyeon like in LA. The options for Korean restaurants and grocery stores are definitely fewer compared to big cities, and the Korean community is smaller. For those who find it important to do business, meet people, and gather information within the Korean community, it might feel frustrating.

However, these days, it's not necessary to live right next to your workplace. If you can work from home and are tired of the hectic life in a big city, the situation changes. For someone looking to reduce housing costs, avoid spending two hours a day in traffic, and wanting to hike on weekends, Albuquerque can surprisingly be a good option.

Ultimately, it seems more accurate to view Albuquerque as a decent city for those who don't mind that there aren't many Koreans living there, rather than as a great city simply because many Koreans live there.