Moving From California to New York With Confidence

Factors that Affect the Cost of Moving from California to New York

Moving costs aren't one-size-fits-all, and a few key details can make your total price go up or down. Here are the most common factors that affect how much your move will cost.

• Timing of your move: Prices tend to spike during peak moving season (especially summer), and moves booked on weekends or at the beginning or end of the month often cost more.
• Professional vs. DIY: Choosing between a DIY move and hiring a full-service mover such as American Van Lines can make a big difference in your overall cost and experience. DIY can cost less upfront, but you'll be on the hook for the packing, heavy lifting, and logistics, while AVL takes care of the hard work for you, making the move smoother, safer, and far less stressful.
• Exact distance: Longer moves generally come with higher quotes, and even small changes in mileage between your current home and your new one can affect the total cost.
• Size of move: The more rooms (and stuff) you're moving, the more labor, time, and truck space you'll need, which usually means a higher overall price.

Climate

With average summer highs of 87°F in California and 81°F in New York, New York is the cooler option. If you're making the move, you might enjoy a slightly less intense summer. Think more comfortable errands, easier outdoor activities, and a bit less time running the AC.

Economic Opportunities

Career-wise, New York offers opportunities in finance and insurance ($309.2 billion), real estate and rental and leasing ($238 billion), and professional and business services ($218.1 billion), which are some of the state's biggest industries.

Income levels are a bit lower on average in New York at $81,386, compared to $91,905 in California. But you might find a higher salary in larger markets like Queens and New York City.

In New York, the average college graduation rate is 40.9%, with well-known schools like Cornell University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and New York University.

Demographic Info

New York has 19,571,216 residents, which is less than California's 39,029,342. The population is 48.8% male and 51.2% female. New York's crime index is 21.51, reflecting the number of crimes per 1,000 residents in the state.

Fun & Recreation

From Queens, New York City, and Brooklyn, there's lots to do in New York, including outdoor recreation opportunities at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Central Park, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park. For the arts and culture fans, New York has plenty of spots like The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, The Strong National Museum of Play, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Sports enthusiasts can cheer on Brooklyn Nets Basketball (NBA), Buffalo Bills (NFL), and Buffalo Sabres (NHL). Families and single people alike can get to know the state by visiting Times Square, Statue of Liberty, and Niagara Falls.