Oklahoma to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 502 mile interstate move from Oklahoma to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oklahoma vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Chicken Fried Steak vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (ranch vs pueblo revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chicken Fried Steak and BBQ Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 48% more expensive than they are in Oklahoma
- Rent in New Mexico is 7.26% more expensive than in Oklahoma
- Moving from Oklahoma to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Oklahoma to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
Oklahoma to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oklahoma to New Mexico
- Humidity
- Tornado threats
- Flat terrain
- Higher oil dependency
- Limited local cuisine
- Dry climate
- Fewer natural disasters
- Beautiful landscapes
- Diverse economy
- Rich culinary scene
- Less familiarity
- Higher living costs
- Less varied music
- Different cultural dynamics
- Less space in cities
- Strong community ties
- Low living costs
- Vibrant music scene
- Rich cowboy culture
- Wide open space
Pros of moving from Oklahoma to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from tornado threats and moving to New Mexico with fewer natural disasters
- Swap the flat terrain of Oklahoma for beautiful landscapes in New Mexico
- Get ready for a diverse economy in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Oklahoma to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from strong community ties in Oklahoma to live with less familiarity in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of low living costs and have to settle for the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to a vibrant music scene and get used to less varied music in New Mexico
- Swap rich cowboy culture for different cultural dynamics
Oklahoma vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oklahoma | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chicken Fried Steak | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | BBQ Brisket | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Fried Onion Burgers | Breakfast Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan BBQ Sandwich | Calabacitas |
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 Oklahoma to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Chicken Fried Steak of Oklahoma for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Oklahoma rave about their flavorful BBQ Brisket and sumptuous Fried Onion Burgers, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan BBQ Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Calabacitas of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oklahoma eateries like Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Eischen's Bar, and Joe's Barbecue. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like El Modelo, Sadie's of New Mexico, and Frontier Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oklahoma. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico, compared to what you are used to in Oklahoma. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oklahoma and New Mexico
Comparison | Oklahoma | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Pueblo Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Lot, Open Floor Plan | Natural Light, Energy Efficiency |
- The Ranch architecture that Oklahoma is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Oklahoma's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious lots and open floor plans, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like natural light and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than Oklahoma.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than Oklahoma.
- New Mexico has more of an urban feel than Oklahoma.
- New Mexico housing costs are 48% more expensive than they are in Oklahoma, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Oklahomaβs $203,455.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 50% increase in Oklahoma.
- Rent in New Mexico is 7.26% more expensive than in Oklahoma.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oklahoma and New Mexico
Comparison | Oklahoma | 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 | Tornadoes, Hail | Wildfires, Flooding |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 94Β°F / 72Β°F | 92Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 29Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 9 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oklahoma to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 22% more sunshine days than Oklahoma.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oklahoma.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and hail in Oklahoma, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
- The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 2 degrees colder than in Oklahoma.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Oklahoma.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 22 fewer inches of rain compared to Oklahoma.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oklahoma and New Mexico
Comparison | Oklahoma | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,673 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.1 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.87% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.95% | 7.83% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Aerospace | Energy, Tourism, Film |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 0% more than those in Oklahoma
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Oklahoma
- The state income tax in NM is 4.9% compared to 5% in OK
- The affluence in New Mexico is varied compared to moderate affluence in Oklahoma
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to moderate poverty in Oklahoma
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Oklahoma and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Oklahoma vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Oklahoma | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican majority in state government | Democratic majority in state government |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant | Catholic |
- Oklahoma tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as Catholic
- Oklahoma's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Oklahoma to New Mexico
Comparison | Oklahoma | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University University of Tulsa | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Chisholm Elementary School - Enid Russell Dougherty Elementary - Edmond Wayland Bonds Elementary - Oklahoma City | Wood Gormley Elementary - Santa Fe Double Eagle Elementary - Albuquerque Georgia OβKeeffe Elementary - Albuquerque |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Whittier Middle School - Norman Central Middle School - Edmond Sequoyah Middle School - Edmond | Desert Ridge Middle School - Albuquerque Lincoln Middle School - Rio Rancho Sidney Gutierrez Middle School - Roswell |
Top 3 High School Schools | Edmond North High School - Edmond Norman North High School - Norman Jenks High School - Jenks | La Cueva High School - Albuquerque Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science - Albuquerque Cottonwood Classical Prep - Albuquerque |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School - Oklahoma City Cascia Hall Preparatory School - Tulsa Heritage Hall - Oklahoma City | Albuquerque Academy - Albuquerque Santa Fe Preparatory School - Santa Fe Sandia Preparatory School - Albuquerque |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Crossings Christian School - Oklahoma City The Academy of Classical Christian Studies - Oklahoma City Heritage Hall - Oklahoma City | Rio Grande School - Santa Fe Sandia Preparatory School - Albuquerque Bosque School - Albuquerque |
Top 3 School Districts | Edmond Public Schools Norman Public Schools Jenks Public Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Oklahoma to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 502 miles from Oklahoma to New Mexico will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,487 | 300 ft3 | $4.96 |
1 Bedroom | $2,208 | 450 ft3 | $4.91 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,643 | 750 ft3 | $4.86 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,288 | 1100 ft3 | $4.81 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,611 | 1600 ft3 | $4.76 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,472 | 1800 ft3 | $4.71 |
Top Oklahoma to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oklahoma to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.