Pennsylvania to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 278 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited public transit vs extensive subway system), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Bagels and Lox), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs art deco, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pork and Sauerkraut, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels and Lox & Pastrami on Rye
- New York housing costs are 76% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in New York is 68.39% more expensive than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to New York will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Pennsylvania to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to New York
- Limited public transit
- Fewer dining options
- Slower pace of life
- Less cultural offerings
- Limited job market
- Extensive subway system
- Culinary diversity
- Vibrant city life
- Broadway shows
- Career opportunities
- Higher living expenses
- Dense population
- Traffic congestion
- Limited green spaces
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Lower cost of living
- Less crowded
- Easier commutes
- Access to rural areas
- Local charm
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to New York
- Say goodbye to limited public transit and hello to an extensive subway system
- Look forward to moving away from fewer dining options and moving to New York with culinary diversity
- Swap the slower pace of life in Pennsylvania for vibrant city life in New York
- Get ready for Broadway shows in New York
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Pennsylvania to live with higher living expenses in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of less crowded environments and have to settle with the con of a dense population
- Time to bid farewell to easier commutes and get used to traffic congestion in New York
- Swap access to rural areas for limited green spaces
Pennsylvania vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Bagels and Lox |
Most popular meat dish | Pork and Sauerkraut | Pastrami on Rye |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Hot Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Cheesesteak | Vegan Pizza |
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 Pennsylvania to New York, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Bagels and Lox of New York. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pork and Sauerkraut and sumptuous Pretzels, New York residents know they have tasty Pastrami on Rye and Hot Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Cheesesteak they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pizza of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Zahav, Geno's Steaks, and The French Laundry. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Per Se.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and New York
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Art Deco, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Garages, backyards | Rooftop access, proximity to public transport |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Art Deco and Modern architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference garages and backyards, New York real estate listings often highlight features like rooftop access and proximity to public transport.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New York is more walkable than Pennsylvania.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New York is more bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- New York housing costs are 76% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in New York is 68.39% more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and New York
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New York |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Tornadoes | Floods, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Poor (urban areas) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 82/65 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 33/18 | 32/18 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 49.9 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 41 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to New York. New York gets 25% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- New York has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and tornadoes in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential floods and hurricanes in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees colder than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 0 degrees colder than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 7.9 more inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and New York
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% | 4% - 10.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.35% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 8.52% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Education | Finance, Healthcare, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Average | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 11% more than those in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in New York is 3% higher than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in NY is 4% - 10.9% compared to 3.07% in PA
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is low in New York compared to average poverty in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Pennsylvania and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. New York
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed, varies by region | Liberal, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christian (Catholic and Protestant), with Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu communities | Christian (Catholic and Protestant), Jewish, Muslim, with significant Buddhist and Hindu communities |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean moderately Democratic in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- New York's religious environment can be described as Christian (Catholic and Protestant), Jewish, Muslim, and with significant Buddhist and Hindu communities
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian (Catholic and Protestant), with Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to New York
Comparison | Pennsylvania | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University of Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University | New York University Columbia University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Adlai Stevenson Elementary (Pittsburgh) Hill House Passport Academy (Pittsburgh) Infinity Charter School (Harrisburg) | Special Music School (New York) Anderson School (New York) NEST+m (New York) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Environmental Charter School (Pittsburgh) North Allegheny Intermediate (Pittsburgh) | Rye Country Day School (Rye) Collegiate School (New York) The Speyer Legacy School (New York) |
Top 3 High Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Downingtown STEM Academy (Downingtown) Central High School (Philadelphia) | Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Stuyvesant High School (New York) Staten Island Technical High School (Staten Island) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) The Hill School (Pottstown) Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Shady Side Academy (Pittsburgh) Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia) Friends' Central School (Wynnewood) | Collegiate School (New York) Trinity School (New York) Horace Mann School (Bronx) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lower Merion School District (Ardmore) Tredyffrin-Easttown School District (Wayne) Radnor Township School District (Radnor) | Great Neck Public Schools (Great Neck) Scarsdale Union Free School District (Scarsdale) Syosset Central School District (Syosset) |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 278 miles from Pennsylvania to New York 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: 2-5.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,156 | 300 ft3 | $3.85 |
1 Bedroom | $1,715 | 450 ft3 | $3.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,826 | 750 ft3 | $3.77 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,099 | 1100 ft3 | $3.73 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,894 | 1600 ft3 | $3.68 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,554 | 1800 ft3 | $3.64 |
Top Pennsylvania to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to New York