New York to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 2,382 mile interstate move from New York to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Bagel with Cream Cheese vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (pre-war, high-rise vs pueblo revival, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel with Cream Cheese and Beef Pastrami Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Arizona is 23.41% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to Arizona will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended New York to Arizona movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Arizona
- High cost of living
- Cold winters
- Heavy traffic
- Limited space
- Dense population
- More affordable housing
- Mild winters
- Less congestion
- Spacious properties
- Less crowded
- Less cultural variety
- Car-dependent cities
- Less diverse economy
- Fewer gourmet options
- Hot summers
- Rich cultural scene
- Public transit
- Job opportunities
- World-renowned cuisine
- Four seasons
Pros of moving from New York to Arizona
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from cold winters and moving to Arizona with mild winters
- Swap the heavy traffic of New York for less congestion in Arizona
- Get ready for spacious properties in Arizona
Cons of moving from New York to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich cultural scene in New York to live with less cultural variety in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transit and have to settle for the con of car-dependent cities
- Time to bid farewell to job opportunities and get used to a less diverse economy in Arizona
- Swap world-renowned cuisine for fewer gourmet options
New York vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel with Cream Cheese | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Pastrami Sandwich | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Vegan Tacos |
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 Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Bagel with Cream Cheese of New York for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Beef Pastrami Sandwich and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tacos of Arizona. 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 Carmine's Italian Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like El Guero Canelo, Welcome Diner, and Pizzeria Bianco.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Arizona, compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Arizona
Comparison | New York | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pre-war, High-rise | Pueblo Revival, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Central Park views, rooftop access | Desert landscapes, private pools |
- The Pre-war and High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival and Ranch architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference Central Park views and rooftop access, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like desert landscapes and private pools.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Arizona is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Arizona is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Arizona has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Arizona housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Arizona is 23.41% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Arizona
Comparison | New York | Arizona |
---|---|---|
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, Blizzards | Wildfires, Flash floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Varies; mostly Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 104Β°F / 81Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F / 26Β°F | 67Β°F / 46Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9" | 13.6" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.8" | 0.3" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New York to Arizona. Arizona gets 28% more sunshine days than New York.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in New York and be on the lookout for potential wildfires and flash floods in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 22 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 20 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 36.3 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Arizona
Comparison | New York | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 4.00% - 8.82% | 2.59% - 4.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.69% | 0.62% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 8.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Professional Services | Real Estate, Retail, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Notable | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 6% less than in New York
- The COLI in Arizona will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in AZ is 2.59% - 4.50% compared to 4.00% - 8.82% in NY
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is moderate in Arizona compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in New York and noticeable in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Arizona
Comparison | New York | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally Democratic | Mixed, leaning Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive | Conservative |
Religion | Diverse | Predominantly Christian |
- New York tends to lean generally Democratic in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and leaning Republican
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Arizona
Comparison | New York | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Columbia University New York University Cornell University | University of Arizona Arizona State University Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School NYC; Success Academy Charter School Brooklyn; PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence Brooklyn | Basis Scottsdale Primary Scottsdale; Chandler Traditional Academy - Independence Chandler; Khalsa Montessori Elementary School Tucson |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Anderson School NYC; Jericho Middle School Jericho; Rye Neck Middle School Mamaroneck | Basis Chandler Chandler; Basis Oro Valley Oro Valley; Basis Peoria Peoria |
Top 3 High Schools | Bronx High School of Science Bronx; Stuyvesant High School NYC; Brooklyn Technical High School Brooklyn | Basis Scottsdale Scottsdale; Basis Tucson North Tucson; Basis Oro Valley Oro Valley |
Top 3 private high schools | Trinity School NYC; Horace Mann School Bronx; Collegiate School NYC | Brophy College Preparatory Phoenix; Phoenix Country Day School Paradise Valley; The Gregory School Tucson |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Horace Mann School Bronx; Riverdale Country School Bronx; Collegiate School NYC | Basis Scottsdale Scottsdale; Veritas Preparatory Academy Phoenix; Chandler Preparatory Academy Chandler |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck School District Great Neck; Jericho Union Free School District Jericho; Scarsdale Union Free School District Scarsdale | Scottsdale Unified School District Scottsdale; Catalina Foothills School District Tucson; Chandler Unified School District Chandler |
How Much Do New York to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 2,382 miles from New York to Arizona will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,553 | 300 ft3 | $8.51 |
1 Bedroom | $3,807 | 450 ft3 | $8.46 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,307 | 750 ft3 | $8.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,196 | 1100 ft3 | $8.36 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,295 | 1600 ft3 | $8.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,867 | 1800 ft3 | $8.26 |
Top New York to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.