Moving to a new apartment isn’t always easy. Tight spaces, unclear rules, and even hidden fees can quickly derail your carefully laid plans.
To help you avoid any moving-day surprises, we’ve put together this guide on what to know before moving into a city apartment. By the end, you’ll know how to avoid the unexpected costs of moving into an apartment, understand your building’s lease terms and regulations, and learn how to avoid fines.
Know What Date and Time You Can Move In
Moving can be disruptive, and apartments aren’t particularly known for being soundproof. Even if you’re mindful, you can make a lot of noise coming back and forth with boxes or rearranging furniture. Quiet hours often apply in apartment communities, so you may have to plan around them.
Traffic, noise ordinances, and general rules can also affect your move-in. If your building uses an elevator, there may be specific hours or days that management allows you to book it.
Depending on your complex, you may have to move in on a Saturday. Others might specify that you have to move on a weekday when foot traffic is lighter. Check your building’s move-in policies in advance if you have time constraints for getting everything moved in.
Plan the Best Places to Park Your Moving Truck
Moving into an apartment is often more complicated than relocating to a house with a clear driveway. And if you live in the heart of a big city, it can be even harder. Ask your management office about hours, time limits, permits, and where you need to park. If you need a permit, apply as soon as possible so processing times don’t delay your move-in.
Some buildings offer a rear service entrance or loading dock. This can make things easier since you have a designated place to park, but you may have to schedule a block of time to use it.
Ask About Your Apartment’s Unloading Policy
Before moving day, ask your building management about how and where unloading works. Some apartment complexes require you to unload onto a staging area and move your truck away from the loading dock or service entrance as quickly as possible.
“A COI is a Certificate of Insurance. It lets your apartment complex know that your moving company is insured and provides important coverage details, such as policy limits, effective dates, and other key details.”
Others won’t allow you to leave items out, or they’ll require you to keep clear paths for egress. Don’t forget to inform your moving team of any rules or requirements.
Bonus Tip: Know Where to Dispose of Boxes
Many buildings set specific rules for how to dispose of moving boxes and packing materials. Even if a recycling bin is available, they may ask that moving debris not be placed there to prevent it from filling up too quickly.
Your building manager can tell you the preferred way to dispose of boxes. You can also try giving away empty boxes on social media. Or, if you unpack quickly, the movers might be willing to haul the boxes away for you.
Take Floor Protection Seriously
Many buildings require floor protection to prevent damage in shared areas, especially those with hardwood or tile flooring. For example, an area with nice hardwood or marble flooring may require Masonite: wooden hardboards that can prevent damage to the floor while you’re shifting furniture. If you need it, make sure your movers have one on hand. Some buildings may have hardboards available to lend you, so ask ahead of time.
And don’t stop at protecting just the floor. Some management companies require additional protection in doorways and stairwells.
Familiarize Yourself With Your Movers’ Insurance
Most licensed moving companies have to provide basic liability insurance. However, some buildings in big cities require proof of moving insurance or even the purchase of extra policies. That way, if an accident happens, they can recoup the cost quickly. Without insurance, you could be left with hidden apartment move-in fees.
“Even if you’re mindful, you can make a lot of noise coming back and forth with boxes or rearranging furniture. Quiet hours often apply in apartment communities, so you may have to plan around them.”
If you need proof of insurance, tell your moving company as soon as possible. They’ll need time to get a COI form from the office and return it with all the necessary paperwork from their own insurance company. The building may not let you move in if you don’t have the proper paperwork filed, so check carefully.
Review City Apartment Moving Rules
There’s plenty more to know to make your move seamless. Check with your apartment complex about common rules like:
Building move-in hours: Confirm whether there are set moving hours listed in the lease.
Elevator reservations: If you need an elevator reservation, familiarize yourself with the process in advance. Make sure you book the reservation early to get the best date and time for moving day.
COI requirements: A COI is a Certificate of Insurance. It lets your apartment complex know that your moving company is insured and provides important coverage details, such as policy limits, effective dates, and other key details.
