New Mexico to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 627 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert heat vs cool mountain air), food & health (like Green Chile vs Fry Sauce), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Fry Sauce & Utah Scones with Honey Butter
- Utah housing costs are 73% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Rent in Utah is 23.63% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Utah will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
New Mexico to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Utah
- High desert heat
- Limited job market
- Lack of water bodies
- Desert landscapes
- Expensive flights
- Cool mountain air
- Strong economy
- Great Salt Lake
- Varied landscapes
- More flight options
- Less cultural diversity
- Higher living costs
- Snowy winters
- Fewer local events
- Faster-paced lifestyle
- Rich cultural heritage
- Lower cost of living
- Sunny weather
- Festivals and events
- Laid-back lifestyle
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Utah
- Say goodbye to high desert heat and hello to cool mountain air
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Utah with a strong economy
- Swap the lack of water bodies in New Mexico for the Great Salt Lake in Utah
- Get ready for varied landscapes in Utah
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich cultural heritage in New Mexico to live with less cultural diversity in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to sunny weather and get used to snowy winters in Utah
- Swap festivals and events for fewer local events
New Mexico vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Fry Sauce |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Utah Scones with Honey Butter |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Navajo Taco |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Vegan βMilkβ Shakes |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Fry Sauce of Utah. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Utah residents know they have tasty Utah Scones with Honey Butter and Navajo Taco 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 Vegan βMilkβ Shakes of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, El Modelo Mexican Foods, and Frontier Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Red Iguana, Hire's Big H, and Log Haven.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Utah
Comparison | New Mexico | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, mountain views | Energy efficiency, close to outdoor activities |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings, which commonly reference spacious yards and mountain views, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and proximity to outdoor activities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Utah is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Utah housing costs are 73% more expensive than in New Mexico, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56%, which is the same increase seen in New Mexico.
- Rent in Utah is 23.63% more expensive than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Utah
Comparison | New Mexico | Utah |
---|---|---|
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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 64Β°F | 90Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 37Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13.85 | 12.26 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 56 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Utah. Utah gets 15% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Utah has higher humidity and a higher 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 earthquakes in Utah.
- The average summer high temperature in Utah is 2 degrees colder than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 1.6 fewer inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Utah
Comparison | New Mexico | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.78% | 0.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.83% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Agriculture | Technology, Tourism, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | High | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 49% more than those in New Mexico
- The COLI in Utah is 1% lower than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- The state income tax in Utah is 4.95% compared to 5.9% in New Mexico
- The affluence in Utah is high compared to moderate affluence in New Mexico
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to high poverty in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Mexico and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Utah
Comparison | New Mexico | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Republican-dominated |
Local Politics | Diverse, with emphasis on local issues | Conservative, with a strong focus on family and community values |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence | Predominantly LDS (Mormon) |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-dominated
- Utah's religious environment can be described as predominantly LDS (Mormon)
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with a significant Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Utah
Comparison | New Mexico | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arrowhead Park Early College High School (Las Cruces) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Carlos Gilbert Elementary (Santa Fe) | Edgemont Elementary School (Provo) Wasatch Elementary School (Salt Lake City) Northridge Elementary School (Orem) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jefferson Middle School (Albuquerque) Mesa Middle School (Las Cruces) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) | Centennial Middle School (Provo) Fairfield Jr. High School (Kaysville) Mountain Ridge Jr. High School (Highland) |
Top 3 High School Schools | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Math & Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School (Albuquerque) | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Itineris Early College High School (West Jordan) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Layton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Prep (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) The Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School (Albuquerque) Desert Academy (Santa Fe) The Master's Program (Santa Fe) | The Walden School (Provo) Layton Christian Academy (Layton) Intermountain Christian School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools | Park City School District Davis School District Alpine School District |
How Much Do New Mexico to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 627 miles from New Mexico to Utah 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: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,558 | 300 ft3 | $5.19 |
1 Bedroom | $2,314 | 450 ft3 | $5.14 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,820 | 750 ft3 | $5.09 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,547 | 1100 ft3 | $5.04 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,989 | 1600 ft3 | $4.99 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,898 | 1800 ft3 | $4.94 |
Top New Mexico to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.