New York to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 3,327 mile interstate move from New York to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like New York-Style Pizza vs Alaskan Salmon), real estate & housing (art deco, modern vs cabin, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to New York-Style Pizza and Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Alaskan Salmon & Reindeer Sausage
- Alaska housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Alaska is 30.28% more affordable than in New York
- Our top recommended New York to Alaska movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Alaska
- High cost of living
- Cramped spaces
- Pollution
- Hustle and bustle
- Extreme heat/humidity
- Lower cost of living
- Expansive nature
- Cleaner air
- Peaceful surroundings
- Cool climate
- Limited nightlife
- Fewer dining options
- Car dependency
- Fewer job options
- Remote locations
- Endless entertainment
- Global cuisine
- Public transportation
- Career opportunities
- Convenience
Pros of moving from New York to Alaska
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from cramped spaces and moving to Alaska with expansive nature
- Swap the pollution of New York for cleaner air in Alaska
- Get ready for peaceful surroundings in Alaska
Cons of moving from New York to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from endless entertainment in New York to live with limited nightlife in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of global cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer dining options
- Time to bid farewell to public transportation and get used to car dependency in Alaska
- Swap career opportunities for fewer job options
New York vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-Style Pizza | Alaskan Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami on Rye | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog | King Crab Legs |
Most popular vegan food | Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese | Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa |
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 New York to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic New York-Style Pizza of New York for the equally delicious Alaskan Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami on Rye and sumptuous Hot Dog, Alaska residents know they have tasty Reindeer Sausage and King Crab Legs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Peter Luger. After the boxes are unpacked in Alaska, don't wait too long before making your way to Alaska's acclaimed eateries like The Saltry, Simon & Seafort's, and 49th State Brewing Co.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Alaska
Comparison | New York | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Art Deco, Modern | Cabin, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to subway, Rooftop access | Mountain views, Large plots |
- The Art Deco and Modern architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Cabin and Ranch architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference close subway and rooftop access, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and large plots.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Alaska is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Alaska is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Alaska housing costs are 23% less expensive than they are in New York with a median home price of $354,563 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 30.28% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Alaska
Comparison | New York | Alaska |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Blizzard | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/66Β°F | 60Β°F/40Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F/26Β°F | 20Β°F/-10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9" | 22.5" (varies widely by region) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.8" | 75" (varies widely by region) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Alaska. Alaska gets 33% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in New York, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 25 degrees colder than New York.
- The average winter lows are 36 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 27.4 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Alaska
Comparison | New York | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 4-8.82% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 1.19% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Technology | Oil, Tourism, Fishing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 11% more than in New York
- The COLI in Alaska will be 29% higher than what you are used to living in New York
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in Alaska compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Alaska
Comparison | New York | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive urban centers | Focus on local independence |
Religion | Diverse, with a significant Jewish community | Predominantly Christian |
- New York tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a significant Jewish community
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Alaska
Comparison | New York | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University Cornell University Columbia University | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | P.S. 77 Lower Lab School - New York City Success Academy Charter School - Brooklyn P.S. 172 Beacon School of Excellence - Brooklyn | Aurora Elementary - Anchorage Northern Lights ABC K-8 School - Anchorage Aquarian Charter School - Anchorage |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School - New York City Baccalaureate School for Global Education - Queens New Explorations into Science Technology and Math School - New York City | Romig Middle School - Anchorage Mears Middle School - Anchorage Mirror Lake Middle School - Chugiak |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School - New York City Bronx High School of Science - Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School - Brooklyn | West High School - Anchorage South Anchorage High School - Anchorage Dimond High School - Anchorage |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School - Bronx Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School - New York City The Chapin School - New York City | Lumen Christi High School - Anchorage Grace Christian School - Anchorage Holy Rosary Academy - Anchorage |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Spence School - New York City Collegiate School - New York City Brearley School - New York City | Pacific Northern Academy - Anchorage Anchorage Waldorf School - Anchorage Birchwood Christian School - Chugiak |
Top 3 School Districts | Jericho Union Free School District Great Neck Public Schools Syosset Central School District | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District |
Top New York to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.