Noise and disturbance levels: Evenings and weekends may be subject to noise restrictions. While you shouldn’t be particularly loud while moving, you also want to avoid a costly fine for violating regulations.
Fire safety regulations: While you move, avoid any fire safety violations. Ensure that you never obstruct fire exits or safety equipment.
Parking: Know where to park your moving truck (and where guests should park if friends or family are coming to help you).
Prepare for a Smooth City Move
Ready to make your move as smooth as possible? Check out our moving checklist to make sure you have all the necessary supplies, such as dollies, stretch wrap, and moving blankets.
Additionally, if you’re moving on a narrow city street or to the top of a towering apartment building, let us know. We make budgeting for apartment moves easy by providing clear, upfront quotes from local moving companies. Compare services and book trusted, vetted, and highly rated movers through HireAHelper’s online platform.
How Much Does It Cost To Move to California in 2023?
California has a lot to offer its residents: beautiful beaches, famous attractions, and yearlong sunshine. It’s no wonder people pay a premium to live there (overall, California has the fourth-highest cost of living, behind Hawaii, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts).
But how much does moving and living in California cost? Below are average moving costs based on thousands of moves booked through HireAHelper and their affiliates*.
If you’re moving cross-country from the East Coast to California, you can expect to spend between $2,182 and $10,329 on your move, according to a recent PODS article. The main factors affecting this cost are distance, the moving service you choose, and the size of your move. A shorter move, such as one between Phoenix and L.A., would cost between $328 and $5,300, while the cost of a move from NYC to San Francisco could cost over $10,000.
Avg. Timeframe for a California Move – 3.4 Hours
Avg. Distance of a California Move – 35 Miles
The average time spent on a move that features an origin, destination, or both within California is just shy of three and a half hours, while the average distance traveled is 35 miles.
How Do These Figures Compare to Other States?
The average cost of California moving labor services is $16 more expensive than the national average. Across all move types and services, it costs an average of $396 to move locally anywhere within the country.
“Contrary to popular belief, not everything’s more expensive in SoCal versus NorCal. When comparing the cost of moving in Northern California versus Southern California, there’s virtually no statistical difference. Moving labor costs are roughly $443 in both regions, on average.”
The national average timeframe for moving is three hours (24 minutes shorter than the average California move), and items are transported an average of 74 miles (39 miles farther than the average California move). The specific moving service you use will make a difference, though.
The Current State of Moving to California in 2023
Between April 2020 and July 2022, California lost over 700,000 more residents than it gained, according to the Los Angeles Times. While the pandemic likely played a part in this exodus, the truth is that California residents have been leaving the Golden State for other, more affordable locales since 2000. California has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, and the highest sales tax rate. In San Francisco, for instance, the average home value is above $1.27 million. A family of four would need $112,903 in household income just to get by.
With COVID-19 causing many to shift to remote work, employees who were once tied to a desk suddenly had the freedom to find somewhere more affordable to put down roots.
Still, California has a very large population (over 39 million) and, despite having a net loss of hundreds of thousands of residents between 2020 and 2022, it still managed to rank as thethird most moved-in state by volume last year with +3.6% move-ins.
While the cost of living and high taxes may be a turn-off for some, living in California comes with a gorgeous climate, breathtaking scenery, myriad job opportunities, and endless culture and entertainment. People are still moving to the Golden State and, with all of these perks, “California dreaming” isn’t likely going anywhere.
More 2023 California Moving Stats
Given the multiple moving options available to you, each has many pros and cons, including the price. The average California moving service costs in 2023 were as follows:
Transportation Type
Avg. Labor Cost
Avg. Transportation Cost
Total Cost
Container
$461
$2,762
$3,223
Truck
$478
$345
$823
Freight Trailer
$574
$1,500*
$2,074**
**Expressed as a national average, as state-specific data is not available.
Avg. Cost of Labor-Only Moving Services in California by Job Type
Hiring labor-only saves people money, but which part of your move you hire the labor for makes a difference. Let’s compare the average costs of different labor-only moving services in California to the national averages.
