Where to move from New Mexico
On a $70,000 salary (about the New Mexico median household income) you keep $55,951 after 2026 taxes. 14 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+8.0%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving New Mexico
The ranking starts at about New Mexico's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $70,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+8.0%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +8.0% | +$2,124 | $999 | $64,200 |
| North Dakota | +7.3% | +$2,019 | $980 | $64,500 |
| Mississippi | +6.1% | +$56 | $990 | $65,300 |
| Arkansas | +6.0% | -$70 | $982 | $65,400 |
| Louisiana | +5.3% | +$411 | $1,064 | $65,900 |
| Iowa | +5.2% | +$116 | $981 | $65,900 |
| Tennessee | +4.1% | +$2,124 | $1,284 | $66,700 |
| Oklahoma | +4.1% | -$480 | $1,044 | $66,700 |
| Wyoming | +3.2% | +$2,124 | $998 | $67,400 |
| West Virginia | +2.7% | -$193 | $883 | $67,800 |
| Alabama | +2.3% | -$807 | $1,077 | $68,100 |
| Nebraska | +2.0% | -$181 | $1,102 | $68,300 |
| Kentucky | +1.8% | -$208 | $998 | $68,500 |
| Missouri | +1.2% | -$182 | $1,067 | $69,000 |
| Ohio | +1.1% | +$975 | $1,090 | $69,100 |
| Kansas | +0.5% | -$982 | $1,079 | $69,500 |
| Texas | -1.4% | +$2,124 | $1,475 | $71,200 |
| South Carolina | -2.0% | -$201 | $1,272 | $71,700 |
| North Carolina | -2.5% | -$160 | $1,338 | $72,200 |
| Wisconsin | -2.9% | -$522 | $1,142 | $72,600 |
| Indiana | -3.0% | -$1,050 | $1,104 | $72,600 |
| Montana | -3.4% | -$470 | $1,177 | $73,000 |
| Idaho | -4.3% | -$477 | $1,384 | $73,800 |
| Nevada | -4.3% | +$2,124 | $1,709 | $73,700 |
| Michigan | -5.2% | -$600 | $1,168 | $74,600 |
| Georgia | -5.3% | -$620 | $1,506 | $74,800 |
| Pennsylvania | -5.7% | -$74 | $1,252 | $75,000 |
| Vermont | -6.0% | -$36 | $1,319 | $75,600 |
| Alaska | -7.0% | +$1,853 | $1,444 | $76,200 |
| Maine | -7.1% | -$1,273 | $1,210 | $76,600 |
| Arizona | -7.2% | +$777 | $1,672 | $76,500 |
| Florida | -7.4% | +$2,124 | $1,812 | $76,600 |
| Utah | -7.9% | -$698 | $1,593 | $77,400 |
| New Hampshire | -8.2% | +$2,124 | $1,558 | $77,300 |
| Minnesota | -8.9% | -$1,420 | $1,291 | $78,400 |
| Illinois | -9.8% | -$1,196 | $1,322 | $79,100 |
| Delaware | -10.0% | -$1,435 | $1,530 | $79,500 |
| Virginia | -10.6% | -$1,087 | $1,646 | $80,000 |
| Rhode Island | -10.9% | -$654 | $1,418 | $80,400 |
| Colorado | -11.5% | -$555 | $1,822 | $80,900 |
| Washington | -12.1% | +$1,153 | $1,824 | $81,400 |
| Connecticut | -13.2% | -$1,401 | $1,550 | $83,000 |
| Massachusetts | -15.2% | -$1,478 | $1,848 | $85,000 |
| Oregon | -15.7% | -$3,079 | $1,597 | $85,900 |
| New Jersey | -16.3% | -$680 | $1,800 | $86,800 |
| Maryland | -16.6% | -$2,804 | $1,721 | $86,900 |
| New York | -16.6% | -$1,361 | $1,634 | $86,900 |
| Washington, DC | -17.6% | -$979 | $1,931 | $88,800 |
| California | -18.4% | -$1,160 | $2,104 | $90,500 |
| Hawaii | -18.8% | -$1,742 | $1,942 | $90,100 |
Single filer, $70,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.
Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.
Where New Mexico residents actually move
New Mexico gained households from other states in 2 of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in New Mexico
- Average electric bill
- $93/mo
- Regular gas
- $4.47/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,229/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $623/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Among the highest (84.2)
EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.
Cities in New Mexico
More about living in New Mexico
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in New Mexico.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median New Mexico home.
Retiring in New Mexico
How New Mexico taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to New Mexico
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from New Mexico to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from New Mexico to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for New Mexico and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in New Mexico by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every New Mexico county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from New Mexico move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were Texas (7,469 households), Arizona (3,435 households), Colorado (2,743 households).
Is New Mexico gaining or losing residents to other states?
New Mexico had a net loss of 213 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave New Mexico?
On a $70,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+8.0%).
Moving to New Mexico instead?
The Moving to New Mexico guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here: