Alabama to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,164 mile interstate move from Alabama to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs low humidity), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Green Chile Stew), real estate & housing (antebellum and craftsman vs pueblo revival and territorial style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Pulled Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile Stew & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in Alabama
- Rent in New Mexico is 7.59% more affordable than in Alabama
- Moving from Alabama to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Alabama to New Mexico movers is MoveDaddy
Alabama to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to New Mexico
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Limited cultural diversity
- Traffic congestion
- Low humidity
- Minimal natural disasters
- Cultural richness
- Easier commutes
- Rougher desert landscape
- Fewer historical sites
- Limited cuisine variety
- Higher cost of living
- Southern hospitality
- Rich history
- Vibrant food scene
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from Alabama to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to low humidity
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to New Mexico with minimal natural disasters
- Swap the limited cultural diversity of Alabama for cultural richness in New Mexico
- Get ready for easier commutes in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Alabama to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern hospitality in Alabama to live with a rougher desert landscape in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical sites
- Time to bid farewell to a vibrant food scene and get used to a limited cuisine variety in New Mexico
- Swap a lower cost of living for a higher cost of living
Alabama vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Green Chile Stew |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Conecuh Sausage Dog | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Calabacitas |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alabama to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Alabama for the equally delicious Green Chile Stew of New Mexico. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork and sumptuous Conecuh Sausage Dog, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Calabacitas of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alabama eateries like Saw's BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, El Pinto, and Frontier Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and New Mexico
Comparison | Alabama | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum and Craftsman | Pueblo Revival and Territorial Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, garages | Views, solar panels |
- The Antebellum and Craftsman architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival and Territorial Style architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and garages, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like views and solar panels.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- New Mexico housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in Alabama, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in New Mexico is 7.59% more affordable than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and New Mexico
Comparison | Alabama | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90/72 | 92/64 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57/36 | 49/23 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 2 | 28 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alabama to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 31% more sunshine days than Alabama.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Alabama.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Alabama, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 2 degrees warmer than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 44 fewer inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and New Mexico
Comparison | Alabama | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 5.0% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.41% | 0.66% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.22% | 7.82% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Finance, Education | Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Mixed |
Poverty | Prevalent | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 0% more than in Alabama
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Alabama
- The state income tax in NM is 4.9% compared to 5.0% in AL
- The affluence in New Mexico is mixed compared to moderate in Alabama
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to prevalent in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Alabama and significant in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Alabama | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Dominantly Republican | Dominantly Democratic |
Religion | Primarily Christian | Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence |
- Alabama tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as mixed with a significant Catholic presence
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to New Mexico
Comparison | Alabama | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Greystone Elementary School (Birmingham) Heritage Elementary School (Madison) Rock Quarry Elementary School (Tuscaloosa) | Synergy Charter School (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary School (Santa Fe) Carlos Gilbert Elementary School (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Liberty Park Middle School (Vestavia Hills) Simmons Middle School (Hoover) Bumpus Middle School (Hoover) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) |
Top 3 High Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery) Mountain Brook High School (Mountain Brook) Vestavia Hills High School (Vestavia Hills) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs) Randolph School (Huntsville) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs) Randolph School (Huntsville) | Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Vestavia Hills City Schools Mountain Brook City Schools Hoover City Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Alabama to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,164 miles from Alabama to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-24 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,862 | 300 ft3 | $6.21 |
1 Bedroom | $2,771 | 450 ft3 | $6.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,581 | 750 ft3 | $6.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,664 | 1100 ft3 | $6.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,613 | 1600 ft3 | $6.01 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,724 | 1800 ft3 | $5.96 |
Top Alabama to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.