New York to North Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 1,677 mile interstate move from New York to North Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs North Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable living costs), food & health (like New York-style pizza vs Knoephla Soup), real estate & housing (high-rise apartments vs ranch/rambler), 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 Beef Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Knoephla Soup & Bison Burgers
- North Dakota housing costs are 45% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in North Dakota is 59.15% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to North Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended New York to North Dakota movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to North Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to North Dakota
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Small living spaces
- Busy lifestyle
- Air pollution
- Affordable living costs
- Less traffic
- Larger homes
- Slower pace of life
- Cleaner air
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited public transport
- Fewer dining options
- Quieter nightlife
- Fewer attractions
- Vibrant culture
- Abundant public transit
- Wide variety of cuisines
- 24/7 lifestyle
- World-famous attractions
Pros of moving from New York to North Dakota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable living costs
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to North Dakota with less traffic
- Swap the small living spaces of New York for larger homes in North Dakota
- Get ready for a slower pace of life in North Dakota
Cons of moving from New York to North Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant culture in New York to live with fewer cultural events in North Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of abundant public transit and have to settle for the con of limited public transport
- Time to bid farewell to a wide variety of cuisines and get used to fewer dining options in North Dakota
- Swap a 24/7 lifestyle for a quieter nightlife
New York vs. North Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-style pizza | Knoephla Soup |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Pastrami on Rye | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Walleye Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Lentil Stew |
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 North Dakota, you will be trading the iconic New York-style pizza of New York for the equally delicious Knoephla Soup of North Dakota. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Beef Pastrami on Rye and sumptuous Hot Dogs, North Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Walleye 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 Lentil Stew of North Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, The Spotted Pig, and Per Se. After the boxes are unpacked in North Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to North Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Pirogue Grille, HoDo Restaurant, and The Walrus Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, North Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Dakota, compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and North Dakota
Comparison | New York | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | High-rise Apartments | Ranch/Rambler |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to subway, Luxury amenities | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods |
- The High-rise Apartments architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Ranch/Rambler architecture typical of North Dakota.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and luxury amenities, North Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. North Dakota is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. North Dakota is less bike-friendly than New York.
- North Dakota has less of an urban feel than New York.
- North Dakota housing costs are 45% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $253,395 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Dakota have increased 18% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in North Dakota is 59.15% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and North Dakota
Comparison | New York | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 66Β°F | 82Β°F / 57Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 39Β°F / 26Β°F | 24Β°F / 6Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47.3 | 17.8 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 51.2 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to North Dakota. North Dakota gets 10% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- North Dakota has higher humidity and a similar 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 blizzards and floods in North Dakota.
- The average summer high temperature in North Dakota is 2 degrees warmer than New York.
- The average winter lows are 20 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in North Dakota. North Dakota receives 29.5 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and North Dakota
Comparison | New York | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $71,970 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 95.3 |
State Income Tax | 4-8.82% | 1.1-2.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.7% | 1.0% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.5% | 6.8% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Tech, Healthcare | Energy, Agriculture, Retail |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Dakota tend to earn about 10% less than those in New York
- The COLI in North Dakota is 7% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in ND is 1.1-2.9% compared to 4-8.82% in NY
- The affluence in North Dakota is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in North Dakota compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in New York and minimal in North Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. North Dakota
Comparison | New York | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Largely Democratic | Largely Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive urban policies in cities like New York City | Conservative, with emphasis on local governance |
Religion | Diverse | Primarily Christian with a significant Lutheran population |
- New York tends to lean largely Democratic in its political climate
- North Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican
- North Dakota's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Lutheran population
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from New York to North Dakota
Comparison | New York | North Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University Columbia University Cornell University | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York) Success Academy Charter School (Bronx) PS 172 Beacon School of Excellence (Brooklyn) | Freedom Elementary School (West Fargo) Centennial Elementary School (Fargo) Roosevelt Elementary School (Mandan) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School (New York) Rye Middle School (Rye) I.S. 187 The Christa McAuliffe School (Brooklyn) | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) | North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Red River High School (Grand Forks) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Bismarck's St. Mary's Central High School (Bismarck) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Chapin School (New York) Brearley School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Fargo's Grace Lutheran School (Fargo) |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck Public Schools Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools |
How Much Do New York to North Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,677 miles from New York to North Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- 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 | $2,153 | 300 ft3 | $7.18 |
1 Bedroom | $3,207 | 450 ft3 | $7.13 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,308 | 750 ft3 | $7.08 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,730 | 1100 ft3 | $7.03 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,164 | 1600 ft3 | $6.98 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,469 | 1800 ft3 | $6.93 |
Top New York to North Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to North Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for New York to North Dakota