Nebraska to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 703 mile interstate move from Nebraska to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Nebraska vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Runza vs New Mexico Chile (Green or Red)), 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 Runza and Beefsteak, but get your taste buds ready for New Mexico Chile (Green or Red) & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in Nebraska
- Rent in New Mexico is 6.69% more expensive than in Nebraska
- Moving from Nebraska to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Nebraska to New Mexico movers is King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
Nebraska to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Nebraska to New Mexico
- Harsh winters
- Limited outdoor diversity
- Flat terrain
- Lack of cultural hubs
- Higher property taxes
- Mild winters
- Varied landscapes
- Mountain vistas
- Rich cultural scene
- Lower property taxes
- Less fertile land
- Higher expenses
- Desert conditions
- Less tight-knit
- Urban congestion
- Agricultural abundance
- Low cost of living
- Peaceful countryside
- Strong community feel
- Less traffic
Pros of moving from Nebraska to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited outdoor diversity and moving to New Mexico with varied landscapes
- Swap the flat terrain of Nebraska for mountain vistas in New Mexico
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Nebraska to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from agricultural abundance in Nebraska to live with less fertile land in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher expenses
- Time to bid farewell to peaceful countryside and get used to desert conditions in New Mexico
- Swap a strong community feel for a less tight-knit one
Nebraska vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Nebraska | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Runza | New Mexico Chile (Green or Red) |
Most popular meat dish | Beefsteak | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Corn Dogs | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil Burger | 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 Nebraska to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Runza of Nebraska for the equally delicious New Mexico Chile (Green or Red) of New Mexico. And while the locals in Nebraska rave about their flavorful Beefsteak and sumptuous Corn Dogs, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Lentil Burger 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 Nebraska eateries like Misty's Steakhouse and Lounge, Runza Restaurants, and Le Quartier Bakery. 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, Mary and Tito's Cafe, and El Modelo Mexican Foods.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Nebraska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Nebraska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Nebraska and New Mexico
Comparison | Nebraska | 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 | Large Yards, Energy Efficiency | Scenic Views, Open Floor Plans |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Nebraska is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Nebraska's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and energy efficiency, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and open floor plans.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than Nebraska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Nebraska.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Nebraska.
- New Mexico housing costs are 17% more expensive than they are in Nebraska, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Nebraskaβs $257,167.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 47% increase in Nebraska.
- Rent in New Mexico is 6.69% more expensive than in Nebraska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Nebraska and New Mexico
Comparison | Nebraska | 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, Flash floods |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Good to Moderate) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/63 | 92/64 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 36/13 | 49/23 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 23.6 | 13.9 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28.5 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Nebraska to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 26% more sunshine days than Nebraska.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Nebraska.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Nebraska, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flash floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 7 degrees warmer than in Nebraska.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Nebraska.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 9.7 fewer inches of rain compared to Nebraska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Nebraska and New Mexico
Comparison | Nebraska | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,597 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.85 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 6.84% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.72% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.0% | 7.8% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 14% less than in Nebraska
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Nebraska
- The state income tax in NM is 4.9% compared to 6.84% in NE
- The affluence in New Mexico is varied compared to moderate affluence in Nebraska
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to moderate poverty in Nebraska
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Nebraska and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Nebraska vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Nebraska | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Dominance |
Religion | Largely Christian | Mixed; Catholic and Native American spiritual practices |
- Nebraska tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as mixed, including Catholic and Native American spiritual practices
- Nebraska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Nebraska to New Mexico
Comparison | Nebraska | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Nebraska Creighton University Nebraska Wesleyan University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pyrtle Elementary (Lincoln) Meadowlark Elementary (Kearney) Westbrook Elementary (Omaha) | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Elkhorn Grandview Middle School (Elkhorn) Scott Middle School (Lincoln) Kiewit Middle School (Omaha) | Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Eisenhower Middle School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | Lincoln East High School (Lincoln) Millard North High School (Omaha) Elkhorn South High School (Elkhorn) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Marian High School (Omaha) Mount Michael Benedictine High School (Elkhorn) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Marian High School (Omaha) Mount Michael Benedictine High School (Elkhorn) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 School Districts | Elkhorn Public Schools Westside Community Schools Millard Public Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Nebraska to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 703 miles from Nebraska to New Mexico will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,601 | 300 ft3 | $5.34 |
1 Bedroom | $2,379 | 450 ft3 | $5.29 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,928 | 750 ft3 | $5.24 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,705 | 1100 ft3 | $5.19 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,219 | 1600 ft3 | $5.14 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,156 | 1800 ft3 | $5.09 |
Top Nebraska to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Nebraska to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
Best moving company overall for Nebraska to New Mexico