Moving to New Mexico? 2024 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

While New Mexico is ranked as the fifth largest in terms of its land area, it is just the 36th largest in population size in the US. Located in the southwestern region, New Mexico is known for its White Sands National Park and rugged terrains.

If you are considering moving to New Mexico, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved.

Quick New Mexico Facts:

Population: 2.116 million (2021)
Official Language: English
GDP Per Capita: $39,800 (2021)
Random Fact: New Mexico is known as the “Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World” and hosts the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each year, which is known to be the largest hot air balloon festival in the world.
Currency: US Dollar (US$). As of early 2023, £1 = $1.20, €1 = $1.07, $1 CAD = $0.74, $1 AUD = $0.68

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to New Mexico

Below are the average moving costs to New Mexico from other US states. To get an more accurate quote, just use the form above.

From State	Estimated Cost
California	$3,200 – $5,000
Texas	$2,500 – $4,000
Florida	$3,500 – $5,500
New York	$4,000 – $6,500
Pennsylvania	$3,800 – $5,800
Illinois	$3,400 – $5,200
Ohio	$3,000 – $4,800
Georgia	$3,200 – $5,000
North Carolina	$3,300 – $5,300
Michigan	$3,500 – $5,700

Also see: International Moving Companies in New Mexico

2. New Mexico Housing Costs

The housing costs in New Mexico can vary significantly depending on the area. Upscale neighbourhoods in cities like Santa Fe or Albuquerque often see median home prices around $400,000 or higher.

Monthly Rental Prices in New Mexico:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: $1,700+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $1,300+
3 bedroom flat in City Centre: $3,000+
3 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $2,160+

New Mexico Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: $5,300+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: $3,700+

New Mexico Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in New Mexico compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 33.4% more expensive
New York is 53.6% more expensive
Los Angeles is 34.9% more expensive
Toronto is 6.1% more expensive
Sydney is 21.8% more expensive
Paris is 12.4% cheaper
Dubai is 6.9% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs

Share a Flat or House: Sharing a house or a flat is a way to save on living expenses. You may have to share a bathroom but you will save at the end of the day. A cheaper option is to share a room. Have a look at the following site to find your perfect room or flatmate: SpareRoom
Different Areas – Different Prices: Houses in areas of downtown Albuquerque and Santa Fe offer a more affordable cost of living, while more affluent areas like Tesuque in Santa Fe and Sandia Heights in Albuquerque are known for their affluent homes.

3. New Mexico Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

New Mexico’s cuisine is deeply influenced by its rich cultural heritage, with a focus on Mexican and Native American flavours, notably the state’s signature ingredient, the New Mexico chile, used in both red and green forms. A famous dish is the New Mexican enchilada, typically stacked rather than rolled, and smothered with chile; another local favourite is the breakfast burrito, often stuffed with potatoes, eggs, cheese, and chile.

Inexpensive Restaurant: $26.50
Takeout Coffee: $4.50
Bottle of Coke: $2.40
1L of Milk: $1.20
Loaf of Bread: $2.70
12 Eggs: $4.50
1kg Chicken: $16.00
1kg Beef: $17.50
1kg Apples: $5.00
1kg White Rice: $3.60

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

London restaurants are 7.8% more expensive and groceries are 36% cheaper than New Mexico.
New York restaurants are 11.7% more expensive and groceries are 18.8% more expensive than New Mexico.
Los Angeles restaurants are 7.7% more expensive and groceries are 1.5% cheaper than New Mexico.
Toronto restaurants are 18.7% cheaper and groceries are 17.8% cheaper than New Mexico.
Sydney restaurants are 13.3% cheaper and groceries are 5.1% cheaper than New Mexico.
Paris restaurants are 24.1% cheaper and groceries are 6.7% cheaper than New Mexico.
Dubai restaurants are 26.3% cheaper and groceries are 64.5% cheaper than New Mexico.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Farmers’ markets are prevalent in New Mexico, with notable ones like the Santa Fe Farmers Market and Downtown Growers’ Market in Albuquerque, where you can find a wide variety of local produce, artisan goods, and handmade crafts. As for supermarkets, you’ll find a range from more affordable chains like Walmart and Albertsons to higher-end stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
Find Cheap Eats: New Mexico has a good selection of restaurants which offer food at affordable prices. Have a look at Yelp.

4. New Mexico Alcohol Costs

New Mexico, like all cities in the United States, has plenty of bars and clubs to choose from, whether you want a quick beer after work or a cocktail before dinner.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $5.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: $7.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: $1.80
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: $5.00
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: $17.50

How To Drink For Less in New Mexico:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
Try Visit Albuquerque.

5. New Mexico Transportation Fares

Public transportation in New Mexico varies by area, with larger cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe offering bus services, including the ABQ RIDE in Albuquerque and Santa Fe Trails in Santa Fe. In more rural areas, public transportation is limited, and many residents rely on cars for transportation; additionally, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express provides rail service connecting Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other smaller towns.

