($1,601) Cost of Moving From California to New York
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to New York ranges from $2,171 to $10,197 and takes seven–21 days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from New York to California guide.
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The best California to New York full-service movers
Moving from California to New York? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving California for your New York relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- Allied Van Lines: Best for contents coverage
- North American Van Lines: Best customized plans
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
The best California to New York moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in California and drop it off at your new home in New York.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
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The best California to New York moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from California to New York, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
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The best California to New York labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from California to New York:
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How we chose the best moving companies for your CA to NY move
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 281 California movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
How much does it cost to move from California to New York?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to New York for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,601 - $7,247 | $1,709 - $4,221 | $1,909 - $3,777 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,831 - $10,197 | $3,185 - $6,475 | $2,171 - $4,498 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $9,182 - $16,266 | $4,272 - $8,666 | $2,693 - $5,740 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,914 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Cost to hire movers from California to New York
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to New York will cost between $1,601 and $7,247. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to NY will range from $4,831 to $10,197, and a large move from California to New York will cost from $9,182 to $16,266.
Cost of moving containers from California to New York
Moving containers from California to New York will cost you $1,709 to $4,221 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $3,185 to $6,475. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $4,272 to $8,666. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of California.
Cost of moving truck rentals from California to New York
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around
$1,909 to $3,777.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$2,171 to $4,498,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to New York costs from
$2,693 to $5,740.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Factors affecting the cost of moving from CA to NY
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to New York will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in California is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
What to know before moving from CA to NY
If you’re moving to New York from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. New York
| California | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,507 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $482,742 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $81,386 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 100 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 8.52% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 10.9% |
- Rent is about 19% less expensive in New York than in California.
- Home prices are about 37% lower in New York than in California.
- The average income is about 11% lower in New York than in California.
- Cost of living is 25% lower in New York than in California.
- New York has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 19%.
- Sales taxes are 2% lower in New York than in California.
- Income taxes are 18% lower in New York than in California.
How life is different in New York vs. California
| New York | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,571,216 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 60-40 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 81ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 16ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 44" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 62" | 7" |
| Crime index | 21.51 | 28.43 |
- The population of New York is approximately 50% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, New York voted Democratic and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in New York is 81ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, New York reaches the temperature of 16ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 44 inches of annual rainfall in New York versus 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In New York, it snows about 62 inches annually versus 7 inches of snow in California.
- New York has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 21.51 vs. 28.43.
Comparing the pros of California vs. New York
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in New York compared to California.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in New York |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Natural beauty |
| Pleasant weather | Arts |
| Abundant recreational options | Ample economic opportunity |
| High quality of life | Abundant outdoor recreational opportunities |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Distinct seasons |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. New York
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving California for New York.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in New York |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | High tax burden |
| Heavy tax burdens | Rough winter weather |
| Natural disasters | High cost of living |
| Terrible traffic | Poor quality healthcare |
| Strange laws | Populous |
Other things to consider for your California to New York move
- Weather: The climate of New York state is generally has warm to hot summers and cold winters. In the farther southeastern portion of the state (New York City and Long Island area) hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. Winter temperatures average below freezing during January and February in much of New York state, but several degrees above freezing along the Atlantic coastline, including New York City.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: New York requires moving companies to have a license and obtain a New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) number. A NYDOT license ensures your mover is in compliance with the state's safety, insurance, and operational regulations. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a New York moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: New York does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to New York. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. Choose Released Value Protection for no-cost, minimal coverage from movers. They're responsible for a maximum of 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, discuss alternatives with your moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in New York
While you’re in New York, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Times Square
- Statue of Liberty
- Niagara Falls
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Central Park
- Hudson Valley
- Letchworth State Park
- Adirondack Mountains
- Thousand Islands
- Finger Lakes
- Watkins Glen State Park
- Lake Placid
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Coney Island
- The Bronx Zoo
- Ausable Chasm
- Corning Museum of Glass
- Lake George
- Darwin D. Martin House Complex
- Cooperstown
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to New York?
Hiring a full-service California moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually the cheaper way to go, but requires more work. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.
Do movers transport your car from California to New York?
Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from California to New York separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
What are the benefits of moving from California to New York?
The main reasons people are moving from California to New York are the amazing upsides of living in New York such as natural beauty and arts.
Is it cheaper to live in California or New York?
It is generally cheaper to live in New York than in California. Housing is much more affordable in New York, with average rent about 19% less and home prices 37.4% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in New York, most notably income taxes, which are more than 10% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in New York?
You should make approximately $39,029 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in New York. The cost of living in New York is approximately $3,704 per month for an individual and $9,100 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in New York you live For example, larger cities like New York City and Brooklyn will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
