Pennsylvania to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,739 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs New Mexico Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial vs pueblo revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pittsburgh Steak Salad, but get your taste buds ready for New Mexico Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 15% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in New Mexico is 8.20% more affordable than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to New Mexico movers is Pittsburgh Moving
Pennsylvania to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to New Mexico
- Harsh winters
- High taxes
- Dense traffic
- Limited outdoor activities
- Mild climate
- Lower taxes
- Less congestion
- Abundant hiking trails
- Less historical sites
- More rural areas
- Landlocked
- Arid climate
- Rich history
- Vibrant cities
- Proximity to coast
- Four distinct seasons
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from high taxes and moving to New Mexico with lower taxes
- Swap the dense traffic of Pennsylvania for less congestion in New Mexico
- Get ready for abundant hiking trails in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Pennsylvania to live with fewer historical sites in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant cities and have to settle for the con of more rural areas
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to the coast and get used to being landlocked in New Mexico
- Swap four distinct seasons for an arid climate
Pennsylvania vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | New Mexico Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Pittsburgh Steak Salad | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Breakfast Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Soup | Blue Corn Tacos |
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 Pennsylvania to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious New Mexico Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pittsburgh Steak Salad and sumptuous Pretzels, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blue Corn Tacos of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Primanti Bros., and Zahav. 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, El Modelo, and Frontier Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and New Mexico
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Pueblo Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Vigas, Kiva fireplaces |
- The Colonial architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like vigas and kiva fireplaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than Pennsylvania.
- New Mexico is similarly bike-friendly to Pennsylvania.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- New Mexico housing costs are 15% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in New Mexico is 8.20% more affordable than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and New Mexico
Comparison | Pennsylvania | 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 | Flooding, Snowstorms | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 92/64 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37/21 | 49/23 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 11 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 56% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible flooding and snowstorms in Pennsylvania, 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 7 degrees warmer than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer in New Mexico than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and New Mexico
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% | 1.7%-5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.58% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 7.82% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education | Energy, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Lower |
Poverty | Manageable | Higher |
Homelessness | Stable | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 17% less than those in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7% to 5.9% compared to 3.07% in PA
- The affluence in New Mexico is lower compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is higher in New Mexico compared to manageable poverty in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is stable in Pennsylvania and concerning in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, varied | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed, local government significant | Democratic strongholds in cities |
Religion | Christian majority, diverse religious communities | Christian majority, with notable Native American spiritual practices |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean swing state and varied in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leans Democratic
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority with notable Native American spiritual practices
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to New Mexico
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University of Pittsburgh Temple University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Whitemarsh Elementary Fort Washington; Franklin Elementary Lancaster; Harding Elementary Erie | Double Eagle Elementary Albuquerque; Wood Gormley Elementary Santa Fe; Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary Albuquerque |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haverford Middle Havertown; Radnor Middle Radnor; E.T. Richardson Middle Springfield | Desert Ridge Middle Albuquerque; Sidney Gutierrez Middle Roswell; Mountain View Middle Rio Rancho |
Top 3 High Schools | Conestoga High School Berwyn; Masterman High School Philadelphia; Central High School Philadelphia | Las Cruces High School Las Cruces; Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; La Cueva High School Albuquerque |
Top 3 private high schools | The Haverford School Haverford; The Baldwin School Bryn Mawr; Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg | Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; Sandia Preparatory School Albuquerque; Bosque School Albuquerque |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh; The Shipley School Bryn Mawr; Germantown Academy Fort Washington | Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; Sandia Preparatory School Albuquerque; Bosque School Albuquerque |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Berwyn; Radnor Township School District Radnor; Lower Merion School District Ardmore | Los Alamos Public Schools Los Alamos; Rio Rancho Public Schools Rio Rancho; Artesia Public Schools Artesia |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,739 miles from Pennsylvania to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 1-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,188 | 300 ft3 | $7.29 |
1 Bedroom | $3,260 | 450 ft3 | $7.24 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,396 | 750 ft3 | $7.19 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,859 | 1100 ft3 | $7.14 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,351 | 1600 ft3 | $7.09 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,680 | 1800 ft3 | $7.04 |
Top Pennsylvania to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to New Mexico