When you tell someone that you are moving from New York to California, the reaction will more often than not be “wow“. This is rather to be expected. It is only natural that people will be amazed by the fact that you are planning on moving that far away. Moving from the East coast all the way to the West Coast is one of the greatest moving adventures you can take while staying within the bounds of the United States. Therefore, you have a lot of work to do in order to make sure that everything goes smoothly, and Verified Movers is here to help you plan and prepare for what’s to come.
Luckily, you aren’t the first person to ever have to do this. Millions of Americans move each year, and moving from one highly developed state to another one is hardly rare. Therefore, while your relocation might seem daunting, with little help from us, you will be just fine. Let us dive right in!
Despite the huge distance, relocations from New York to California are very frequent
Firstly, we wanted to talk a bit about moving trends nowadays and how they reflect on this coast-to-coast move. You have surely heard already that both New York and California are in a very odd situation. People are leaving both these states in flocks. Just a few years back, that definitely wasn’t the case. Cities like NYC on one hand, and San Francisco and Los Angeles on the other, attracted so many people. The same goes for the rest of California. But, unfortunately, the pandemic of COVID-19 pushed people towards leaving these states, and now they’re among the most moved-out states in the country. If we take New York for example, around 300,000 people left the Empire State in 2022. To make things worse, only around 80,000 moved into New York, which is not even a third of the outbound move total.
California is not in a better situation. However, even though both states are struggling, and even though there are 3,000 miles between them, many people are moving from New York to California. Considering the size of NYC, it’s obvious that most people are moving from there. Out of 300,000 people who left New York in 2022, over 30,000 of them chose California. Almost half of these relocations were from NYC to either Los Angeles or San Francisco. Moving from NYC to LA was the choice of around 10,000 people last year. Meanwhile, slightly over 5,000 chose to move from NYC to San Francisco in that same period. So, no matter what your destination is, know that you’re far from being the only person who is moving from NY to CA. Now, it’s time to see what will this move bring into your life.
Main benefits of leaving New York to settle in the Golden State
We always say that there are pros and cons to every relocation. Whether it’s worth taking this step or not, depends on each and every individual and how those pros and cons reflect on them. So, it will be the same thing with you. We are here to show you the upsides of this move, as well as its downsides, and it’s up to you to decide if it works for you or not. So, here are the main benefits of moving from NY to CA.
Adjusting to these lifestyle changes after moving to the West Coast
There are many different reasons why people decide to move to California from New York. Whether you have found a better job, met your soul mate, or simply crave some change, life in California will definitely be exciting. However, many born and raised New Yorkers might have a problem adjusting to life in this state. The truth is that many things will change once you hire top movers in NYC and have them relocate you to a sunnier destination. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
A change in weather
Let’s start with the most obvious one, shall we? Everyone is aware that the climate of the West Coast is much different from the climate of the East Coast. But how big of a change you will have to adjust to mostly depends on the city in California you decide to move to. Let’s compare two of the most famous cities in California – San Francisco and Los Angeles. While the weather in Los Angeles is most often sunny, San Francisco is known for having chillier days. But no matter the city you choose, one thing is for sure – you will love spending your days in the sun.
Stunning scenery and outdoor activities
If you are not sure that moving from New York to California will be the right decision, then you might change your mind after witnessing how gorgeous California’s scenery can get. With miles and miles of coastline and lots of outdoor activities to enjoy in the sunshine, you are most likely to find California to be heaven on Earth. Of course, we completely acknowledge the fact that different people might like different things. Luckily, you can always hire the top movers in Los Angeles to return you to NYC if you realize that California is not the right place for you.
The booming industry
Truth be told, New York is one of the most developed states in the United States of America. That’s why we can’t say that this aspect is going to change drastically, as both New York and California are states with booming economies. However, there are a few places that can compete with the stunning Silicon Valley. This area is home to the biggest tech companies in the world, including Tesla, Apple, and Google. That means thousands of employment opportunities for California’s residents, and it also means that you can feel free to contemplate relocating your business from New York to California.
Potential downsides of relocating from New York to California
Now that we showed you all the benefits of relocating from NY to CA, as well as how to adjust to them, it’s time to look at the other side of this move, a potentially negative side. Not all will be great after making this move, so let’s see what are some downsides to keep an eye on.
The most popular cities in the Golden State you can move to
With so many amazing cities in the Golden State, deciding where to move might be difficult. After all, how can one decide? Well, we will help you out. Every city in California is different and it will suit people with different lifestyles. The verdict is in – the most popular cities in California to move to after leaving New York are as follows.
- Los Angeles – the place where the biggest Hollywood stars reside is perfect for aspiring actors and people looking for a glamorous lifestyle.
- Sacramento – one of the most affordable places in California, perfect if you are handling a modest budget.
