Arkansas to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 804 mile interstate move from Arkansas to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Green Chile Stew), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and BBQ Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile Stew & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 48% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in New Mexico is 3.50% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Arkansas to New Mexico movers is B2 Moving
Arkansas to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to New Mexico
- Humidity
- Limited job market
- Severe tornadoes
- Few cultural events
- Dry climate
- Diverse economy
- Mild weather
- Rich cultural heritage
- Higher cost of living
- Less familiar environment
- Desert terrain
- Water scarcity
- Affordable housing
- Familiar culture
- Green landscapes
- Abundant rivers
Pros of moving from Arkansas to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited job market and moving to New Mexico with diverse economy
- Swap the severe tornadoes of Arkansas for mild weather in New Mexico
- Get ready for rich cultural heritage in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Arkansas to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable housing in Arkansas to live with higher cost of living in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of familiar culture and have to settle for the con of less familiar environment
- Time to bid farewell to green landscapes and get used to desert terrain in New Mexico
- Swap abundant rivers for water scarcity
Arkansas vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Green Chile Stew |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Ribs | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Po'boy Sandwiches | Tamales |
Most popular vegan food | Fried Okra | Veggie Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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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 Arkansas to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Green Chile Stew of New Mexico. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful BBQ Ribs and sumptuous Po'boy Sandwiches, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Tamales to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Fried Okra they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Veggie Tacos of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, Sim's Barbecue, and Stoby's Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like The Shed, Frontier Restaurant, and El Pinto Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and New Mexico
Comparison | Arkansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Natural scenery | Mountain views, Outdoor living spaces |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and natural scenery, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor living spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- New Mexico housing costs are 48% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in New Mexico is 3.50% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and New Mexico
Comparison | Arkansas | 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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Droughts, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Moderately good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 92Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 32Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 14" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 22" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Arkansas to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 29% more sunshine days than Arkansas.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential droughts and wildfires in New Mexico.
- The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 2 degrees warmer than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico, as it receives 36 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and New Mexico
Comparison | Arkansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 5.5% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.51% | 7.83% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Energy, Tourism, Film |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | Prevalent | Significant |
Homelessness | Concerning | Challenging |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 8% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in New Mexico is 7% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in NM is 4.9% compared to 5.5% in AR
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to modest in Arkansas
- The poverty level is significant in New Mexico compared to prevalent in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Arkansas and challenging in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Arkansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance | Democratic dominance |
Religion | Protestant majority | Catholic majority |
- Arkansas 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 a Catholic majority
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant majority
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to New Mexico
Comparison | Arkansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School (Little Rock) Forest Park Elementary (Little Rock) Vandergriff Elementary School (Fayetteville) | Sydney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Wood Gormley Elementary School (Santa Fe) Double Eagle Elementary School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) LISA Academy North (Sherwood) McNair Middle School (Fayetteville) | Sydney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High School (Bentonville) Central High School (Little Rock) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Anthony School (Little Rock) Arkansas Baptist School (Little Rock) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayetteville School District Bentonville School District Rogers School District | Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Los Alamos Public Schools |
How Much Do Arkansas to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 804 miles from Arkansas to New Mexico will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,658 | 300 ft3 | $5.53 |
1 Bedroom | $2,465 | 450 ft3 | $5.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,071 | 750 ft3 | $5.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,915 | 1100 ft3 | $5.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,524 | 1600 ft3 | $5.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,500 | 1800 ft3 | $5.28 |
Top Arkansas to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.