Type of Labor-Only Moving Service
U.S. Average
CA Average
Moving with on-site help only
$345
$353
Moving with unloading help only
$395
$387
Moving with loading help only
$400
$398
Moving with both loading and unloading help (booked together)
$490
$608
Top 5 Least Expensive Cities for Moves Within California (Labor-Only)
California moves in the above graphs are calculated using booked moves where the origin city, destination city, or both reside within California and are at least 50 miles apart.
Which Cities in California Are Growing and Shrinking?
Livermore, CA
Californian City With the Greatest Population Increase*** – Santa Cruz, CA (+12.5%)
This mellow beach town is located in Northern California along Highway One. Among other things, it’s known for its surf culture, whale watching, and close proximity to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Californian City With the Greatest Population Loss*** – Livermore, CA (-2%)
Located in the San Francisco Bay area and dating back to 1869, Livermore is the state’s oldest wine region. In addition to its thriving wine industry, the city also enjoys a rich arts and culture scene.
***Based on population increase or decrease between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Most Affordable California Cities (Based on Cost of Living)
Here’s a closer look at six of the most affordable cities in California (according to Niche) and how their average household incomes and home values compare to the state averages.
Sources: Average home values are based on Zillow data and median household incomes are based on U.S. Census data (expressed in 2021 dollars) available as of June 2022.
Cost of Moving Within California (NorCal Versus SoCal)
San Diego, CA
Contrary to popular belief, not everything’s more expensive in SoCal versus NorCal. When comparing the cost of moving in Northern California versus Southern California, there’s virtually no statistical difference. Moving labor costs are roughly $443 in both regions, on average.
That said, Southern California is home to the most expensive city for moving in the entire country: Riverside. On average, state moves originating in Riverside totaled $538.
Least Expensive Moves in California by Origin City (Avg.)
The costs of moving to California aren’t just about hiring movers, buying packing supplies, or renting self-storage. If you’re moving from out of state, there’s a good chance the sales tax rates in California will be higher (possibly much higher) than you’re used to, affecting the final cost of moving-related expenses. Not to mention California’s high income taxes, which will almost certainly take a toll on your disposable income.
Below is a breakdown of California tax rates.
Sales taxes in California include:
California sales tax rate: 7.25% (highest in the U.S.)
Average local sales tax rate: 1.57%
California gasoline tax rate: 63¢
California cigarette tax rate: $2.87 (per 20-pack)
California income tax rates are as follows:
California Income Tax Brackets Based on Filing Status
If you’re considering moving to California, be sure to look at your new city’s cost of living compared to your salary. Keep in mind that even if you’re moving for a job, it may not be necessary to live in one of the big, expensive cities listed above. There are plenty of affordable California suburbs — which aren’t necessarily in the middle of nowhere — including Morada, Desert Edge, and Golden Hills.
*Unless otherwise indicated, the previous statistics are based on thousands of moves carried out by the halfway point of 2021. These data points are calculations of average and median costs of “labor-only” and/or “Mover + Truck” moving services booked through HireAHelper.com, as well as “Long Distance Move” moving services from MovingPlace.com, and may also include additional related moving data from industry partners and affiliates collected between 2020 and 2021.
But before you ditch the idyllic temps and less-than-idyllic traffic of L.A. for the skyscrapers and snowstorms of NYC, there are some key details to think through:
How much does a cross-country move cost?
What exactly does a cross-country relocation entail?
What does it mean for your car?
As someone who grew up in L.A., I understand all of the amazing qualities of this sprawling city, but I also know why, after a while, you might want to try something new. After all, New York City is a big place, with 8 million people, 5 boroughs, and about 3,000 “best slice” spots. Here’s what I learned on my move.
