New Mexico to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 400 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert heat vs cooler summers), food & health (like Green Chile vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs mountain and modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 83% more expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Colorado is 48.78% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Colorado will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
New Mexico to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Colorado
- High desert heat
- Limited water activities
- Sparse forests
- Less diverse weather
- Fewer mountain ranges
- Cooler summers
- Better skiing options
- Abundant greenery
- More seasonal variation
- Beautiful Rocky Mountains
- Higher cost of living
- More challenging commutes
- More expensive properties
- Busier tourist spots
- Colder and snowier winters
- Rich culture heritage
- Unique local cuisine
- Low property costs
- Fewer tourists
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Colorado
- Say goodbye to high desert heat and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited water activities and moving to Colorado with better skiing options
- Swap the sparse forests of New Mexico for abundant greenery in Colorado
- Get ready for more seasonal variation in Colorado
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich cultural heritage in New Mexico to live with a higher cost of living in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of unique local cuisine and have to settle for the con of more challenging commutes
- Time to bid farewell to low property costs and get used to more expensive properties in Colorado
- Swap fewer tourists for busier tourist spots
New Mexico vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Green Chile Cheese Fries |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Quinoa Salad |
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 New Mexico to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chile Cheese Fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blue Corn Enchiladas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like El Modelo, Sadie's of New Mexico, and Frontier Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Buckhorn Exchange, Beast + Bottle, and Snooze an A.M. Eatery.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Colorado
Comparison | New Mexico | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Mountain and Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Privacy | Views, Sustainability Options |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Mountain and Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference views and privacy, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like views and sustainability options.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Colorado housing costs are 83% more expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Colorado is 48.78% more expensive than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Colorado
Comparison | New Mexico | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Floods | Snowstorms, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 64Β°F | 85Β°F / 56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13.85 | 15.60 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 60 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Colorado. Colorado gets 13% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Colorado has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in New Mexico, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and wildfires in Colorado.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 7 degrees colder than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees colder than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Colorado. Colorado receives 1.8 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Colorado
Comparison | New Mexico | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.49% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.5% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Aerospace | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 50% more than in New Mexico
- The COLI in Colorado is 2% higher than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- The state income tax in CO is 4.55% compared to 5.9% in NM
- The affluence in Colorado is higher compared to moderate in New Mexico
- The poverty level is lower in Colorado compared to higher in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Mexico and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Colorado
Comparison | New Mexico | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Moderately Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed, with a progressive tilt in urban areas | Mixed, inclining towards progressive in major cities |
Religion | Catholicism predominant | Mixed, with a significant portion unaffiliated |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as mixed, with a significant portion unaffiliated
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Colorado
Comparison | New Mexico | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary (Albuquerque) | Core Knowledge Charter School (Parker) Parker Core Knowledge Charter School (Parker) STEM Lab (Northglenn) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Tony Hillerman Middle School (Albuquerque) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) | Challenge School (Denver) Mountain Ridge Middle School (Highlands Ranch) Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) |
Top 3 High Schools | Early College Academy (Albuquerque) La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) | Colorado Academy (Denver) Kent Denver School (Englewood) The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School (Albuquerque) The Menaul School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) | Colorado Springs Christian Schools (Colorado Springs) Valor Christian High School (Highlands Ranch) Dawson School (Lafayette) |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools | Boulder Valley School District Cherry Creek School District Douglas County School District |
How Much Do New Mexico to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 400 miles from New Mexico to Colorado will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,429 | 300 ft3 | $4.76 |
1 Bedroom | $2,121 | 450 ft3 | $4.71 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,498 | 750 ft3 | $4.66 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,076 | 1100 ft3 | $4.61 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,303 | 1600 ft3 | $4.56 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,126 | 1800 ft3 | $4.51 |
Top New Mexico to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for New Mexico to Colorado