Kansas to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 515 mile interstate move from Kansas to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winter storms vs milder winters), food & health (like BBQ ribs vs Green chile), real estate & housing (prairie and ranch vs pueblo and territorial), 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 Beef brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Green chile & Carne adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in New Mexico is 24.15% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Kansas to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
Kansas to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to New Mexico
- Harsh winter storms
- Frequent tornadoes
- Flat landscapes
- Limited cultural diversity
- Humid summers
- Milder winters
- Fewer natural disasters
- Mountainous terrain
- Rich cultural heritage
- Dry, pleasant climate
- Higher living costs
- Less emphasis on farming
- More sprawling urban areas
- More remote location
- Varied cultural influences
- Lower cost of living
- Strong agricultural output
- Close-knit communities
- Central U.S. location
- Traditional Midwestern charm
Pros of moving from Kansas to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to harsh winter storms and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from frequent tornadoes and moving to New Mexico with fewer natural disasters
- Swap the flat landscapes of Kansas for mountainous terrain in New Mexico
- Get ready for rich cultural heritage in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Kansas to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Kansas to live with higher living costs in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of strong agricultural output and have to settle for the con of less emphasis on farming
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to more sprawling urban areas in New Mexico
- Swap a central U.S. location for a more remote location
Kansas vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ ribs | Green chile |
Most popular meat dish | Beef brisket | Carne adovada |
Most popular street food item | BBQ sandwiches | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Vegetarian tamales |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Kansas to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic BBQ ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious green chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful beef brisket and sumptuous BBQ sandwiches, New Mexico residents know they have tasty carne adovada and tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the jackfruit BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegetarian tamales of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kansas eateries like Joeβs Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, and Arthur Bryant's. 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 Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and New Mexico
Comparison | Kansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Ranch | Pueblo and Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, garages | Views, open floor plans |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings, which commonly reference spacious yards and garages, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like views and open floor plans.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New Mexico is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- New Mexico housing costs are 34% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in New Mexico is 24.15% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and New Mexico
Comparison | Kansas | 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, Severe Storms | Wildfires, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 92/64 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44/23 | 49/23 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 16 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kansas to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 22% more sunshine days than Kansas.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
- The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 3 degrees warmer than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 0 degrees colder than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and New Mexico
Comparison | Kansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 3.1 - 5.7% | 1.7 - 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.36% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.7% | 7.8% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Film & Television |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Average | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 13% less than in Kansas
- The COLI in New Mexico is 5% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7% to 5.9% compared to 3.1% to 5.7% in KS
- The affluence in New Mexico is low compared to moderate affluence in Kansas
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to average poverty in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Kansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Moderate with a conservative tilt | Progressive in many areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant | Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence |
- Kansas tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as mixed with a significant Catholic presence
- Kansas's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to New Mexico
Comparison | Kansas | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Corinth Elementary (Prairie Village) Meadowbrook Elementary (Prairie Village) Briarwood Elementary (Prairie Village) | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary (Albuquerque) Georgia OβKeeffe Elementary (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle (Leawood) Indian Hills Middle (Prairie Village) Harmony Middle (Overland Park) | Desert Ridge Middle (Albuquerque) Lincoln Middle (Rio Rancho) Eisenhower Middle (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | Blue Valley North High (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High (Prairie Village) Blue Valley High (Stilwell) | La Cueva High (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) Bishop Seabury Academy (Lawrence) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Shawnee Mission School District Olathe District Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools |
How Much Do Kansas to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 515 miles from Kansas to New Mexico will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,494 | 300 ft3 | $4.98 |
1 Bedroom | $2,219 | 450 ft3 | $4.93 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,661 | 750 ft3 | $4.88 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,315 | 1100 ft3 | $4.83 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,650 | 1600 ft3 | $4.78 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,517 | 1800 ft3 | $4.73 |
Top Kansas to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.