From Coast to Coast: What You Need To Know When Moving from LA to NYC
As Frank Sinatra crooned, “If you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere.” Of course, that implies it takes some fortitude to make it in NYC. (As a Los Angelino, you’ve already got that in spades.)
Here are a few key differences to consider between the two cities:
Transportation: Los Angeles is a driving-centric town; you must have your own vehicle in L.A. But the traffic is atrocious, and it takes so long to get anywhere that you really have to think hard before every RSVP. NYC is all about walking, but the subway is always there as a backup. Although the multicolored Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) map might seem daunting at first, you’ll quickly get to know your local route, and your knowledge from memorizing overnight switchovers and deciphering the conductor’s messages will only grow.
“The Vibe”:There might be some culture shock if you’re used to laid-back vibes. They say that New Yorkers are mean and rude and, well, some people are! But to be fair, you can find gruff people anywhere. Both cities offer diverse communities who will likely love to chat about their favorite brunch spots, fitness fads, and what they love or hate about their town.
Weather: Are you sure you want to give up the beach? OK, to be fair, you don’t exactly have to! NYC offers access to Coney Island, the Rockaways, and the Hamptons, providing a variety of beach escapes with different vibes. The big change is that you only get to enjoy NYC beaches for a few months out of the year. Then again, there’s something to be said for adding chic coats to your wardrobe.
What’s the cost of living in NYC vs. L.A.?
One thing that New Yorkers love to talk about is how much everything costs. So, let’s talk about money.
NYC has one of the nation’s highest median incomes: $87,745.
However, you should also consider that rising housing costs and the overall cost of living counteract some of those take-home benefits.One study shows that when today’s median household income is adjusted against county cost of living, New York County ranks very poorly: No. 3,105 in the U.S.
So, you can’t simply ask, “Is it cheaper to live in L.A. or NYC?” It’s important to really take into account your own lifestyle and the factors that might impact your take-home pay—everything from groceries to movie theater tickets. Both L.A. and NYC are unsurprisingly among the most expensive cities in the United States; L.A. ranks No. 7, Brooklyn comes in at No. 4, and Manhattan owns the dubious honor of No. 1.
A few things have changed about living in New York since 2020, several of which might inform a move to NYC.
One factor is that renters in NYC might need to pay broker fees again. These fees, which can range from one month’s rent to 15% of annual rent,were briefly prohibited in 2020. However, that is a “might”, because it’s possible to sort listings so that only no-fee apartments are displayed in your searches. In some cases, the amount itself may be negotiable, but this is something to discuss with a broker up-front.
“Consider that the 40-hour drive from LA to NYC takes about four days on average to complete—and that’s with an average vehicle, not a large moving truck.”
Another thing is that prices have steeply increased from the all-time lows of the pandemic. Not only are NYC prices rising, but it’s madebidding on apartments pretty fierce. Prospective renters might offer to pay over the asking rate, sign leases sight unseen, put down deposits in cash, and do other things that would’ve seemed crazy year ago. While competitive, you probably aren’t used to competition this fierce in LA.
How to ensure you get an apartment in NYC
What helps most is to know exactly what you’re looking for so that you know it when you see it, and that you’re ready to act.
Have all of your paperwork on hand so that you can apply for an apartment right away; typical documents include pay stubs (or similar proof of employment), records from the past year’s tax returns, and proof of the money that’s currently in your bank account (or other assets you hold).
The Mover’s Guide for How To Get From Here (L.A.) to There (NYC)
You’ve made your decision to pack up and head off to the opposite coast. Congrats! Now it’s time for the actual moving part. Although it’s impossible to provide one guide that will suit every situation, this at-a-glance overview offers useful and comprehensive tips for moving to NYC.
How to get your move out of L.A. started
It’s not really possible nowadays to simply decide you’re leaving today. Several experts recommend booking movers two months ahead of your trip, but this is a general rule. Given this is a long-distance move, you might want to start as far back as three months, especially if you’ll be moving during the busy summer season, which books up fast!
Pack now!
