North Carolina to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,647 mile interstate move from North Carolina to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Pulled pork BBQ vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs pueblo, spanish revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled pork BBQ and Eastern NC Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 9% less expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in New Mexico is 21.36% more affordable than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended North Carolina to New Mexico movers is Just Move It, LLC
North Carolina to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to New Mexico
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Busy tourist areas
- Mild winters
- Dry climate
- Low natural disasters
- Lighter traffic
- Tranquil environments
- Sunny winters
- No beaches
- Drier soil
- Less biodiversity
- Fewer historic landmarks
- Sparse urban landscapes
- Coastal beaches
- Fertile land
- Diverse ecosystems
- Historic sites
- Vibrant cities
Pros of moving from North Carolina to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to New Mexico with low natural disasters
- Swap the traffic congestion of North Carolina for lighter traffic in New Mexico
- Get ready for tranquil environments in New Mexico
Cons of moving from North Carolina to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from coastal beaches in North Carolina to live with no beaches in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of fertile land and have to settle for the con of drier soil
- Time to bid farewell to diverse ecosystems and get used to less biodiversity in New Mexico
- Swap historic sites for fewer historic landmarks
North Carolina vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern NC Barbecue | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Sandwich | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Sweet Potato | Blue Corn 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 North Carolina to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern NC Barbecue and sumptuous BBQ 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 Sweet Potato they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blue Corn Tacos of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Skylight Inn BBQ, Jim 'N Nick's, and Buxton Hall Barbecue. 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 North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and New Mexico
Comparison | North Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Pueblo, Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, hardwood floors | Vigas, kiva fireplaces |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Spanish Revival architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large 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 North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- New Mexico housing costs are 9% less expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in New Mexico is 21.36% more affordable than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and New Mexico
Comparison | North Carolina | 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, Tornadoes | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 66Β°F | 92Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Carolina to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 31% more sunshine days than North Carolina.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina, 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 6 degrees warmer than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees colder than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 36 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and New Mexico
Comparison | North Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.84% | 0.75% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98% | 7.83% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Energy, Aerospace, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 11% less than in North Carolina
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in NM is 4.9% compared to 5.25% in NC
- The affluence in New Mexico is low compared to moderate in North Carolina
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to moderate in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in North Carolina and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. New Mexico
Comparison | North Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Conservative | Leans Liberal |
Local Politics | Swing State | Democratic Stronghold |
Religion | Christian Dominated | Mixed; Higher non-religious population |
- North Carolina tends to lean moderately 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 mixed with a higher non-religious population
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian Dominated
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to New Mexico
Comparison | North Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Endhaven Elementary (Charlotte) Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) Sterling Montessori Academy (Morrisville) | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (a K-8 school in Roswell) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte) Community House Middle School (Charlotte) Ligon Middle School (Raleigh) | Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Eisenhower Middle School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High School Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Providence High School (Charlotte) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Providence Day School (Charlotte) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Cary Academy (Cary) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Union County Public Schools Wake County Public School System | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools |
How Much Do North Carolina to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,647 miles from North Carolina to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,136 | 300 ft3 | $7.12 |
1 Bedroom | $3,182 | 450 ft3 | $7.07 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,266 | 750 ft3 | $7.02 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,668 | 1100 ft3 | $6.97 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,073 | 1600 ft3 | $6.92 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,367 | 1800 ft3 | $6.87 |
Top North Carolina to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to New Mexico