Rhode Island to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 248 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs more job opportunities), food & health (like Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) vs Bagels), real estate & housing (colonial vs diverse, from brownstones to modern high-rises), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) and Rhode Island Style Calamari, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels & Beef Pastrami Sandwich
- New York housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in New York is 20.04% more expensive than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to New York will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Rhode Island to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to New York
- Limited job market
- Small city size
- Lack of nightlife
- Fewer cultural events
- More job opportunities
- Vibrant city life
- Thriving nightlife
- Diverse cultural scene
- Hustle and bustle
- Higher expenses
- Overcrowded spaces
- Higher stress levels
- Peaceful living
- Lower cost of living
- Smaller communities
- Local charm
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to New York
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to more job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from small city size and moving to New York with vibrant city life
- Swap the lack of nightlife of Rhode Island for thriving nightlife in New York
- Get ready for a diverse cultural scene in New York
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from peaceful living in Rhode Island to live with hustle and bustle in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher expenses
- Time to bid farewell to smaller communities and get used to overcrowded spaces in New York
- Swap local charm for higher stress levels
Rhode Island vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) | Bagels |
Most popular meat dish | Rhode Island Style Calamari | Beef Pastrami Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Pizza |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan Sandwich | Impossible Burger |
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 Rhode Island to New York, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Bagels of New York. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Rhode Island Style Calamari and sumptuous Hot Wieners, New York residents know they have tasty Beef Pastrami Sandwich and Pizza to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Impossible Burger of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, The Den, and Hemenway's. 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 Deli, Di An Di, and Per Se.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and New York
Comparison | Rhode Island | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Diverse, from Brownstones to Modern High-rises |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Beachfront, Quiet neighborhoods | Public transportation access, Central location |
- The Colonial architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the diverse range of architecture, from Brownstones to modern high-rises, typical of New York.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference beachfront and quiet neighborhoods, New York real estate listings often highlight features like public transportation access and central locations.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than Rhode Island.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than Rhode Island.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- New York housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in New York is 20.04% more expensive than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and New York
Comparison | Rhode Island | 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 | Hurricanes, Nor'easters | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 38Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 49.9" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 25" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to New York. New York gets 11% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- New York has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees warmer than in Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 2.9 more inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and New York
Comparison | Rhode Island | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% | 8.82% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 1.71% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 8.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing | Finance, Media, International Trade |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 3% less than those in Rhode Island
- The COLI in New York will be 17% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in NY is 8.82% compared to 3.75% in RI
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is moderate in New York compared to low in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Rhode Island and significant in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. New York
Comparison | Rhode Island | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Primarily Democratic |
Local Politics | Liberal on social issues | Progressive stances in urban areas; mixed in rural |
Religion | Majority Catholic; significant Jewish communities | Diverse; strong Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant presence |
- Rhode Island tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Democratic
- New York's religious environment can be described as diverse with a strong Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant presence
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majority Catholic with significant Jewish communities
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to New York
Comparison | Rhode Island | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Brown University University of Rhode Island Rhode Island School of Design | New York University Columbia University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary School (Bristol) Community School (Cumberland) Nayatt School (Barrington) | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) PS 234 Independence School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Cobble Hill (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle School (Barrington) Lincoln School (Providence) East Greenwich Middle School (East Greenwich) | East Side Middle School (New York City) Success Academy Harlem 1 (New York City) Rye Neck Middle School (Mamaroneck) |
Top 3 High Schools | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High School (Barrington) East Greenwich High (East Greenwich) | Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Scarsdale Senior High School (Scarsdale) |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School (Providence) Middlebridge School (Narragansett) Wheeler School (Providence) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York City) Riverdale Country School (Bronx) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Lincoln School (Providence) Moses Brown School (Providence) Wheeler School (Providence) | Collegiate School (New York City) Trinity School (New York City) Riverdale Country School (Bronx) |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Lincoln School District | Great Neck Public Schools (North Shore of Long Island) Scarsdale Union Free School District (Westchester County) Syosset Central School District (Long Island) |
How Much Do Rhode Island to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 248 miles from Rhode Island 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,142 | 300 ft3 | $3.81 |
1 Bedroom | $1,693 | 450 ft3 | $3.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,790 | 750 ft3 | $3.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,046 | 1100 ft3 | $3.68 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,817 | 1600 ft3 | $3.64 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,467 | 1800 ft3 | $3.59 |
Top Rhode Island to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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