Louisiana to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 883 mile interstate move from Louisiana to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid climate vs dry, pleasant weather), food & health (like Gumbo vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (french colonial, creole vs pueblo, territorial style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Louisiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Gumbo and Jambalaya, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 51% more expensive than they are in Louisiana
- Rent in New Mexico is 3.50% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Louisiana to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
Louisiana to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to New Mexico
- Hot, humid climate
- Hurricane risk
- Flat terrain
- Limited outdoor activities
- Dry, pleasant weather
- No hurricanes
- Mountainous landscapes
- Diverse recreational options
- Lesser cultural diversity
- Less varied food choices
- More transient population
- Arid desert climate
- Rich cultural heritage
- Famous cuisine
- Strong community bonds
- Lush landscapes
Pros of moving from Louisiana to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to the hot, humid climate and hello to the dry, pleasant weather
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to New Mexico with no hurricanes
- Swap the flat terrain of Louisiana for mountainous landscapes in New Mexico
- Get ready for diverse recreational options in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Louisiana to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich cultural heritage in Louisiana to live with lesser cultural diversity in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of famous cuisine and have to settle for the con of less varied food choices
- Time to bid farewell to strong community bonds and get used to a more transient population in New Mexico
- Swap lush landscapes for an arid desert climate
Louisiana vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Jambalaya | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Beignets | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | 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 Louisiana to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Jambalaya and sumptuous Beignets, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Tacos 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 Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, Willie Mae's Scotch House, and Antoine'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 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 Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and New Mexico
Comparison | Louisiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Colonial, Creole | Pueblo, Territorial Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, large yards | Energy efficiency, natural light |
- The French Colonial and Creole architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial Style architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and large yards, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and natural light.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- New Mexico housing costs are 51% more expensive than they are in Louisiana, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Louisianaβs $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56%, compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in New Mexico is 3.50% more expensive than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and New Mexico
Comparison | Louisiana | 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, Floods | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 73Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62Β°F / 43Β°F | 48Β°F / 27Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Louisiana to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 30% more sunshine days than Louisiana.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 1 degree warmer than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 46 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and New Mexico
Comparison | Louisiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 2 to 6% | 1.7 to 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.53% | 0.76% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 7.83% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Tourism | Aerospace, Exploration, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 8% more than in Louisiana
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 0% higher than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7 to 4.9% compared to 2 to 6% in LA
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to moderate in Louisiana
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to high in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Louisiana and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Louisiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural areas | Progressive in urban centers |
Religion | Largely Christian, Catholic strongholds | Mixed; large Catholic presence, significant Native American spiritual practices |
- Louisiana tends to lean mixed and leans Republican in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leans Democratic
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as mixed with a large Catholic presence and significant Native American spiritual practices
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Christian with Catholic strongholds
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to New Mexico
Comparison | Louisiana | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baton Rouge Magnet Elementary Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Chaparral Elementary (Santa Fe) Desert Willow Family School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Young Audiences Charter School (Gretna) | Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Jefferson Middle School (Albuquerque) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Magnet High School Haynes Academy (Metairie) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge Metairie Park Country Day School | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School Bosque School (all in Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Loyola College Prep (Shreveport) St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie) St. Thomas More Catholic High School (Lafayette) | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School Bosque School (all in Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Zachary Community School District Central Community School District St. Tammany Parish Public Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Louisiana to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 883 miles from Louisiana 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 | $1,703 | 300 ft3 | $5.68 |
1 Bedroom | $2,532 | 450 ft3 | $5.63 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,183 | 750 ft3 | $5.58 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,080 | 1100 ft3 | $5.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,763 | 1600 ft3 | $5.48 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,768 | 1800 ft3 | $5.43 |
Top Louisiana to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.