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Utah to New Mexico Moving Guide

Updated June 16, 2025

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Planning a 623 mile interstate move from Utah to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winter conditions vs mild winter weather), food & health (like Jell-O vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (craftsman, modern vs pueblo, spanish revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Jell-O and Utah Scones, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
  • New Mexico housing costs are 42% less expensive than they are in Utah
  • Rent in New Mexico is 19.11% more affordable than in Utah
  • Moving from Utah to New Mexico will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
  • Our top recommended Utah to New Mexico movers is 801 Moving Company

Utah to New Mexico Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to New Mexico

ConsUtah iconUtah
  • Harsh winter conditions
  • Higher cost of living
  • Less cultural diversity
  • Limited green chile options
  • Variable air quality
ProsNew Mexico iconNew Mexico
  • Mild winter weather
  • More affordable housing
  • Rich cultural heritage
  • Famous green chile cuisine
  • Cleaner air quality

New Mexico iconNew Mexico
  • Fewer national parks
  • Fewer job opportunities
  • Higher crime rate
  • Less varied sports options
  • Limited ski options
Utah iconUtah
  • Stunning national parks
  • Robust job market
  • Low crime rate
  • Vibrant outdoor sports
  • Proximity to ski resorts

Pros of moving from Utah to New Mexico

  • Say goodbye to harsh winter conditions and hello to mild winter weather
  • Look forward to moving away from a higher cost of living and moving to New Mexico with more affordable housing
  • Swap the less cultural diversity of Utah for a rich cultural heritage in New Mexico
  • Get ready for famous green chile cuisine in New Mexico

Cons of moving from Utah to New Mexico

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning national parks in Utah to live with fewer national parks in New Mexico
  • You'll lose out on the pro of a robust job market and have to settle for the con of fewer job opportunities
  • Time to bid farewell to a low crime rate and get used to a higher crime rate in New Mexico
  • Swap vibrant outdoor sports for less varied sports options

Utah vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonUtahNew Mexico
Most iconic local food itemJell-OGreen Chile
Most popular meat dishUtah SconesCarne Adovada
Most popular street food itemFry SauceTacos
Most popular vegan foodVegan BurgerCalabacitas
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Hell's Backbone Grill
  • Log Haven
  • Red Iguana
  • Mary & Tito's Cafe
  • Frontier Restaurant
  • El Pinto
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Utah to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Jell-O of Utah for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah Scones and sumptuous Fry Sauce, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Burger 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 Utah eateries like Hell's Backbone Grill, Log Haven, and Red Iguana. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Mary & Tito's Cafe, Frontier Restaurant, and El Pinto.

When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and New Mexico

ComparisonUtahNew Mexico
Typical Architecture StyleCraftsman, ModernPueblo, Spanish Revival
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingMountain views, proximity to national parksHistoric neighborhood, local art scene
  • The Craftsman and Modern architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Spanish Revival architecture typical of New Mexico.
  • Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and proximity to national parks, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like historic neighborhoods and a local art scene.
  • You can keep your walking shoes packed away. New Mexico is less walkable than Utah.
  • You might want to think twice before moving your bike. New Mexico is less bike-friendly than Utah.
  • New Mexico has less of an urban feel than Utah.
  • New Mexico housing costs are 42% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Utah’s $519,182.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56%, compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
  • Rent in New Mexico is 19.11% more affordable than in Utah.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and New Mexico

ComparisonUtahNew Mexico
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersWildfires, EarthquakesWildfires, Flooding
Air QualityGoodVaries (Good to Moderate)
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)85Β°F / 60Β°F92Β°F / 64Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)37Β°F / 22Β°F49Β°F / 23Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)20"14"
Annual Snowfall (Inches)56"22"
  • Break out the sunglasses for your move from Utah to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 24% more sunshine days than Utah.
  • New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Utah.
  • Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and earthquakes in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flooding in New Mexico.
  • Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 7 degrees warmer than in Utah.
  • The average winter lows in New Mexico are 1 degree warmer than they are in Utah.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Utah.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and New Mexico

ComparisonUtahNew Mexico
Avg. Household Income$89,168$59,726
Cost of Living Index95.7596.45
State Income Tax4.85%1.7% - 5.9%
Avg. Property Tax0.58%0.78%
Avg. Sales Tax7.19%7.82%
Top 3 IndustriesTechnology, Tourism, AgricultureOil and Gas, Tourism, Retail
AffluenceModerateLower
PovertyLowHigh
HomelessnessLowModerate
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 33% less than those in Utah
  • The COLI in New Mexico is 1% higher than what you are used to in Utah
  • The state income tax in NM is 1.7% - 5.9% compared to 4.85% in UT
  • The affluence in New Mexico is lower compared to moderate affluence in Utah
  • The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to low poverty in Utah
  • In terms of homelessness, it is low in Utah and moderate in New Mexico

Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. New Mexico

ComparisonUtahNew Mexico
Political Make-upPrimarily conservativeLeans liberal
Local PoliticsRepublican-dominated legislatureDemocratic-led legislature
ReligionLargely LDS (Mormon)Diverse, with a large Catholic population
  • Utah tends to lean primarily 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 diverse with a large Catholic population
  • Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely LDS (Mormon)

Education Guide When Moving from Utah to New Mexico

ComparisonUtahNew Mexico
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)University of Utah
Utah State University
Brigham Young University
University of New Mexico
New Mexico State University
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsCanyon View Elementary
Oakridge School
Edgemont Elementary
Double Eagle Elementary
Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary
Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary
Top 3 Middle SchoolsMountain Ridge Junior High
Cedar Ridge Middle School
Timberline Middle School
Desert Ridge Middle School
Lincoln Middle School
Eisenhower Middle School
Top 3 High School SchoolsAcademy for Math
Engineering & Science
Northern Utah Academy for Math
Engineering & Science
Itineris Early College High
Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science
La Cueva High
V Sue Cleveland High
Top 3 private high schoolsRowland Hall
Waterford School
Juan Diego Catholic High
Albuquerque Academy
Santa Fe Preparatory School
Sandia Preparatory School
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsRowland Hall
Waterford School
Layton Christian Academy
Albuquerque Academy
Sandia Preparatory School
Bosque School
Top 3 School DistrictsPark City School District
Davis School District
Alpine School District
Los Alamos Public Schools
Rio Rancho Public Schools
Farmington Municipal Schools

How Much Do Utah to New Mexico Movers Cost?

Moving 623 miles from Utah to New Mexico will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,556300 ft3$5.19
1 Bedroom$2,311450 ft3$5.14
2 Bedrooms$3,814750 ft3$5.09
3 Bedrooms$5,5391100 ft3$5.04
4 Bedrooms$7,9771600 ft3$4.99
5+ Bedrooms$8,8841800 ft3$4.94

Top Utah to New Mexico Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
801 Moving Company featured image

801 Moving Company

Best moving company overall for Utah to New Mexico

9.42/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
JP Moving featured image

JP Moving

9.39/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Best of Utah Moving Company featured image

Best of Utah Moving Company

9.34/10
ExceptionalView details
Top Utah to New Mexico Routes

Salt Lake City to New Mexico