New York to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,374 mile interstate move from New York to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Bagel with Lox vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (modern, high-rise vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel with Lox and New York Strip Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Walleye Fish Fry
- Minnesota housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Minnesota is 33.31% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended New York to Minnesota movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Minnesota
- High cost of living
- Overcrowded public transit
- Lack of green spaces
- Traffic congestion
- Noisy environment
- Affordable housing
- Less crowded spaces
- Abundant parks
- Smoother commutes
- Peaceful settings
- Quieter evenings
- Fewer cuisine options
- Less cultural variety
- Limited industries
- Car dependency
- Vibrant nightlife
- Diverse food scene
- Cultural attractions
- Career opportunities
- Public transportation
Pros of moving from New York to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from overcrowded public transit and moving to Minnesota with less crowded spaces
- Swap the lack of green spaces in New York for abundant parks in Minnesota
- Get ready for smoother commutes in Minnesota
Cons of moving from New York to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant nightlife in New York to live with quieter evenings in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse food scene and have to settle with the con of fewer cuisine options
- Time to bid farewell to cultural attractions and get used to less cultural variety in Minnesota
- Swap career opportunities for limited industries
New York vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel with Lox | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | New York Strip Steak | Walleye Fish Fry |
Most popular street food item | Pizza Slices | Juicy Lucy Burger |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Wild Rice Soup |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | ๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช | ๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ |
Foodie Scene | ๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด | ๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด |
Vegan Friendly | ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ | ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ |
If you're moving from New York to Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Bagel with Lox of New York for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful New York Strip Steak and sumptuous Pizza Slices, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Walleye Fish Fry and Juicy Lucy Burger 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 Wild Rice Soup of Minnesota. 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 Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Spoon and Stable, Matt's Bar, and Cafรฉ Alma.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Minnesota, compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Minnesota
Comparison | New York | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, High-rise | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ |
Bikeability | ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ | ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ |
Urban Lifestyle | ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ | ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | โNear subwayโ, โCity Viewsโ | โLakefrontโ, โSpacious yardsโ |
- The Modern and High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference โnear subwayโ and โcity views,โ Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like โlakefrontโ and โspacious yards.โ
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Minnesota is less walkable than New York.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Minnesota is more bike-friendly than New York.
- Minnesota has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Minnesota housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to New Yorkโs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Minnesota is 33.31% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Minnesota
Comparison | New York | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ | โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ | ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ |
Avg. UV Index | ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ | ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Nor'easters | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (ยฐF) | 85ยฐF / 66ยฐF | 83ยฐF / 62ยฐF |
Average Winter High/Low (ยฐF) | 39ยฐF / 26ยฐF | 24ยฐF / 7ยฐF |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 30.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 55.9 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 12% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Minnesota has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in New York, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 2 degrees colder than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 19 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 19.7 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Minnesota
Comparison | New York | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 4% | 6.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 1.1% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 7.47% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Technology | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 3% more than those in New York
- The COLI in Minnesota is 4% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in MN is 6.25% compared to 4% in NY
- The affluence in Minnesota is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Minnesota
Comparison | New York | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Influenced by diverse urban centers | Influenced by both urban and rural interests |
Religion | Varied, with a significant Jewish population | Diverse, with a significant Lutheran presence |
- New York tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a significant Lutheran presence
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as varied, with a significant Jewish population
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Minnesota
Comparison | New York | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Columbia University New York University Cornell University | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University Carleton College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Success Academy Charter School - Bronx 1 New York Anderson School New York PS 77 Lower Lab School New York | Scenic Heights Elementary School Minnetonka Deephaven Elementary School Deephaven Creek Valley Elementary School Edina |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School New York New Explorations into Science Tech and Math School New York Anderson School New York | Wayzata Central Middle School Plymouth Minnetonka Middle School East Minnetonka Minnetonka Middle School West Excelsior |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School New York Bronx High School of Science Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School Brooklyn | Minnetonka High School Minnetonka Eden Prairie High School Eden Prairie Wayzata High School Plymouth |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School New York Trinity School New York Riverdale Country School Bronx | The Blake School Minneapolis Breck School Golden Valley Minnehaha Academy Minneapolis |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Collegiate School New York Spence School New York Chapin School New York | Breck School Golden Valley The Blake School Minneapolis St. Paul Academy and Summit School St. Paul |
Top 3 School Districts | Scarsdale Union Free School District Scarsdale Great Neck Public Schools Great Neck Syosset Central School District Syosset | Minnetonka Public School District Minnetonka Edina Public School District Edina Wayzata Public School District Wayzata |
How Much Do New York to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,374 miles from New York to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- 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 | $1,981 | 300 ft3 | $6.60 |
1 Bedroom | $2,950 | 450 ft3 | $6.55 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,879 | 750 ft3 | $6.50 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,100 | 1100 ft3 | $6.45 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,248 | 1600 ft3 | $6.40 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,439 | 1800 ft3 | $6.35 |
Top New York to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.