Moving from New York to California (2024)

If you are looking to trade in New York’s cold and snowy winters for the year round warmth of California, you aren’t alone. California is the most populated state in the country and with its moderate climate, beautiful scenery, miles of coastline, and endless job opportunities, it’s easy to see why. When you make the move from the Big Apple to the Golden State, be prepared for several lifestyle and cultural differences. In order to help ease this transition, we have compiled some important information including the benefits of living in California, the approximate cost to move there, and tips for how to go about relocating.

Benefits of Moving from New York to California

Whether you are moving for a new job opportunity, eager for warmer weather, or long for more green space, there are plenty of reasons to move to California. However, it’s not always quite so easy for New Yorkers to adjust to the carefree coastal living in California. It is a huge adjustment moving from the east coast to the west coast but here we will take a look at just a few of the benefits of trading in the concrete jungle of NYC for the sunny state of California.

Incredible Weather

California might be an expensive place to live, but for many people the cost is well worth it to live somewhere with more than 300 days of sunshine and moderate temperatures year round. The weather can be especially appealing for New Yorkers who are accustomed to blustery winters and hot and humid summers. The beautiful weather lends itself to a multitude of outdoor activities which is why California is one of the healthiest states in the country.

Booming Economy

California’s economy encomapsses a variety of industries including agriculture, tourism, motion pictures, and government, but the real boost in the state’s economy has been in the technology industry. Silicon Valley, which is located in the southern portion of the Bay Area, is home to the biggest tech companies in the world including Apple, Google, ebay, Facebook, Tesla, and many more and has provided thousands of employment opportunities for residents.

Stunning Scenery

One of the things that makes California unique is its gorgeous scenery. Californians get to look at miles of beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, towering cliffs, and the rolling hills of wine country. This incredible landscape is more than enough to impress new residents moving from New York City. It is also the reason Californians enjoy such a healthy outdoor lifestyle. The state is ideal for biking, cycling, hiking, surfing, swimming, climbing, kayaking, and so much more.

Excellent Higher Education

People living in California have access to tons of excellent public and private colleges and universities. People come from all over the world to attend many of these prestigious colleges such as Stanford, California Institute of Technology, University of California-Los Angeles, University of California- Berkeley, and University of Southern California just to name a few.

There is So Much To Do

Residents of NYC are certainly used to having plenty of things to do but luckily California will not disappoint. With over 800 miles of coastline, California is the perfect place for people who enjoy hanging out by the water. Many of the state’s major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have interesting and fun attractions like Hollywood, The Golden Gate Bridge, and Disneyworld is located in Anaheim. Residents can take a day trip to wine country in Napa Valley or visit Yosemite National Park. Also, because the state is so massive, it is home to a number of professional sports teams so you can always find a team to cheer for.

Most Popular Cities in California

Los Angeles

Even if you aren’t an aspiring actor or actress you can find plenty of reasons to live in Los Angeles. The rising tech industry in the city has brought lots of new job opportunities and helped the city see a steady climb in its job market. The city is also full of different cultures and boasts a vibrant nightlife, great restaurants, and yoga studios on almost every corner.

Sacramento

California certainly has a reputation for being expensive but Sacramento is surprisingly affordable compared to other parts of the state. It also has more of a community feel since its not nearly as large as other metropolises like Los Angeles. Although it is not located directly on the beach, the city still has plenty to offer outdoor lovers with its abundant lakes, rivers, and close proximity to the mountains.

San Diego

While the entire state is known for its weather, San Diego tops the list with its gorgeous climate. Thanks to the cool breeze from the coast, San Diego has the most temperate weather in the entire country. It is also chock full of beautiful beaches, parks, hiking trails, and breweries so there is always a place to relax and unwind.

San Francisco

The Bay Area is regarded as one of the top cities to find a job thanks to its thriving technology industry. Combine a hot job market with great weather, beautiful scenery, and just a short driving distance from incredible locations such as mountains, beaches, national parks, lakes, and rivers and it’s easy to see why so many people love living in San Francisco.

Cost of Moving from New York to California

While the average cost of a cross country move is around $8000, there are a number of factors that go into determining the exact cost. These include things like the exact distance of the move, the number of items being moved, special handling for valuables and fragile items, and additional services such as packing and unpacking. The average cost of a move from New York to California with Allied is $4,160.52, but you can get a more accurate quote by using our Instaquote above.

How to Move from New York to California

Since you have already decided to move from New York to California, you are probably busy figuring out the logistics of this long distance move. Moving is stressful enough, but a cross country move can present a whole new set of challenges. For a move of this magnitude, you need to hire a moving company with plenty of experience moving long distances. Allied has been serving customers for over 90 years and has moved thousands of customers just like you across the country. Moving a long distance can be scary, but having a moving company you can trust will give you the peace of mind needed to complete this exciting journey.

Call Allied today and let us customize a moving experience that is right for you!