New Mexico to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,490 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high summer heat vs milder summers), food & health (like Green Chile vs Cherry Pie), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Michigan), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Cherry Pie & Pasties
- Michigan housing costs are 20% less expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Michigan is 6.48% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Michigan will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
New Mexico to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Michigan
- High summer heat
- Limited water bodies
- Desert landscape
- Limited snow
- Milder summers
- Great Lakes access
- Forested areas
- Winter sports
- Higher cost of living
- Less diverse history
- Long winters
- Limited chile options
- Low cost of living
- Rich cultural history
- Year-round sunshine
- Diverse cuisine
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Michigan
- Say goodbye to high summer heat and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited water bodies and moving to Michigan with great lakes access
- Swap the desert landscape of New Mexico for forested areas in Michigan
- Get ready for winter sports in Michigan
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in New Mexico to live with the higher cost of living in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural history and have to settle with the con of less diverse history
- Time to bid farewell to year-round sunshine and get used to long winters in Michigan
- Swap diverse cuisine for limited chile options
New Mexico vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Cherry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Pasties |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Coney Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Calabacitas | Lentil Burger |
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 Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Cherry Pie of Michigan. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Michigan residents know they have tasty Pasties and Coney Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Calabacitas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Burger of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like El Pinto, Sadie's of New Mexico, and Frontier Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Zingerman's Delicatessen, Slows Bar BQ, and American Coney Island.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Michigan compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Michigan
Comparison | New Mexico | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Landscaping | Lakeshore, Hardwood Floors |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference views and landscaping, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lakeshore and hardwood floors.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Michigan is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Michigan has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Michigan housing costs are 20% less expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Michigan is 6.48% more expensive than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Michigan
Comparison | New Mexico | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88Β°F / 64Β°F | 81Β°F / 58Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 31Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 14 | 30-38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10 | 60-160 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Michigan. Michigan gets 39% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in New Mexico, and be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 7 degrees colder than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows in Michigan are 6 degrees colder than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Michigan. Michigan receives 16 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Michigan
Comparison | New Mexico | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.74% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.83% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Tourism | Automotive, Technology, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Varied |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 12% more than those in New Mexico
- The COLI in Michigan will be 5% lower than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 5.9% in NM
- The affluence in Michigan is higher compared to moderate in New Mexico
- The poverty level is moderate in Michigan compared to high in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in New Mexico and varied in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Michigan
Comparison | New Mexico | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Liberal urban centers; conservative rural areas | Mixed; varies from conservative rural to liberal urban |
Religion | Catholicism predominant | Christianity diverse; Protestant and Catholic presence |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as a diverse Christianity with a Protestant and Catholic presence
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a predominant Catholicism
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Michigan
Comparison | New Mexico | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Double Eagle Elementary - Albuquerque Wood Gormley Elementary - Santa Fe Georgia OβKeeffe Elementary - Albuquerque | Bates Elementary - Dexter Hamilton Elementary - Troy Winchester Elementary - Northville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Desert Ridge Middle - Albuquerque Sidney Gutierrez Middle - Roswell Lincoln Middle - Rio Rancho | Boulan Park Middle - Troy West Middle - Rochester Hills East Middle - Plymouth |
Top 3 High School Schools | La Cueva High - Albuquerque Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science Rio Rancho High - Rio Rancho | International Academy - Bloomfield Hills Troy High School - Troy Pioneer High - Ann Arbor |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy - Albuquerque Sandia Preparatory School - Albuquerque Bosque School - Albuquerque | Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills The Roeper School - Bloomfield Hills |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Amy Biehl Community School - Santa Fe Menaul School - Albuquerque Monte del Sol Charter School - Santa Fe | Roeper School - Birmingham Greenhills School - Ann Arbor Cranbrook - Bloomfield Hills |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools | Northville Public Schools Bloomfield Hills Schools Okemos Public Schools |
How Much Do New Mexico to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 1,490 miles from New Mexico to Michigan 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: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,047 | 300 ft3 | $6.82 |
1 Bedroom | $3,048 | 450 ft3 | $6.77 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,043 | 750 ft3 | $6.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,341 | 1100 ft3 | $6.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,598 | 1600 ft3 | $6.62 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,833 | 1800 ft3 | $6.57 |
Top New Mexico to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.