New York to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 247 mile interstate move from New York to Rhode Island? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Rhode Island 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 Clam Cakes), real estate & housing (colonial, modern vs colonial, cottage), 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 Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Clam Cakes & Stuffies (Stuffed Clams)
- Rhode Island housing costs are 2% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Rhode Island is 16.69% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to Rhode Island will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended New York to Rhode Island movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Rhode Island
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Lack of beach access
- Overcrowded housing
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic stress
- Proximity to beaches
- More spacious living
- Limited cultural diversity
- Quieter evenings
- Limited transit options
- Fewer gourmet restaurants
- Rich cultural scene
- Vibrant nightlife
- Excellent public transport
- World-class dining
Pros of moving from New York to Rhode Island
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Rhode Island with less traffic stress
- Swap the lack of beach access in New York for proximity to beaches in Rhode Island
- Get ready for more spacious living in Rhode Island
Cons of moving from New York to Rhode Island
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich cultural scene in New York to live with limited cultural diversity in Rhode Island
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant nightlife and have to settle for the con of quieter evenings
- Time to bid farewell to excellent public transport and get used to limited transit options in Rhode Island
- Swap world-class dining for fewer gourmet restaurants
New York vs. Rhode Island: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-style Pizza | Clam Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Pastrami Sandwich | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Delβs Lemonade |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Seitan Steak |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Rhode Island, you will be trading the iconic New York-style pizza of New York for the equally delicious clam cakes of Rhode Island. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful beef pastrami sandwiches and sumptuous hot dogs, Rhode Island residents know they have tasty stuffies (stuffed clams) and Del's Lemonade 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 seitan steak of Rhode Island. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Le Bernardin, and The Spotted Pig. After the boxes are unpacked in Rhode Island, don't wait too long before making your way to Rhode Island's acclaimed eateries like Al Forno, Olneyville New York System, and The White Horse Tavern.
When comparing lifestyles, Rhode Island shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Rhode Island compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Rhode Island.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Rhode Island
Comparison | New York | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Modern | Colonial, Cottage |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to amenities, luxury finishes | Waterfront views, historic charm |
- The Colonial and Modern architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of Rhode Island.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to amenities and luxury finishes, Rhode Island real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront views and historic charm.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Rhode Island is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Rhode Island is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Rhode Island has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Rhode Island housing costs are 2% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $451,868 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Rhode Island have increased by 55% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Rhode Island is 16.69% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Rhode Island
Comparison | New York | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Winter storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/66Β°F | 82Β°F/63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F/26Β°F | 40Β°F/25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9" | 47.5" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.8" | 33.8" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Rhode Island. Rhode Island gets 6% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- Rhode Island 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 hurricanes and winter storms in Rhode Island.
- The average summer high temperature in Rhode Island is 3 degrees colder than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Rhode Island. Rhode Island receives 2.4 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Rhode Island
Comparison | New York | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $81,854 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 123.3 |
State Income Tax | 4% - 8.82% | 3.75% - 5.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.71% | 1.42% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% - 8.875% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Retail | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Higher | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Rhode Island tend to earn about 3% more than in New York
- The COLI in Rhode Island is 20% higher than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in RI is 3.75% to 5.99% compared to 4% to 8.82% in NY
- The affluence in Rhode Island is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in Rhode Island compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is higher in New York and lower in Rhode Island
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Rhode Island
Comparison | New York | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Predominantly Democrat | Mostly Democrat |
Local Politics | Urban-focused policies | Community-driven initiatives |
Religion | Religiously diverse | Catholic majority |
- New York tends to lean predominantly Democrat in its political climate
- Rhode Island, on the other hand, is often described as mostly Democrat
- Rhode Island's religious environment can be described as a Catholic majority
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as religiously diverse
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Rhode Island
Comparison | New York | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University City University of New York Columbia University | Brown University Rhode Island School of Design University of Rhode Island |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | P.S. 77 Lower Lab School - New York Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 - Bronx Anderson School (P.S. 334) - New York | Rockwell Elementary School - Bristol Nayatt School - Barrington Community School - Cumberland |
Top 3 Middle Schools | East Side Middle School (M.S. 114) - New York New Explorations into Science Tech and Math High School - New York I.S. 187 The Christa McAuliffe School - Brooklyn | Barrington Middle School - Barrington Moses Brown School - Providence Lincoln School - Providence |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School - New York Bronx High School of Science - Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School - Brooklyn | Classical High School - Providence Barrington High School - Barrington East Greenwich High School - East Greenwich |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School - Bronx Trinity School - New York Dalton School - New York | Moses Brown School - Providence St. George's School - Middletown Wheeler School - Providence |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Collegiate School - New York Brearley School - New York Chapin School - New York | Moses Brown School - Providence Wheeler School - Providence Lincoln School - Providence |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck Public Schools Jericho Union Free School District Syosset Central School District | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools North Kingstown School District |
How Much Do New York to Rhode Island Movers Cost?
Moving 247 miles from New York to Rhode Island will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- 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 | $1,141 | 300 ft3 | $3.80 |
1 Bedroom | $1,693 | 450 ft3 | $3.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,789 | 750 ft3 | $3.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,044 | 1100 ft3 | $3.68 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,814 | 1600 ft3 | $3.63 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,464 | 1800 ft3 | $3.59 |
Top New York to Rhode Island Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Rhode Island movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for New York to Rhode Island