When a friend of mine moved to NYC recently, she started planning a few months out and felt pretty confident, but looking back, she says she could have benefitted from a little extra time to double-check everything, pack a little earlier and slower, and itemize and appraise some of her belongings. Case in point: a few of her boxes went missing. But she had difficulty holding her movers accountable — she wasn’t 100% certain about what specifically was lost because she’d marked them down broadly (i.e., “Kitchen”).
You need to look at NYC places well in advance
Unfortunately, housing inventory doesn’t show up online too far in advance of its availability in NYC. At best, you might see it listed a month early, but that might not feel like a lot of time to find somewhere to live, put in an application, and get everything in order while also planning your move.
“With moving containers, you pack all your stuff up and have it driven cross-country for you!”
Consider a temporary location, like an Airbnb
This is why some people find temporary places to stay at first or lease places without ever visiting them. If possible, schedule a weekend trip to NYC about a month ahead of your move and plan long days with back-to-back viewings until you find a place. For this to succeed, you might want to enlist a broker and develop a relationship so that they understand your needs.
Tips to make your NYC move-in day smoother
While moving days anywhere might have their little quirks depending on the city, here are some NYC-specific tips for the big day.
Check and double-check your apartment measurements
Many New York buildings are old (like remodeled tenements), and even new builds are often atypical in size and shape to make the most of limited square footage (Ever hear of “shoebox” apartments?). Measure:
Your doorways (they are not all standard)
Halls (especially corners)
Stairwells (plus, count the flights if it’s a walk-up)
Make sure you can actually get everything into your apartment before you put so much effort into moving your items to NYC!
For move-in, you might need to show your building proof that your movers are insured
This protects the building in the event that any damage occurs to stairwells, hallways, and the like so forth, during the move-in process. Professional moving companies are used to being asked about this, but it might cost a small fee to request a copy of their proof of insurance. (Tip: If the building doesn’t bring this up, don’t ask!)
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How to haul all your stuff to NYC
You have a few options for getting yourself (and all your belongings) to NYC:
Do-It-Yourself: Some people think the main advantage of DIY is saving money, but this may or may not be true depending on how you go about it. Consider that the 40-hour drive from LA to NYC takes about four days on average to complete — and that’s with an average vehicle, not a large moving truck. You’ll have to think about paying for gas across about 2,800 miles. And if you park at hotels and motels along the way, you’ll want to make sure your worldly belongings stay secure in your truck while you sleep.
All-In-One/Full-Service: Many people enjoy using moving services that do packing, move-out, transport, move-in, and unpacking (or some combination of those options). The obvious perk is convenience because it lets you focus on other aspects of the move. However, it’s important to find a company you trust, since they’re handling every element of your move.
Shipping Containers: A solution likePODS might be ideal for moving to NYC, because PODS gives you both storage and moving in one service, and you only have to load and unload one time. With moving containers, you pack all your stuff up and have it driven cross-country for you! Once your containers get to New York, you have the option to leave them in storage for as long as you need while you find a place to live and get yourself settled. Then, once you’re ready, you just book your container delivery and unload everything into your new place.
How much does it cost to move from L.A. to NYC?
First of all, give yourself time to price-shop! Do your research, compare prices, and don’t be afraid to bring other company quotes to places you prefer and ask them to match them.
Remember my friend whose items got “lost” when moving to NYC? She later learned that other complaints about that company losing belongings were buried on Google. With a little more time spent, she would have turned those up before losing her entire jewelry box while trying to save a few bucks.
DIY (Rent and Drive a Truck Yourself): $179–$219 (per day, truck rental) + $1,088 (total gas, assuming an average moving truck’s MPG and current national gas price average as of September 2022)
Full-Service: $4,290–$7,280
Shipping Containers: $3,368–$4,420
The main takeaway is that while the DIY and shipping container options look a lot cheaper than full-service, when all is said and done, the final numbers may not be so far off from each other. It all depends on which company you use, whether or not you choose to drive, how long you take to drive if you choose to, and little add-ons like getting insurance, permits, or adding moving labor.
