Moving From Los Angeles to New York: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

It may share some of the same problems with LA, but you’re not looking at New York as an escape. You’re looking at New York because you have standards. Ask anyone in LA or NYC if they’d rather live in flyover country, and you’ll understand.

People in New York move to LA to get away from their New York problems while still retaining their dignity. Meanwhile, people in LA move to New York to get away from their LA problems while still retaining their dignity. And iMoving can help you get there easier than ever.

iMoving is the only online marketplace that lets you shop, compare prices, and book your LA movers from the comfort of your web browser. With over 1000 vetted and verified options to choose from, we make LA to NY moving possible in just a few clicks.

If you’re ready to get packing already, we’re here to get you started. And if you’re still on the fence, read on to learn more about what you can expect on moving day.

Movers from Los Angeles to New York are going to set you back between $1,610 to $15,100, but we’ve seen some that were a bit cheaper or more expensive. It all comes down to the distance you’re traveling, and the amount you’re carrying.

We’re not gonna sugar-coat this: LA and New York are about as far apart as you can get. We’re talking 2,776 miles at the shortest. This is not going to be a cheap endeavor, but hey - if you can afford New York, you can afford the movers.

Fortunately, you can still save some serious money when it comes to how much you’re hauling. It’s a good idea to downsize as much as possible before shopping for a quote.

This way, the weight or volume of all those old, unwanted, or unused items won’t contribute to your final price. Plus, you won’t have to deal with extra unpacking when you get there.

Moving from Los Angeles to New York will take anywhere from 7 to 21 days. The long wait can be chalked up to a few factors:

Under federal law, long distance movers aren’t allowed to log more than 400 miles of interstate travel per day. As we explained earlier, LA and NY are 2,776 miles apart at the closest, so that maths out to a 7 day minimum.

Aside from the long arm of the law, your movers will also want to avoid sending a half-empty truck all the way across the country. Wasted space is wasted money. It’s common for moving companies to bundle several smaller moves together in the same truck for greater efficiency.

Don’t worry - everything will be kept safe, secure, and separated. But you’ll have to wait a bit longer as your movers stop for pickups and deliveries along the way.

Moving from LA to New York ain’t cheap. That $1,610 to $15,100 price tag may leave you reeling, but there’s a method to the madness - and a few ways to save money, too. Let’s take a look at some of the common culprits that affect the price of your move:

1. Distance

When you’re planning a long distance move, the mileage makes a difference. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to make New York and Los Angeles any closer to each other.

But, if you play your cards right and schedule for a low-demand season (anything but summer, and avoid long weekends and holidays), you can still save a buck or two.

2. Size

Aside from the distance, the physical size of your move is probably the biggest factor behind your moving costs. A five-bedroom home costs a lot more than just a studio or one-bedroom apartment.

Fortunately, you can save some money by getting rid of all your old or unwanted stuff before shopping for a quote. Less stuff = less money.

3. Packing

Packing is a pain. You’ll have to deal with buying boxes, tape, bubble wrap, all that good stuff - not to mention sacrificing your weekends to deal with this step DIY.

On the other hand, you can pay your movers to handle the packing for you. It’ll be a couple hundred or a couple thousand, depending on how much you’re transporting. Still, it’s hard to beat the convenience.

4. Insurance

Movers are required to offer basic insurance coverage for their customers. Unfortunately, this basic insurance depends on the weight of your damaged items, rather than the actual value.

Plus, it’s usually just $0.60 per pound. If you want more than $2.40 for that broken computer monitor, you’ll have to pay extra for full value insurance.

5. Storage

It can be tough to map out where all your belongings will live before you get to your destination. If you need a bit of extra space (or just a bit of extra time) you can book secure storage and give yourself some extra wiggle room. Some movers offer 30 days free!

6. Access Fees

If your building is an obstacle course, your movers will charge you extra for it. Think about all the steps you have to take to get from your front door to the street. Gates, staircases, elevators… these are all going to make life a lot harder for your moving team. Communicate with them ahead of time so they know what they’re getting into (and so you know what you’ll be charged).

7. Shuttle Fees

Long distance movers usually use big rigs. These tractor trailers have plenty of space for multiple moves, but they aren’t always allowed to park on those narrow city streets.

This means your movers will have to leave the main truck at a staging area, and use a smaller truck to transport everything back and forth from your place.

8. Specialty Moving

If you have antiques, pool tables, artwork, or anything else that requires a little extra TLC, it won’t come cheap. Your movers can build custom crates and even use cranes and winches to get those hard-to-move items out your window. It’s another fee, but that extra care and attention to detail is priceless.

9. Gratuity

This one isn’t included on your quote, but we figured we’d include it in this list anyways. Tips are accepted and expected in the moving industry.

Hauling furniture is a little more labor-intensive than turning an iPad around at a boba shack, so break out the cash and don’t be a cheapskate. 15% to 20% of the total price of the move, to be divvied up across your whole team.

If you’re living in LA - and you’re not totally desperate - New York is pretty much the only other city you’d consider moving to. (Alright, mayyyybe the Bay or Seattle or Portland, too.)

Here’s a few reasons people are making the switch from LA to NY:

• No more traffic: Public transportation in LA is a joke. Heck, transportation in general in LA is a joke. In New York, you hop on the subway, get where you’re going, and you don’t have to search around for parking. Wild, right?

• Similar, yet different: This isn’t moving from LA to like… Iowa, or something. This is moving from one gigantic city to another gigantic city. Since they’re both urban hellscapes, it’ll take less time to adjust. Just bring a coat.

• You can afford it: If you were able to afford living in LA, you can afford living in New York. Those high prices that flyover states always whine about may be a shock to them, but you’re used to it. Plus, you won’t have to spend as much on gas.

• Tons of opportunity: LA has plenty of work, but so does New York. Everything from finance to entertainment to tech… if you can’t find it in New York, you can’t find it anywhere. Hope you like the hustle.

• Tons to do: Think California has a monopoly on fun? It may be hard to beat, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied in your new hometown…

You’re coming from California, and you’re a little spoiled for choice. Don’t worry, there’s plenty to do in New York if you’re looking for some action:

• All that touristy stuff: Times Square! The Statue of Liberty! The Empire State Building! Tourists love this crap! The locals don’t care! Get it out of the way early so you can act like it’s all no big deal when your friends come to visit.

• Go upstate: New York actually has some nice greenery (and no, we’re not talking smoke shops or Central Park). There’s an entire state to explore, and getting out of town every one in a while is a great reset. Head to the hills, see Niagara Falls, etc.

• Embrace the winter: Los Angeles doesn’t get snow. On the other hand, New York gets all four seasons. Go ice skating at Rockefeller Center - we know we said the locals don’t care, but you gotta try it at least once.

• Museums galore: What are you into? There’s probably a museum for it. Modern Art? Go check out MoMA. Instagrammable architecture? Go to the Guggenheim. Ben Stiller movies? Head to American Museum of Natural History.

• Central Park: Central Park is massive, and even if you’re not trying to go there, you’ll probably end up in the area by accident. There’s a zoo, tons of open space, and lots of tourists taking selfies on the grass.

You made it to the end! Congrats! It was an emotional rollercoaster, but hopefully by now you’ve learned a thing or two about moving from LA to New York. If you’re ready to get packing (or you just want a more detailed moving quote), iMoving can help.

iMoving is the only place that lets you shop around, compare quotes, and book movers entirely online. All you have to do is tell us a little more about your move! Share some deets, and let’s get started!