There’s no shortage of options when moving in New Mexico. Our pick is International Van Lines, but based on your budget and needs, there are several other top-tier moving companies in the Land of Enchantment. Whether you’re moving in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, or Santa Fe, we’ll help you find the right moving company.
Compare New Mexico moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers
They handle it all.
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
Containers
You load, they ship.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about living in New Mexico
Population
There are around 2.113 million people living in New Mexico, nicknamed the Land of Enchantment for its natural beauty.1 The state’s largest demographic is Hispanic (49%), making up nearly half of the total population. White (36%) and Native American (11%) make up the next largest population segments, with African-American and Asian populations accounting for 3% each.1
On average, there are 2.59 people per household in New Mexico, and 33% of families speak a language other than English at home, likely due to the fact that about 9.2% of New Mexicans are born in a foreign county. About 87% of people hold at least a high school diploma, and 28.5% have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.1
Employment
There are about 651,756 people employed in New Mexico with a median income of $54,020 per year (as of 2021). It’s estimated that about 18.4% of the population lives in poverty.1 The largest job sectors across the state include energy, aerospace and defense, logistics and transportation, and tourism.2
The top employers in New Mexico include both the state and federal government, Sandia National Laboratories, Walmart, and the Los Alamos National Laboratories.3
Cost of living
Cost of living in New Mexico is about 8% lower than the national average.4 Rio Rancho is the most expensive city in terms of total cost of living, but only about 2% higher than the state average. Median gross rent is about $897 per month, and the average costs for those with a mortgage is around $1,359 per month. While this data from the US Census Bureau is accurate, fluctuating housing markets may affect these statistics. Commuters report about a 23-minute travel time to work each day.1
Politics
Politically, New Mexico is a blue state, with seven of the last eight presidential elections being won by the Democratic nominee.5 Democrats currently control both the state’s House of Representatives and Senate.6 Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, both Democrats, represent New Mexico in the US Senate.
New Mexicans report that the most important issues facing the state are the economy, abortion access, healthcare, and immigration.7
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best New Mexico movers FAQ
Moving costs can vary based on home size, location, time of year, and other factors. The average cost for a full-service move is about $9,000, but a small local move can cost much less.
Los Alamos is reported as the safest city in New Mexico, with a violent crime rate about five times lower than the state average. The city is home to the Los Alamos Laboratory, one of the largest employers in the state.8
International Van Lines is our pick for the best moving company to get you from California to New Mexico, but there are other top moving companies who can help you. Whichever company you choose, be sure that they are capable of taking you over state lines. Get several quotes from companies and compare those to find your most affordable moving company.
Storage costs about $170 per month in New Mexico, but it will depend on the size of the unit, which self-storage company you use, and whether or not you choose climate-controlled storage. Due to New Mexico’s climate, it’s recommended that you pay a little extra for climate-control if possible.
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor. During our searches, we:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Go mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Perform site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Set up regular reviews. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Sources
- The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: New Mexico,” Published July 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.
- Carlsbad Department of Development, “What are the biggest industries in New Mexico?” Published March 2020. Accessed January 14th, 2023.
- New Mexico Partnership, “New Mexico Largest Employers,” Published November 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.
- RentCafe, “Cost of Living in New Mexico,” Published September 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.
- 270toWin, “New Mexico,” Published November 2020. Accessed January 14, 2023.
- New Mexico Legislature, “Political Composition,” Published January 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.
- KRQE News, “What issues are most important to New Mexican voters?” Published September 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.
- BackgroundChecks, “Safest Cities in New Mexico,” Published November 2019. Accessed January 14, 2023.