Rather than concentrate entirely on the price tag, decide what really works best for your move — then pursue the best company and a fair price.
What’s the best time of year to move to NYC?
Generally, it’s cheaper to move during winter months and holiday weekends when fewer people are moving and demand is lower.
Demand is highest during a few peak dates in New York City: June 1 or 15 and September 1 or 15.
On and around those dates, it’s more difficult to find movers and rental trucks. But in NYC, there’s more to consider. For example, if you move into a high-rise building, you’ll often need to reserve special parking spots for move-in trucks (loading zones), and you might need to reserve the building’s freight elevators for furniture and big boxes.
Parking slots can fill up on prime move-in days, meaning that even if your lease is starting on June 1, if you can’t reserve parking and elevators, you might need to bring some of your things on another day in order to meet the building’s move-in policies and codes. If you’re moving into a more relaxed building, these might not be concerns.
Remember, consider available apartment inventory. If you choose a month when fewer people are moving out, there might be fewer vacancies for you to choose from.
“…if you move into a high-rise building, you’ll often need to reserve special parking spots for move-in trucks…and you might need to reserve the building’s freight elevators for furniture and big boxes.”
Do I need a car in NYC?
This is a question that always gets asked, and there are, unfortunately, only three real answers:
Sell it. Some people have cars in NYC, but the hassle of parking it is typically not worth the convenience of having it. Renting spaces can be anywhere from $200–$500 per month, while street parking requires moving your car to alternate sides of the road almost every day to avoid getting a ticket.
Drive it. If your belongings are being moved separately, you could take a nice, long road trip and see more of the U.S. Don’t forget to factor in today’s gas prices and your car’s mileage.
How much money should I save before moving to NYC?
It’s hard to give an exact number to save up before you make your move since that figure really depends on where you’re going and what your rent situation will be. But I can give you a list of factors that can help you come up with a number that makes sense.
You’ll need to have enough money to cover:
Moving costs (see above)
First month’s rent
Last month’s rent
Security deposit (which is typically equivalent to a month’s rent)
Tipping your movers: Make a good impression by tipping your doormen, movers, and anyone who helps you get settled. They will remember, and it will go a long way toward ensuring a more pleasant acclimation period.
Cabs/takeout/extras: When you move, you’ll be exhausted, and you’ll spend a few days ordering takeout and taking cars everywhere instead of walking. This is one of those rare times it really does help to throw money at the problem—pad your budget just enough.
All in all, you’re easily looking at ~$5,000+ estimate for moving from L.A. to NYC. That’s between a rental truck or moving service, first and last month’s rent, and other miscellaneous costs. (Even the most extreme DIY scenario will still net a couple grand in expenses.)
Of course, it’s always good to add some buffer in there to cover the extras that are sure to come up. Nothing makes you feel more like a New Yorker than a crazy curveball thrown at you at the moment you least expect it.
Hopefully, this advice helps you feel more confident about moving from L.A. to NYC. Now all you need to do is take the leap.
In February 2019 I’d been living in New York for a decade. I had vague, hazy plans to consider a move to the west coast in the next three to five years, but had done zero planning about how to make that happen.
Then, on the first of the month, my boyfriend was offered his dream job in Los Angeles, with a proposed start date of March 1st. That gave us just four weeks to break our lease, pack up our entire lives, make the cross-country move, and find an apartment in an unfamiliar city. Yikes.
Where do I even start with my whirlwind NYC to LA move?
It was an intimidating proposition, made even more so by the fact that I couldn’t find any published resources to help guide the way. Luckily, my partner and I are both writers and performers, so there were a lot of people in our community who’d made that same move. (It’s super common for creatives on one coast to get cast or staffed on a show on the other, and have just weeks or even days to show up on site.)
Through a combination of their recommendations and my own frantic research, I was able to cobble together a plan for how to do the long distance move from NYC to LA that went off without a hitch… and then I wrote it all down.
