Utah to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

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
- Harsh winter conditions
- Higher cost of living
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited green chile options
- Variable air quality
- Mild winter weather
- More affordable housing
- Rich cultural heritage
- Famous green chile cuisine
- Cleaner air quality
- Fewer national parks
- Fewer job opportunities
- Higher crime rate
- Less varied sports options
- Limited ski options
- 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
Comparison | Utah | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Jell-O | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Utah Scones | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Fry Sauce | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Burger | 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 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
Comparison | Utah | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Modern | Pueblo, Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, proximity to national parks | Historic 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 Utahβs $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
Comparison | Utah | 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 | Wildfires, Earthquakes | Wildfires, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Good to Moderate) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 22Β°F | 49Β°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
Comparison | Utah | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 4.85% | 1.7% - 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.58% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.19% | 7.82% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Tourism, Agriculture | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Lower |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- 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
Comparison | Utah | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily conservative | Leans liberal |
Local Politics | Republican-dominated legislature | Democratic-led legislature |
Religion | Largely 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
Comparison | Utah | New 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 Schools | Canyon View Elementary Oakridge School Edgemont Elementary | Double Eagle Elementary Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountain Ridge Junior High Cedar Ridge Middle School Timberline Middle School | Desert Ridge Middle School Lincoln Middle School Eisenhower Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy 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 schools | Rowland Hall Waterford School Juan Diego Catholic High | Albuquerque Academy Santa Fe Preparatory School Sandia Preparatory School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Rowland Hall Waterford School Layton Christian Academy | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School Bosque School |
Top 3 School Districts | Park 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 SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,556 | 300 ft3 | $5.19 |
1 Bedroom | $2,311 | 450 ft3 | $5.14 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,814 | 750 ft3 | $5.09 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,539 | 1100 ft3 | $5.04 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,977 | 1600 ft3 | $4.99 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,884 | 1800 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.