New York to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,960 mile interstate move from New York to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Bagel vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (art deco, brownstone vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel and Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in New Mexico is 45.48% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended New York to New Mexico movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to New Mexico
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Long commutes
- Harsh winters
- High noise levels
- Lower cost of living
- Open spaces
- Less traffic
- Mild winters
- Peaceful environment
- Less diverse culture
- Fewer Michelin restaurants
- Limited public transport
- Fewer job opportunities
- Fewer famous landmarks
- Vibrant culture
- Top-notch dining
- Public transport
- Abundant job opportunities
- Iconic attractions
Pros of moving from New York to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to a lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from a dense population and moving to New Mexico with open spaces
- Swap the long commutes of New York for less traffic in New Mexico
- Get ready for mild winters in New Mexico
Cons of moving from New York to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant culture in New York to live with a less diverse culture in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of top-notch dining and have to settle for the con of fewer Michelin restaurants
- Time to bid farewell to public transport and get used to limited public transport in New Mexico
- Swap abundant job opportunities for fewer job opportunities
New York vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami on Rye | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Impossible Burger | Vegan Tamales |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | 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 (out of 10) | 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 York to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Bagel of New York for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami on Rye and sumptuous Hot Dog, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Impossible Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tamales of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Per Se, and The Spotted Pig. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, Frontier Restaurant, and El Modelo Mexican Foods.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and New Mexico
Comparison | New York | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Art Deco, Brownstone | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to subway, Views | Mountain views, Outdoor living spaces |
- The Art Deco and Brownstone architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and views, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Mexico is less bike-friendly than New York.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than New York.
- New Mexico housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in New Mexico is 45.48% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and New Mexico
Comparison | New York | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Blizzards | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F / 20Β°F | 47Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 14.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.8 | 11.3 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New York to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 25% more sunshine days than New York.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in New York, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 10 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 35.2 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and New Mexico
Comparison | New York | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 6.85% | 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 0.8% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 7.8% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Retail | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 25% less than in New York
- The COLI in New Mexico is 6% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in NM is 5.9% compared to 6.85% in NY
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in New York and low in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. New Mexico
Comparison | New York | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Predominantly Democratic | Leaning Democratic |
Local Politics | Strong urban influence | Emphasis on rural issues |
Religion | Diverse affiliations, with a significant number of non-religious | Predominantly Christian, with strong Catholic presence |
- New York tends to lean predominantly Democratic in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with a strong Catholic presence
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse affiliations with a significant number of non-religious
Education Guide When Moving from New York to New Mexico
Comparison | New York | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | NYU Columbia University Cornell University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 2 (Bronx) Scarsdale Public Schools (Scarsdale) | Synergy Charter School (Albuquerque) Turquoise Trail Charter School (Santa Fe) Double Eagle Elementary School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School (New York City) New Explorations into Science Technology and Math School (New York City) Rye Middle School (Rye) | Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Staten Island Technical High School (Staten Island) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Collegiate School (New York City) Trinity School (New York City) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Trinity School (New York City) Collegiate School (New York City) Spence School (New York City) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District Great Neck Public Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do New York to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,960 miles from New York to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,314 | 300 ft3 | $7.71 |
1 Bedroom | $3,448 | 450 ft3 | $7.66 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,709 | 750 ft3 | $7.61 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,318 | 1100 ft3 | $7.56 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,020 | 1600 ft3 | $7.51 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,432 | 1800 ft3 | $7.46 |
Top New York to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.