Maryland to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 1,787 mile interstate move from Maryland to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Maryland vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living costs), food & health (like Crab Cakes vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Maryland), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Crab Cakes and Pit Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Maryland
- Rent in New Mexico is 26.99% more affordable than in Maryland
- Moving from Maryland to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Maryland to New Mexico movers is AT Movers
Maryland to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Maryland to New Mexico
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Harsh winters
- High taxes
- Dense urban areas
- Lower living costs
- Less crowded roads
- Mild winters
- Lower taxes
- Spacious landscapes
- Fewer historical sites
- Less greenery
- Landlocked state
- Fewer cuisines
- Limited job options
- Rich history
- Access to parks
- Proximity to coast
- Diverse restaurants
- Thriving job market
Pros of moving from Maryland to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living costs
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to New Mexico with less crowded roads
- Swap the harsh winters of Maryland for mild winters in New Mexico
- Get ready for lower taxes in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Maryland to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Maryland to live with fewer historical sites in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of access to parks and have to settle with the con of less greenery
- Time to bid farewell to the proximity to the coast and get used to being in a landlocked state in New Mexico
- Swap diverse restaurants for fewer cuisines
Maryland vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Maryland | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Crab Cakes | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Pit Beef | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Grain Bowl | Vegetarian Tamales |
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 Maryland to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Crab Cakes of Maryland for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Maryland rave about their flavorful Pit Beef and sumptuous Soft Shell Crab 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 Grain Bowl 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 Maryland eateries like Phillips Seafood, Bertha's Mussels, and Charm City Cakes. 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, El Modelo Mexican Foods, and Sadie's of New Mexico.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Maryland. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Maryland. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Maryland and New Mexico
Comparison | Maryland | 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 | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Vigas, kiva fireplaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Maryland is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Maryland's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like vigas and kiva fireplaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than Maryland.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Mexico is less bike-friendly than Maryland.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than Maryland.
- New Mexico housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Maryland, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Marylandβs $414,972.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 33% increase in Maryland.
- Rent in New Mexico is 26.99% more affordable than in Maryland.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Maryland and New Mexico
Comparison | Maryland | 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, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 29Β°F | 50Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44.5 | 13.9 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.6 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Maryland to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 31% more sunshine days than Maryland.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Maryland.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Maryland, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 5 degrees warmer than in Maryland.
- The average winter lows in New Mexico are 6 degrees colder than those in Maryland.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 30.6 fewer inches of rain compared to Maryland.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Maryland and New Mexico
Comparison | Maryland | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $94,991 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 124.95 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 5.75% | 1.7% - 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.06% | 0.65% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 5.125% |
Top 3 Industries | Biotechnology, Real Estate, Federal Government | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Film |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Higher |
Homelessness | Moderate | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 37% less than residents in Maryland
- The COLI in New Mexico is 23% lower than what you are used to living in Maryland
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7% - 5.9% compared to 2% - 5.75% in MD
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to prosperous in Maryland
- The poverty level is higher in New Mexico compared to low in Maryland
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Maryland and concerning in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Maryland vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Maryland | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Largely Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Urban areas heavily Democratic; rural areas more mixed | Diversity in political beliefs with a strong Democratic presence in urban centers |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a significant non-religious segment | Christian majority, with Catholicism being particularly influential |
- Maryland tends to lean largely Democratic 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 a Christian majority, with Catholicism being particularly influential
- Maryland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a significant non-religious segment
Education Guide When Moving from Maryland to New Mexico
Comparison | Maryland | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Johns Hopkins University Towson University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Fulton Elementary (Fulton) Cashell Elementary (Rockville) Bannockburn Elementary (Bethesda) | Synergy Charter School (Albuquerque) Carlos Gilbert Elementary (Santa Fe) Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda) Herbert Hoover Middle (Potomac) Milton M. Somers Middle School (La Plata) | Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda) Winston Churchill High School (Potomac) Poolesville High School (Poolesville) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Gilman School (Baltimore) Holton-Arms School (Bethesda) McDonogh School (Owings Mills) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Prep (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Glenelg Country School (Ellicott City) Friends School of Baltimore (Baltimore) St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Potomac) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Howard County Public Schools Montgomery County Public Schools Frederick County Public Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Maryland to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,787 miles from Maryland to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: AT Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,216 | 300 ft3 | $7.39 |
1 Bedroom | $3,301 | 450 ft3 | $7.34 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,464 | 750 ft3 | $7.29 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,959 | 1100 ft3 | $7.24 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,496 | 1600 ft3 | $7.19 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,843 | 1800 ft3 | $7.14 |
Top Maryland to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Maryland to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.