- San Diego – quite possibly the city with the most gorgeous climate, full of places to relax and unwind.
- San Francisco – the reason why people love living in San Francisco is due to its booming tech industry, hob job market, and wonderful weather.
We can’t tell you which city to move to after relocating from New York to California. You will just have to do your own research and find the city that works best for you and your family. With so many choices, we have no doubt you will succeed. Soon enough, you’ll be living your perfect California life.
How much does it cost to move from New York to California?
Let’s talk about the thing we know interests you most – the price of moving from New York to California. Usually, a move as big as this one has to cost a lot. Assuming that you’ll seek professional moving assistance, here’s what you can expect. An average price of a move from NY to CA is between $4,000 and $7,000. But please take into account the fact that this is just an average estimate. There are many different factors that will determine how much your relocation is going to cost. For example, if you are relocating a lot of heavy and bulky items, such as a piano or a pool table, then your move is going to be more expensive. On the other hand, if you are relocating light household furniture, then you might get a cheaper and sweeter deal.
Either way, you should be prepared for the fact that both long distance moves and cross-country relocations are going to be pricey. That’s why it’s always a good idea to request estimates from a couple of different moving companies. Once you get the estimates, you will be able to compare them and find the best deal.
Prepare for a long trip
If you are planning on moving from New York to California, you will need the help of the finest interstate moving companies New York. In other words, you are going a long way! You will be crossing thousands of kilometers. That kind of relocation will soundly put you into the interstate moving category. Those types of moves are usually more expensive and more complicated to do than some other relocation types. They can last for days and require a lot of logistical capability by the mover.
Therefore, you will definitely need to have a big moving budget for this kind of undertaking. Furthermore, you will need a solid plan, probably an air ticket, shipping, etc… There is a lot to be done!
How to plan the move?
And when there is a lot of work, you need a good plan to help you figure it all out. Therefore, before you turn to a team of the most reliable interstate movers California, you first need to make a solid plan. You will need to figure out what is your moving budget, which mover are you hiring, and the timetable for packing, as well as everything else. In order to figure all of this out, you will need to start planning as soon as possible. A recommended minimum would be 8 to 10 weeks before the move.
Finding reliable movers when moving from New York to California
So how do you find reliable and verified movers? Long-distance relocations are no joke and you need those moving companies that are capable of taking you all the way across the American continent to the Pacific coast. Or, at least, your things, without the danger of lost possessions, damaged items, etc…. How do you know who to trust with such an important task?
Here are three things you should look for in a cross country moving company
- Registered with the FMCSA – The company should be registered with the FMCSA. That regulatory body will guarantee the level of quality. Furthermore, you can also check the companies’ records before moving from New York to California so you know who you are dealing with.
- Well-rated and good reviews – Is the company you are hiring well-liked? Sometimes, it is worth the trouble to get even those movers who are a little out of the way like cross country moving companies New Jersey or are a little more expensive just to get that quality service you should expect. In order to know if the service is right, check the reviews!
- Moving estimate – Finally, there is the matter of price. As these relocations are not simple, make sure you ask for multiple free estimates so you can make sure to pick the lowest bidder.
What to expect after you complete the relocation?
The State of California is definitely a big place. It is one of the largest states, after all. Therefore, it is hard to say what you will experience. After all, it is also hard to say if you are moving from New York City or the stateside. Therefore, we can only present general guesses, based on the fact that most people are moving from the most popular cities of one state to the most popular cities of the other.
So, what can you expect in Los Angeles or San Francisco? Well, there is a lot that will actually be the same. For one, these are both huge urban sprawls that will be something you are quite used to in NYC. However, you will be doing a lot more driving in these cities compared to New York. Furthermore, the economy is different. Sure, NYC is the financial capital and it is fair to say it is not losing that spot any time soon, but upon moving from New York to California you will be met with the start-up spirit and Silicon Valley.
Cities in California have a unique attitude
You will also see a change in attitude. New York is famous for its lifestyle almost as much as San Francisco, so if you are moving from one to another, you will be seeing some rather stark changes in the way people act, speak, work and entertain themselves. You will even see the change in the speed of walking! No one is outpacing New Yorkers!
All in all, there will be some changes after you move to California, but we are more than sure that it is nothing you cant handle. We recommend reading on forums and contacting friends that had experience in such relocation in order to get more information on what you can expect.
With good preparations and an open mind, moving from New York to California will be a wonderful experience
This is pretty much the end of our little briefing. By now you know all that you should on the main aspects of moving from New York to California. By following the steps we have provided you with, you will be able to further inform yourself with all the details about the move and provide yourself with all that you could need. All in all, the most important thing is to start planning early. All the issues you might have will be solved in due time. Otherwise, enjoy the Golden State and everything it offers.