New York to North Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 714 mile interstate move from New York to North Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs North Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Bagels vs Pulled pork BBQ), 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 Bagels and Pepperoni Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Pulled pork BBQ & Eastern-style BBQ pork
- North Carolina housing costs are 29% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in North Carolina is 30.68% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to North Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended New York to North Carolina movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to North Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to North Carolina
- High cost of living
- Dense urban environment
- Severe winter weather
- Traffic congestion
- Limited outdoor activities
- Lower cost of living
- More open spaces
- Mild winters
- Less traffic
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Smaller job market
- Quieter nightlife
- Fewer cultural events
- Fewer dining options
- Limited public transit
- Massive job market
- 24-hour lifestyle
- Diverse cultural scene
- World-class restaurants
- Excellent public transport
Pros of moving from New York to North Carolina
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from a dense urban environment and moving to North Carolina with more open spaces
- Swap the severe winter weather of New York for mild winters in North Carolina
- Get ready for less traffic in North Carolina
Cons of moving from New York to North Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a massive job market in New York to live with a smaller job market in North Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of a 24-hour lifestyle and have to settle with the con of a quieter nightlife
- Time to bid farewell to a diverse cultural scene and get used to fewer cultural events in North Carolina
- Swap world-class restaurants for fewer dining options
New York vs. North Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagels | Pulled pork BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Pepperoni Pizza | Eastern-style BBQ pork |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Sweet Potato-based dishes |
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 Carolina, you will be trading the iconic bagels of New York for the equally delicious pulled pork BBQ of North Carolina. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful pepperoni pizza and sumptuous hot dogs, North Carolina residents know they have tasty Eastern-style BBQ pork and boiled peanuts 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 sweet potato-based dishes of North Carolina. 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 Per Se. After the boxes are unpacked in North Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to North Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Skylight Inn BBQ, Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Lantern Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, North Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in North Carolina compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in North Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and North Carolina
Comparison | New York | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, High-rise | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to subway, city views | Large yards, quiet streets |
- The Modern and High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of North Carolina.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and city views, North Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and quiet streets.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. North Carolina is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. North Carolina is less bike-friendly than New York.
- North Carolina has less of an urban feel than New York.
- North Carolina housing costs are 29% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $329,225 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Carolina have increased by 63% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in North Carolina is 30.68% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and North Carolina
Comparison | New York | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/62Β°F | 88Β°F/68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F/26Β°F | 50Β°F/30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 50.3 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 5.1 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to North Carolina. North Carolina gets 5% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- North Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in New York, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in North Carolina is 6 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in North Carolina. North Carolina receives 0.4 more inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and North Carolina
Comparison | New York | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $67,481 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 95.85 |
State Income Tax | 4% - 8.82% | 5.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 0.8% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 6.98% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Health Care, Real Estate | Aerospace, Biotechnology, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Carolina tend to earn about 15% less than those in New York
- The COLI in North Carolina will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in NC is 5.25% compared to 4% to 8.82% in NY
- The affluence in North Carolina is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in North Carolina compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in North Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. North Carolina
Comparison | New York | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Predominantly Democratic | More evenly divided, leaning Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive & Urban Focused | Conservative & Rural Influences |
Religion | Diverse, with a strong Jewish presence | Pervasive Protestant Christian culture |
- New York tends to lean predominantly Democratic in its political climate
- North Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as more evenly divided and leaning Republican
- North Carolina's religious environment can be described as having a pervasive Protestant Christian culture
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with a strong Jewish presence
Education Guide When Moving from New York to North Carolina
Comparison | New York | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | NYU Columbia University Cornell University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC State University Duke University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 2 (Bronx) Anderson School (New York City) | Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) Quest Academy (Raleigh) The Expedition School (Hillsborough) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Astoria) Rye Middle School (Rye) I.S. 187 The Christa McAuliffe School (Brooklyn) | Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) Phillips Middle School (Chapel Hill) Community House Middle School (Charlotte) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Early College at Guilford (Greensboro) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York City) Collegiate School (New York City) | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Riverdale Country School (Bronx) The Chapin School (New York City) Dalton School (New York City) | Cary Academy (Cary) Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) |
Top 3 School Districts | Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District Great Neck Public Schools | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Watauga County Schools Union County Public Schools |
How Much Do New York to North Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 714 miles from New York to North Carolina will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- 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 | $1,366 | 300 ft3 | $4.55 |
1 Bedroom | $2,030 | 450 ft3 | $4.51 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,352 | 750 ft3 | $4.47 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,869 | 1100 ft3 | $4.43 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,014 | 1600 ft3 | $4.38 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,815 | 1800 ft3 | $4.34 |
Top New York to North Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to North Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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