New Mexico to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,734 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Pennsylvania? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Pennsylvania across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert heat vs milder climate), food & health (like Green Chile vs Philly Cheesesteak), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Philly Cheesesteak & Pittsburgh Steak Salad
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 8.93% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Pennsylvania will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Pennsylvania movers is Pittsburgh Moving
New Mexico to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Pennsylvania
- High desert heat
- Limited water resources
- Few job opportunities
- Remote areas
- High poverty rate
- Milder climate
- Abundant greenery
- Diverse job market
- Closer urban amenities
- Higher median income
- More cloud cover
- Less cultural diversity
- Higher taxes
- Fewer open landscapes
- Different food culture
- Stunning sunsets
- Rich cultural heritage
- Low cost of living
- Naturally beautiful
- Unique cuisine
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Pennsylvania
- Say goodbye to high desert heat and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited water resources and moving to Pennsylvania with abundant greenery
- Swap the few job opportunities of New Mexico for a diverse job market in Pennsylvania
- Get ready for closer urban amenities in Pennsylvania
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Pennsylvania
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning sunsets in New Mexico to live with more cloud cover in Pennsylvania
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural heritage and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to a low cost of living and get used to higher taxes in Pennsylvania
- Swap naturally beautiful landscapes for fewer open spaces
New Mexico vs. Pennsylvania: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Philly Cheesesteak |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Pittsburgh Steak Salad |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Pretzels |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Mushroom Philly Cheesesteak |
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 Pennsylvania, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Tacos, Pennsylvania residents know they have tasty Pittsburgh Steak Salad and Pretzels 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 Mushroom Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, Frontier Restaurant, and El Modelo Mexican Foods. After the boxes are unpacked in Pennsylvania, don't wait too long before making your way to Pennsylvania's acclaimed eateries like Reading Terminal Market, DiNic's Roast Pork and Beef, and Pat's King of Steaks.
When comparing lifestyles, Pennsylvania shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Pennsylvania, compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Pennsylvania.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Pennsylvania
Comparison | New Mexico | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic Views, Landscape | Historical Significance, Proximity to Amenities |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Pennsylvania.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and landscapes, Pennsylvania real estate listings often highlight features like historical significance and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Pennsylvania is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Pennsylvania is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Pennsylvania has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $261,312 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Pennsylvania have increased 43% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 8.93% more expensive than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Pennsylvania
Comparison | New Mexico | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
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, Flash Floods | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 53Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 14 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 38 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania gets 27% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Pennsylvania has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and flash floods in New Mexico, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and floods in Pennsylvania.
- The average summer high temperature in Pennsylvania is the same as in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania receives 28 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Pennsylvania
Comparison | New Mexico | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Majority Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Mixed; progressive in cities, conservative in rural areas |
Religion | Largely Catholic, significant Native American spiritual practices | Diverse; high populations of Catholics, Protestants, and a significant Jewish community |
- New Mexico tends to lean majority Democratic in its political climate
- Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Pennsylvania's religious environment can be described as diverse with high populations of Catholics, Protestants, and a significant Jewish community
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Catholic with significant Native American spiritual practices
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Pennsylvania
Comparison | New Mexico | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech | University of Pennsylvania Penn State University Carnegie Mellon University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) S.Y. Jackson Elementary (Albuquerque) | Adlai Stevenson Elementary (Pittsburgh) Whitemarsh Elementary (Plymouth Meeting) Cold Spring Elementary (Doylestown) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountain View Middle School (Albuquerque) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Charles F. Patton Middle School (Kennett Square) Radnor Middle School (Radnor) |
Top 3 High Schools | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Early College Academy (Albuquerque) | Julia R. Masterman High School (Philadelphia) Conestoga High School (Berwyn) Lower Merion High School (Ardmore) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) | The Haverford School (Haverford) The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) Shady Side Academy (Pittsburgh) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Menaul School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) | Shady Side Academy (Pittsburgh) The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) Friends' Central School (Wynnewood) |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Radnor Township School District Lower Merion School District |
How Much Do New Mexico to Pennsylvania Movers Cost?
Moving 1,734 miles from New Mexico to Pennsylvania 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: 1-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,186 | 300 ft3 | $7.29 |
1 Bedroom | $3,256 | 450 ft3 | $7.24 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,389 | 750 ft3 | $7.19 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,849 | 1100 ft3 | $7.14 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,336 | 1600 ft3 | $7.09 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,663 | 1800 ft3 | $7.04 |
Top New Mexico to Pennsylvania Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Pennsylvania movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for New Mexico to Pennsylvania