Washington to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 1,519 mile interstate move from Washington to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons, food & health (like Seafood (Salmon) vs Chile (Green & Red)), real estate & housing (modern and craftsman vs pueblo and territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Seafood (Salmon) and Grilled Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Chile (Green & Red) & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in New Mexico is 30.91% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Washington to New Mexico movers is Seattle Moves & More
Top Washington to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to New Mexico

JP Moving

John Volken Academy Movers
Washington vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Seafood (Salmon) | Chile (Green & Red) |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Salmon | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Seattle Hot Dog | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Scramble | Blue Corn Enchiladas |
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 Washington to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Seafood (Salmon) of Washington for the equally delicious Chile (Green & Red) of New Mexico. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Seattle Hot Dog, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Scramble they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blue Corn Enchiladas of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Mamnoon, and Salumi. 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 less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and New Mexico
Comparison | Washington | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern and Craftsman | Pueblo and Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green Spaces, Proximity to Tech Hubs | Historic Features, Scenic Views |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green spaces and proximity to tech hubs, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like historic elements and scenic views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Mexico is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- New Mexico housing costs are 49% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in New Mexico is 30.91% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and New Mexico
Comparison | Washington | 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 | Earthquakes, Floods | Wildfires, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Varies |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 52Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 16 | 28 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 84% more sunshine days than Washington.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and floods in Washington, 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 17 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in New Mexico are 11 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and New Mexico
Comparison | Washington | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | Up to 9.9% | 1.7% - 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 0.78% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 5.1% - 8.9% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Construction | Energy, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 35% less than in Washington
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7% - 5.9% compared to up to 9.9% in WA
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in New Mexico compared to low in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Washington and moderate in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Washington | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Moderate to liberal urban centers | Mixture of conservative rural areas and liberal urban centers |
Religion | Less religious overall | Higher Catholic presence |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic-leaning
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as having a higher Catholic presence
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to New Mexico
Comparison | Washington | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Skyline Elementary (Sammamish) Sunrise Elementary (Kent) | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Georgia OβKeeffe Elementary (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) | Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics & Science (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Desert Ridge Middle School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | International School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) Newport High School (Bellevue) | Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics & Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School (Albuquerque) The ASK Academy (Rio Rancho) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) Lakeside School (Seattle) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Bellevue Christian School (Bellevue) Seattle Waldorf School (Seattle) | Menaul School (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Issaquah School District Mercer Island School District | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Washington to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,519 miles from Washington 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: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,064 | 300 ft3 | $6.88 |
1 Bedroom | $3,073 | 450 ft3 | $6.83 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,084 | 750 ft3 | $6.78 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,402 | 1100 ft3 | $6.73 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,686 | 1600 ft3 | $6.68 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,932 | 1800 ft3 | $6.63 |