South Carolina to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 1,503 mile interstate move from South Carolina to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs low humidity), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs New Mexico Green Chile), real estate & housing (colonial, antebellum vs pueblo revival, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for New Mexico Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in New Mexico is 17.58% more affordable than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended South Carolina to New Mexico movers is JP Moving
South Carolina to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to New Mexico
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Dense forests
- Coastal flooding
- Low humidity
- Minimal hurricane risk
- Open landscapes
- Desert climate
- No ocean
- Less historical architecture
- Cooler winters
- Different regional foods
- Beautiful beaches
- Historic charm
- Mild winters
- Southern cuisine
Pros of moving from South Carolina to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to low humidity
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to New Mexico with minimal hurricane risk
- Swap the dense forests of South Carolina for open landscapes in New Mexico
- Get ready for a desert climate in New Mexico
Cons of moving from South Carolina to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful beaches in South Carolina to live with no ocean in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of historic charm and have to settle for the con of less historical architecture
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to cooler winters in New Mexico
- Swap southern cuisine for different regional foods
South Carolina vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | New Mexico Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Fried Green Tomatoes | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Blue Corn Tacos |
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 South Carolina to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious New Mexico Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Fried Green Tomatoes, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens 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 South Carolina eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill, and Poogan's Porch. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Santa CafΓ©, Frontier, and El Modelo.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and New Mexico
Comparison | South Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Antebellum | Pueblo Revival, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to beaches | Desert landscapes, energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Antebellum architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to beaches, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like desert landscapes and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Mexico is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Mexico is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- New Mexico has an equally urban feel as South Carolina.
- New Mexico housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in New Mexico is 17.58% more affordable than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and New Mexico
Comparison | South Carolina | 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, Floods | Wildfires, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Varies, Generally Better |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 13.9 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 28 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Carolina to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 29% more sunshine days than South Carolina.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in South Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
- The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 2 degrees warmer than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows in New Mexico are 15 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 35.9 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and New Mexico
Comparison | South Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 0%-7% | 1.7%-5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.46% | 7.83% |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Agribusiness, Automotive | Energy, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Noticeable | Pronounced |
Homelessness | Manageable | Challenging |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 7% less than in South Carolina
- The COLI in New Mexico is 0% lower than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7% to 5.9% compared to 0% to 7% in SC
- The affluence in New Mexico is modest compared to moderate affluence in South Carolina
- The poverty level is pronounced in New Mexico compared to noticeable poverty in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in South Carolina and challenging in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. New Mexico
Comparison | South Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative values influence policy | Progressive values guide local governance |
Religion | Highly religious, strong Christian majority | Moderately religious, diverse spiritual practices |
- South Carolina tends to lean Republican 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 moderately religious with diverse spiritual practices
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious with a strong Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to New Mexico
Comparison | South Carolina | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University Coastal Carolina University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University Eastern New Mexico University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mitchell Road Elementary (Greenville) Oakview Elementary (Simpsonville) | Sydney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Gold Hill Middle School (Fort Mill) Langston Charter Middle School (Greenville) Springfield Middle School (Fort Mill) | Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics & Science (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) Charleston County School of the Arts (North Charleston) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Anderson Christian School (Anderson) Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Darlington) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Desert Academy (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fort Mill School District (Fort Mill) Lexington School District No. 1 (Lexington) Charleston County School District (Charleston) | Los Alamos Public Schools (Los Alamos) Rio Rancho Public Schools (Rio Rancho) Albuquerque Public Schools (Albuquerque) |
How Much Do South Carolina to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,503 miles from South Carolina to New Mexico 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,055 | 300 ft3 | $6.85 |
1 Bedroom | $3,059 | 450 ft3 | $6.80 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,061 | 750 ft3 | $6.75 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,368 | 1100 ft3 | $6.70 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,638 | 1600 ft3 | $6.65 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,877 | 1800 ft3 | $6.60 |
Top South Carolina to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.