Kentucky to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 1,305 mile interstate move from Kentucky to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited public transit vs efficient bus systems), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod 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 Chicken and Burgoo, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 49% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in New Mexico is 4.05% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
Kentucky to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to New Mexico
- Limited public transit
- Harsh winters
- Fewer art scenes
- Less diverse cuisine
- Efficient bus systems
- Warmer climate
- Vibrant cultural events
- Rich culinary options
- Arid and dry climate
- Higher cost of living
- Fewer green spaces
- Longer travel distances
- Beautiful landscapes
- Peaceful community
- Rich history
- Low traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Kentucky to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to limited public transit and hello to efficient bus systems
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to New Mexico with a warmer climate
- Swap the fewer art scenes of Kentucky for vibrant cultural events in New Mexico
- Get ready for rich culinary options in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Kentucky to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in Kentucky to live with an arid and dry climate in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of a peaceful community and have to settle with the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer green spaces in New Mexico
- Swap low traffic congestion for longer travel distances
Kentucky vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Burgoo | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Hot Brown Sandwich | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Kentucky Soybean BBQ | Calabacitas |
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 Kentucky to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Burgoo and sumptuous Hot Brown Sandwich, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kentucky Soybean BBQ 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 Kentucky eateries like Corbett's An American Place, Ramsi's Cafe on the World, and The Brown Hotel (Home of the Hot Brown). After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Frontier Restaurant, Sadie's of New Mexico, and El Modelo Mexican Foods.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and New Mexico
Comparison | Kentucky | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, hardwood floors | Vigas, kiva fireplaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and hardwood floors, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like vigas and kiva fireplaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New Mexico is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- New Mexico housing costs are 49% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in New Mexico is 4.05% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and New Mexico
Comparison | Kentucky | 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 | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 43Β°F / 23Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 14" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22" | 28" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 44% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 5 degrees warmer than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows in New Mexico are 0 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 36 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and New Mexico
Comparison | Kentucky | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 5.0 | 1.7 - 5.9 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85 | 0.78 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0 | 7.8 |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Energy, Tourism, Government |
Affluence | Moderate | Mixed |
Poverty | Widespread | Significant |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 1% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 10% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7 to 5.9 compared to 5.0 in KY
- The affluence in New Mexico is mixed compared to moderate in Kentucky
- The poverty level is significant in New Mexico compared to widespread in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Kentucky | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative | Lean liberal |
Local Politics | Strong Republican presence in rural areas | Diverse political representation with a strong Democratic presence |
Religion | Christian majority (Evangelical Protestant) | Mixed religious landscape with Catholic majority |
- Kentucky tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning liberal
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as a mixed religious landscape with a Catholic majority
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority (Evangelical Protestant)
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to New Mexico
Comparison | Kentucky | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Anchorage Public (Anchorage) Beechwood Elementary (Fort Mitchell) | Sydney Gutierrez Middle (Roswell) Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) Highlands Middle School (Fort Thomas) Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) | Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle (Roswell) Desert Ridge Middle (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High School Schools | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High (Fort Mitchell) | Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) La Cueva High (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High (Lexington) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School (Lexington) Sayre School (Lexington) Christian Academy of Louisville (Louisville) | Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Oldham County Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,305 miles from Kentucky to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,942 | 300 ft3 | $6.47 |
1 Bedroom | $2,891 | 450 ft3 | $6.42 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,781 | 750 ft3 | $6.37 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,957 | 1100 ft3 | $6.32 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,039 | 1600 ft3 | $6.27 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,204 | 1800 ft3 | $6.22 |
Top Kentucky to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.