Alaska to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 3,327 mile interstate move from Alaska to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alaska vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Alaskan King Crab vs Bagel with Lox), real estate & housing (cabin, log homes vs brownstone, high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Alaskan King Crab and Reindeer Sausage, but get your taste buds ready for Bagel with Lox & Beef Steak
- New York housing costs are 30% more expensive than they are in Alaska
- Rent in New York is 43.44% more expensive than in Alaska
- Our top recommended Alaska to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Alaska to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alaska to New York
- Long, harsh winters
- Remote location
- Limited job market
- Sparse population
- Limited entertainment
- Milder climate
- Better connectivity
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Vibrant city life
- Rich cultural scene
- Pollution
- Expensive housing
- Limited green space
- Hustle and bustle
- Anonymous crowds
- Natural beauty
- Low cost of living
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Peaceful life
- Warm community
Pros of moving from Alaska to New York
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a remote location and moving to New York with better connectivity
- Swap the limited job market of Alaska for diverse employment opportunities in New York
- Get ready for vibrant city life in New York
Cons of moving from Alaska to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the natural beauty in Alaska to live with pollution in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle for the con of expensive housing
- Time to bid farewell to abundant outdoor activities and get used to limited green space in New York
- Swap a peaceful life for hustle and bustle
Alaska vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alaska | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Alaskan King Crab | Bagel with Lox |
Most popular meat dish | Reindeer Sausage | Beef Steak |
Most popular street food item | Salmon Bake | Pizza Slices |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Berries | Avocado Toast |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alaska to New York, you will be trading the iconic Alaskan King Crab of Alaska for the equally delicious Bagel with Lox of New York. And while the locals in Alaska rave about their flavorful Reindeer Sausage and sumptuous Salmon Bake, New York residents know they have tasty Beef Steak and Pizza Slices to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Berries they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alaska eateries like Simon & Seafort's Saloon and Grill, Glacier BrewHouse, and Snow Goose Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Per Se.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alaska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Alaska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alaska and New York
Comparison | Alaska | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cabin, Log Homes | Brownstone, High-Rise |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Natural Views, Privacy | Proximity to Public Transit, Luxury Amenities |
- The Cabin and Log Homes architecture that Alaska is known for will be replaced with the Brownstone and High-Rise architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Alaska's real estate listings that commonly reference natural views and privacy, New York real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transit and luxury amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New York is more walkable than Alaska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New York is more bike-friendly than Alaska.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Alaska.
- New York housing costs are 30% more expensive than they are in Alaska, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Alaskaβs $354,563.
- Over the prior 9 years, home prices in New York have increased 69% compared to a 34% increase in Alaska.
- Rent in New York is 43.44% more expensive than in Alaska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alaska and New York
Comparison | Alaska | New York |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Volcanoes | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Varies (Urban vs Rural) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 60-80Β°F / 40-60Β°F | 80-85Β°F / 60-70Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 0-30Β°F / -20-10Β°F | 35-45Β°F / 20-30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75" | 25-60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alaska to New York. New York gets 49% more sunshine days than Alaska.
- New York has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Alaska.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Alaska, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New York is 20 degrees warmer than in Alaska.
- The average winter lows are 40 degrees warmer than they are in Alaska.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 20 more inches of rain compared to Alaska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alaska and New York
Comparison | Alaska | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,121 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 132.6 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4% - 8.82% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.19% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 1.76% | 8.52% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil, Fishing, Tourism | Finance, Healthcare, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Mixed |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 10% less than in Alaska
- The COLI in New York will be 22% lower than what you are used to living in Alaska
- Bummer... By moving from AK to NY, you'll now have a state income tax of 4% to 8.82%
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate affluence in Alaska
- The poverty level is mixed in New York compared to moderate in Alaska
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alaska and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Alaska vs. New York
Comparison | Alaska | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative, mixed federal representation | Lean liberal, primarily Democratic representatives |
Local Politics | Independent streak, with both parties having influence | Democratic dominance in urban centers, more mixed in rural areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities | Highly diverse, Christianity predominant but with significant Jewish, Muslim, and other faith communities |
- Alaska tends to lean conservative with mixed federal representation in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as leaning liberal with primarily Democratic representatives
- New York's religious environment can be described as highly diverse with Christianity predominant but with significant Jewish, Muslim, and other faith communities
- Alaska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Alaska to New York
Comparison | Alaska | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University | Columbia University New York University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Aurora Elementary - Anchorage Northern Lights ABC K-8 School - Anchorage Trailside Elementary School - Anchorage | Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 Baccalaureate School for Global Education - Queens Anderson School - New York |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Romig Middle School - Anchorage Mirror Lake Middle School - Chugiak Mears Middle School - Anchorage | East Side Middle School - New York Baccalaureate School for Global Education - Queens New York City Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies - New York |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School - Anchorage South Anchorage High School - Anchorage Dimond High School - Anchorage | Stuyvesant High School - New York Bronx High School of Science - Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School - Brooklyn |
Top 3 Private High Schools | Holy Rosary Academy - Anchorage Grace Christian School - Anchorage Lumen Christi High School - Anchorage | Horace Mann School - Bronx Trinity School - New York Collegiate School - New York |
Top 3 Private K-12 Schools | Pacific Northern Academy - Anchorage Grace Christian School - Anchorage Birchwood Christian School - Chugiak | Riverdale Country School - Bronx The Chapin School - New York The Brearley School - New York |
Top 3 School Districts | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Juneau School District | Great Neck Public Schools Jericho Union Free School District Scarsdale Union Free School District |
Top Alaska to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alaska to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.