Here are some sample ticket costs:

Adult single – $2.00
One-day ticket – $5.00
Monthly season ticket, unlimited – $57.50

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a bike. Depending on where you live and work, cycling around the city is certainly a viable option.
Walk. If you live relatively close to where you work, you can walk to work.

6. Cost of Internet in New Mexico

Internet prices in the States are expensive compared with many other countries in the world. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Sprint: $50 a month (Unlimited high speed except for streaming gaming up to 8mb)
AT & T: $20 a month (50mb fibre)
Verizon: $80 a month

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

New Mexico has an average annual temperature of about 13°C, but this can vary depending on the elevation and specific location within the state. Generally, January is the coldest month with average highs around 8°C and lows around -2°C, while July is the hottest month with average highs around 33°C. August typically sees the most rainfall due to the North American Monsoon season.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: $53.00
Summer Dress: $68.00
Running Shoes (Trainers): $87.50
Business Shoes: $93.00
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): $50.00
Deodorant: $3.50
Shampoo: $4.00
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): $4.00
Gym Membership: $73.00
Movie (cinema) Ticket: $12.00

Source: Numbeo

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in New Mexico

Everyone in the US drives on the right. Many people use their cars for work in New Mexico. The rush hour is nowhere near as long as bad as other cities around the world. If you’re moving to New Mexico from within the US, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new one.

You can drive on a foreign license for up to 12 months as a tourist but after that, you will need to get an American license. If you are working or studying in the US, you can drive on your foreign license for 30 days. If you want to exchange your foreign driver’s license you have to follow the process here.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in New Mexico:

Volkswagen Golf: $31,500+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): $0.88

Source: Numbeo

Ways To Save Money on Driving in New Mexico:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try CarpoolWorld.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber or Lyft.

9. Taxes in New Mexico

No matter where you live in the State, you will pay federal tax. To learn more about the different taxes in the States go to Immihelp and USA taxes.

The statewide sales tax rate in New Mexico is 5.125%. However, local municipalities can add their own taxes on top of the state rate, so the total sales tax can range from 5.125% to over 9% depending on the location within the state.

Whether you own or rent your home, you will be subject to property tax based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Learn more about property tax in New Mexico at Property Tax.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in New Mexico you’ll have to pay real estate transfer tax.

10. Flight Costs from New Mexico

If you do make the move to New Mexico, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of mid-2023:

London: $600
New York: $145
Los Angeles: $115
Toronto: $275
Vancouver: $170
Dubai: $1,000
Sydney: $1,000
Melbourne: $1,000
Cape Town: $1,800
Hong Kong: $990

Other Tips on Moving to New Mexico:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in New Mexico but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to New Mexico Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be especially daunting. Here are a few tips about settling in New Mexico.

Meetups: There are many Meetup groups to choose from. You will definitely find something to join which will help you to settle in.
Attend Local Events: New Mexico always has something going on. Have a look at New Mexico events.

12. Moving to New Mexico with a Family

Los Alamos offers excellent schools and a low crime rate, as well as Rio Rancho, located near Albuquerque, a suburban area with good schools and a variety of family-friendly amenities. New Mexico’s crime rate was higher than the national average, particularly for property crimes. Albuquerque, the state’s largest city, has struggled with crime, but efforts have been underway to improve safety.

New Parents (or parents to be): There are free and paid antenatal classes and courses. Have a look at UNM Health.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: Los Alamos is frequently cited for its high-quality education, low crime rates, and a plethora of family-oriented activities. Its strong community, recreational opportunities, and richness of science and nature-related educational resources contribute to its family-friendly reputation.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: There are many activities for families living in New Mexico. Have a look at the following sites to be inspired – Trip Advisor.

13. Moving to New Mexico for Work

While it is possible to move to New Mexico without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move. The primary industries in New Mexico include energy production (notably oil, gas, and renewable energy), federal government, healthcare, and tourism. The unemployment rate is around 7.9%, slightly higher than the national average.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: Salaries vary enormously depending on which industry you are in. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Payscale for the specific state.
How To Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to New Mexico, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Monster and Indeed. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to New Mexico from Australia

There’s a small group of Australians living and working in New Mexico, if you are thinking of joining them, here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: The states of Victoria and Tasmania equal the area of New Mexico.
Join Expat Groups: There are so few Australians in New Mexico that there isn’t a dedicated site. However, you can always start your own Australian Meetup group.

15. Moving to New Mexico from Canada

There’s a small group of Canadians living in New Mexico. If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.

Size: Newfoundland and Labrador is slightly larger than the area of New Mexico.
Expat Groups: Meeting up with fellow Canadians helps the moving process. Start a Canadian Meetup group.

16. Moving to New Mexico from the United Kingdom

There’s a small number of Brits living in New Mexico. If you are thinking of making the move from the UK to join them, then here are a few things to consider.

Size: The entirety of the UK and the Republic of Ireland come close to the same size as New Mexico.
Expat Groups: If you want to join up with fellow Brits in New Mexico, then start your own British Meetup group.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to New Mexico you can start by comparing moving quotes here.