New Mexico to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

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
- Desert climate
- Limited greenery
- Aging infrastructure
- Higher crime rates
- Rural isolation
- Mild, rainy weather
- Lush forests
- Modern amenities
- Safer neighborhoods
- Urban attractions
- Higher living expenses
- Frequent rain
- Traffic congestion
- Less diverse culture
- Big city hustle
- 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
Comparison | New Mexico | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Cedar Plank Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Navajo Taco | Piroshky |
Most popular vegan food | Calabacitas | Tempeh Reuben |
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 (out of 10) | 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 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
Comparison | New Mexico | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Style | Northwest Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open landscapes, quiet neighborhoods | Eco-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 Mexicoβs $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
Comparison | New Mexico | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Varies (Urban vs Rural) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 64Β°F | 79Β°F / 58Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 14 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 52 |
- 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
Comparison | New Mexico | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 1.7 - 4.9 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.66 | 0.93 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.83 | 9.29 |
Top 3 Industries | Oil & Gas, Government, Tourism | Tech, Aerospace, Software |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- 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
Comparison | New Mexico | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | High Hispanic/Latino influence | Diverse with strong progressive urban areas |
Religion | Catholicism predominant | Less 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
Comparison | New Mexico | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 Schools | Pinon Elementary - Santa Fe Double Eagle Elementary - Albuquerque Wood Gormley Elementary - Santa Fe | Cascadia Elementary - Seattle Challenge Elementary - Bellevue Medina Elementary - Medina |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Desert Ridge Middle - Albuquerque Lincoln Middle - Rio Rancho Sidney Gutierrez Middle - Roswell | International School - Bellevue Lakeside Middle - Seattle Odyssey Middle - Bainbridge Island |
Top 3 High Schools | Albuquerque 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 schools | Albuquerque 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 schools | Sandia Preparatory School - Albuquerque Bosque School - Albuquerque Menaul School - Albuquerque | The Bear Creek School - Redmond Annie Wright Schools - Tacoma Seattle Academy - Seattle |
Top 3 School Districts | Los 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 SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,065 | 300 ft3 | $6.88 |
1 Bedroom | $3,075 | 450 ft3 | $6.83 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,087 | 750 ft3 | $6.78 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,406 | 1100 ft3 | $6.73 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,692 | 1600 ft3 | $6.68 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,939 | 1800 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.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for New Mexico to Washington