Michigan to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 699 mile interstate move from Michigan to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Michigan vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Coney Dog vs Bagel with Lox), real estate & housing (ranch, colonial vs colonial, modern high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Coney Dog and Pasties, but get your taste buds ready for Bagel with Lox & Beef on Weck
- New York housing costs are 92% more expensive than they are in Michigan
- Rent in New York is 72.26% more expensive than in Michigan
- Moving from Michigan to New York will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Michigan to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Michigan to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Michigan to New York
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- Fewer cultural hotspots
- Milder climate
- Vast opportunities
- Urban connectivity
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher cost of living
- Smaller living spaces
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- City noise
- Lower cost of living
- Spacious homes
- Close community ties
- Quiet neighborhoods
Pros of moving from Michigan to New York
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to New York with vast opportunities
- Swap the rural isolation of Michigan for urban connectivity in New York
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in New York
Cons of moving from Michigan to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Michigan to live with the higher cost of living in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of spacious homes and have to settle with the con of smaller living spaces
- Time to bid farewell to close community ties and get used to a fast-paced lifestyle in New York
- Swap quiet neighborhoods for city noise
Michigan vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Michigan | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Coney Dog | Bagel with Lox |
Most popular meat dish | Pasties | Beef on Weck |
Most popular street food item | Food Truck Tacos | Halal Street Cart Chicken & Rice |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Coney Dogs | Vegan Pizza |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Michigan to New York, you will be trading the iconic Coney Dog of Michigan for the equally delicious Bagel with Lox of New York. And while the locals in Michigan rave about their flavorful Pasties and sumptuous Food Truck Tacos, New York residents know they have tasty Beef on Weck and Halal Street Cart Chicken and Rice to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Coney Dogs they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pizza of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Michigan eateries like American Coney Island, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and Slows Bar BQ. 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, Di Fara Pizza, and Per Se.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Michigan. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Michigan. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Michigan and New York
Comparison | Michigan | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Colonial | Colonial, Modern High-Rise |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake access, Spacious backyards | Proximity to public transit, Rooftop decks |
- The Ranch and Colonial architecture that Michigan is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Modern High-Rise architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Michigan's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and spacious backyards, New York real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transit and rooftop decks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New York is more walkable than Michigan.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New York is more bike-friendly than Michigan.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Michigan.
- New York housing costs are 92% more expensive than they are in Michigan, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Michiganβs $239,770.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 45% increase in Michigan.
- Rent in New York is 72.26% more expensive than in Michigan.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Michigan and New York
Comparison | Michigan | 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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 81Β°F / 59Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 17Β°F | 38Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30-38" | 42-50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60-160" | 25-60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Michigan to New York. New York gets 32% more sunshine days than Michigan.
- New York has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Michigan.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan, 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 4 degrees warmer than in Michigan.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in Michigan.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Michigan.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Michigan and New York
Comparison | Michigan | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,986 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 4.25% | 4% - 10.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.54% | 1.69% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 8.875% |
Top 3 Industries | Automotive, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Finance, Healthcare, Media |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 19% more than those in Michigan
- The COLI in New York will be 13% higher than what you are used to living in Michigan
- The state income tax in NY is between 4% and 10.9% compared to 4.25% in MI
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate affluence in Michigan
- The poverty level is moderate in New York compared to moderate poverty in Michigan
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Michigan and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Michigan vs. New York
Comparison | Michigan | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Predominantly leaning towards the Democratic Party in recent elections | Strong Democratic stronghold, especially in urban areas like New York City |
Local Politics | Mix of Democratic and Republican leadership at the local level | Generally Democratic leadership in major cities, varying in rural areas |
Religion | Christianity is the most prevalent, with a diverse mix of other religious practices | Highly diverse religious landscape, with Christianity prominent, followed by Jewish, Muslim, and various other faiths |
- Michigan tends to lean predominantly towards the Democratic Party in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as a strong Democratic stronghold, especially in urban areas like New York City
- New York's religious environment can be described as a highly diverse religious landscape, with Christianity prominent, followed by Judaism, Islam, and various other faiths
- Michigan's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity being the most prevalent, with a diverse mix of other religious practices
How Much Do Michigan to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 699 miles from Michigan to New York will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,599 | 300 ft3 | $5.33 |
1 Bedroom | $2,376 | 450 ft3 | $5.28 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,922 | 750 ft3 | $5.23 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,697 | 1100 ft3 | $5.18 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,207 | 1600 ft3 | $5.13 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,143 | 1800 ft3 | $5.08 |
Top Michigan to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Michigan to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.