Movers

New Mexico to Washington Moving Guide

Updated June 12, 2025

Hero background image

Planning a 1,521 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like desert climate vs mild, rainy weather), food & health (like Green Chile vs Salmon), real estate & housing (pueblo style vs northwest style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Cedar Plank Salmon
  • Washington housing costs are 97% more expensive than they are in New Mexico
  • Rent in Washington is 44.74% more expensive than in New Mexico
  • Moving from New Mexico to Washington will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
  • Our top recommended New Mexico to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More

New Mexico to Washington Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Washington

ConsNew Mexico iconNew Mexico
  • Desert climate
  • Limited greenery
  • Aging infrastructure
  • Higher crime rates
  • Rural isolation
ProsWashington iconWashington
  • Mild, rainy weather
  • Lush forests
  • Modern amenities
  • Safer neighborhoods
  • Urban attractions

Washington iconWashington
  • Higher living expenses
  • Frequent rain
  • Traffic congestion
  • Less diverse culture
  • Big city hustle
New Mexico iconNew Mexico
  • Low cost of living
  • Sunny weather
  • Sparse traffic
  • Rich cultural heritage
  • Charming small towns

Pros of moving from New Mexico to Washington

  • Say goodbye to desert climate and hello to mild, rainy weather
  • Look forward to moving away from limited greenery and moving to Washington with lush forests
  • Swap the aging infrastructure of New Mexico for modern amenities in Washington
  • Get ready for safer neighborhoods in Washington

Cons of moving from New Mexico to Washington

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in New Mexico to live with higher living expenses in Washington
  • You'll lose out on the pro of sunny weather and have to settle with the con of frequent rain
  • Time to bid farewell to sparse traffic and get used to traffic congestion in Washington
  • Swap rich cultural heritage for a less diverse culture

New Mexico vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonNew MexicoWashington
Most iconic local food itemGreen ChileSalmon
Most popular meat dishCarne AdovadaCedar Plank Salmon
Most popular street food itemNavajo TacoPiroshky
Most popular vegan foodCalabacitasTempeh Reuben
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Sadie's of New Mexico
  • El Modelo
  • Frontier Restaurant
  • Canlis
  • Pike Place Chowder
  • Salumi
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene (out of 10)🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from New Mexico to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Navajo Taco, Washington residents know they have tasty Cedar Plank Salmon and Piroshky to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Calabacitas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reuben of Washington. 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, and Frontier Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and Salumi.

When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Washington

ComparisonNew MexicoWashington
Typical Architecture StylePueblo StyleNorthwest Style
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingOpen landscapes, quiet neighborhoodsEco-friendly features, proximity to nature
  • The Pueblo Style architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Style architecture typical of Washington.
  • Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference open landscapes and quiet neighborhoods, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly aspects and proximity to nature.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than New Mexico.
  • Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
  • Washington has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
  • Washington housing costs are 97% more expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to New Mexico’s $300,227.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased 49% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
  • Rent in Washington is 44.74% more expensive than in New Mexico.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Washington

ComparisonNew MexicoWashington
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersWildfires, FloodsVolcanoes, Earthquakes
Air QualityGenerally GoodVaries (Urban vs Rural)
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)92Β°F / 64Β°F79Β°F / 58Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)49Β°F / 23Β°F47Β°F / 36Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)1438
Annual Snowfall (Inches)2252
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Washington. Washington gets 46% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
  • Washington 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 volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
  • Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 13 degrees colder than in New Mexico.
  • The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in New Mexico.
  • Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 24 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.

Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Washington

ComparisonNew MexicoWashington
Avg. Household Income$59,726$91,306
Cost of Living Index96.45104.1
State Income Tax1.7 - 4.90
Avg. Property Tax0.660.93
Avg. Sales Tax7.839.29
Top 3 IndustriesOil & Gas, Government, TourismTech, Aerospace, Software
AffluenceModerateHigh
PovertyHighModerate
HomelessnessModerateHigh
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 53% more than in New Mexico
  • The COLI in Washington will be 8% higher than what you are used to living in New Mexico
  • Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
  • The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate in New Mexico
  • The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to high in New Mexico
  • In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Mexico and high in Washington

Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Washington

ComparisonNew MexicoWashington
Political Make-upLeans DemocraticLeans Democratic
Local PoliticsHigh Hispanic/Latino influenceDiverse with strong progressive urban areas
ReligionCatholicism predominantLess religiously affiliated, diverse beliefs
  • New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
  • Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
  • Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated and diverse in beliefs
  • New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Catholic

Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Washington

ComparisonNew MexicoWashington
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)University of New Mexico
New Mexico State University
Eastern New Mexico University
University of Washington
Washington State University
Western Washington University
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsPinon Elementary - Santa Fe
Double Eagle Elementary - Albuquerque
Wood Gormley Elementary - Santa Fe
Cascadia Elementary - Seattle
Challenge Elementary - Bellevue
Medina Elementary - Medina
Top 3 Middle SchoolsDesert Ridge Middle - Albuquerque
Lincoln Middle - Rio Rancho
Sidney Gutierrez Middle - Roswell
International School - Bellevue
Lakeside Middle - Seattle
Odyssey Middle - Bainbridge Island
Top 3 High SchoolsAlbuquerque Institute of Math & Science - Albuquerque
La Cueva High - Albuquerque
Arrowhead Park Early College - Las Cruces
Lakeside School - Seattle
International School - Bellevue
Newport High - Bellevue
Top 3 private high schoolsAlbuquerque Academy - Albuquerque
Santa Fe Prep - Santa Fe
Bosque School - Albuquerque
Lakeside School - Seattle
The Overlake School - Redmond
Eastside Preparatory School - Kirkland
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsSandia Preparatory School - Albuquerque
Bosque School - Albuquerque
Menaul School - Albuquerque
The Bear Creek School - Redmond
Annie Wright Schools - Tacoma
Seattle Academy - Seattle
Top 3 School DistrictsLos Alamos Public Schools
Rio Rancho Public Schools
Hobbs Municipal Schools
Bellevue School District
Mercer Island School District
Lake Washington School District

How Much Do New Mexico to Washington Movers Cost?

Moving 1,521 miles from New Mexico to Washington 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 - $7,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$2,065300 ft3$6.88
1 Bedroom$3,075450 ft3$6.83
2 Bedrooms$5,087750 ft3$6.78
3 Bedrooms$7,4061100 ft3$6.73
4 Bedrooms$10,6921600 ft3$6.68
5+ Bedrooms$11,9391800 ft3$6.63

Top New Mexico to Washington Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
Seattle Moves & More

Seattle Moves & More

Best moving company overall for New Mexico to Washington

9.55/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
JP Moving featured image

JP Moving

9.39/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
John Volken Academy Movers featured image

John Volken Academy Movers

9.34/10
ExceptionalView details