Month 1: Leaving New York
Day 1: Book your movers ASAP (they get booked fast)
Your very first call should be to a moving company, because long-distance mover slots book up lightning fast. Come in with as wide a range of possible moving dates as you can—shoot for three to five days—that flexibility will make it more likely that you’ll be able to snag your first choice.
Our first choice was a business called Oz Moving & Storage, a company offering residential, commercial, and long-distance moves in three states: New York, New Jersey, and California. (But of course, you can check a mover marketplace like HireAHelper.com to find a company that works for you.) Not only did Oz come highly recommended by friends who’d used them, but the company offered a service that seemed tailor-made for our situation: the ability to book without an existing address on the LA end, plus 30 days of free storage.
Oz quoted me a price of $1954.59 to move our one-bedroom just under 3,000 miles (this is not a bad deal for a coast to coast move), and I put down my $50 deposit to reserve an appointment. Then I moved on to the next item on my list, ready to build out the rest of my schedule around that tentpole.
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Day 1-5: Get your plane ticket
Now that your stuff has a way to get to LA, you should probably find a way to get your body there as well.
We’d toyed with the idea of driving for our cross-country move, but ultimately opted to fly so we’d have more time to apartment hunt on the other end. Also, like most New Yorkers, we didn’t have a car, which both complicated and eased our travel arrangements.
Once we’d booked a flight—scheduling it for well into the afternoon, since our movers were set to arrive in the morning—we looked for a short term Airbnb in LA. We booked an affordable spot for five days up front, and confirmed with our host that she’d be open to us extending our stay if we didn’t find an apartment during that time.
Day 1-5: (Gently) break your lease
Ideally, your lease is ending organically, or you’re in a month-to-month situation, but if you’re not and don’t want to pay a penalty, your best bet is to drop the news on your landlord as soon as possible. The sooner the unit is filled after your departure, the less likely it is that you’ll have to pay any kind of penalty for bailing out early. In our case, avoiding getting dinged came down to flexibility… and a tremendous amount of luck.
“Your very first call should be to a moving company, because long-distance mover slots book up lightning fast.”
Moments after we spoke to our landlord, he ran into our downstairs neighbor, who happened to have a friend looking for a spot. She shot some video of our space, and he asked if he could come by to view the place before a scheduled trip took him out of town. He committed to taking the place on the spot.
With a move-in date of March 1st, the apartment wouldn’t sit empty for a single day, so we didn’t have to pay a penalty, and got back every dollar of our deposit. Phew!
Day 5-infinity: Spend as much time as you want apartment-browsing online, but don’t sign anything
You’ll notice that I haven’t said anything about trying to lock down an apartment in advance, and the reason for that is —I didn’t do it, and I don’t want you to either.
Here’s why: for those of us who have lived in New York City for any length of time, the rental market has broken our brains. This is a fact. But the Los Angeles market isn’t nearly as competitive, so signing an LA lease sight unseen is setting yourself up for a scam or a disappointment.
For example, one of my friends lined up a gorgeous one-bedroom in advance, only to discover a cockroach infestation that necessitated a quick move-out. I was also shown quite a few listings that were priced higher online than the number I was quoted in person. It seems many agencies are well aware that out-of-towners are eager to get everything nailed down in advance, and some take advantage by increasing the rent on online listings to see what they can get away with!
Also, final note: the LA apartment we ended up renting was one I’d seen a listing for in advance and hadn’t even bothered saving. But I had a totally different reaction when I saw it in person, so please don’t stress too hard if you’re not seeing anything that grabs you.
Day 10: Sell any big-ticket items you’re not in love with
The price of a long-distance move has everything to do with the amount of boxes and larger furniture pieces you’re bringing, so make your choices wisely. Anything that doesn’t fall into the must-have category can go up on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, where the profits from its sale can go toward your moving costs.
Neither of us was completely enamored with our couch, so we sold it in New York — for almost as much as it had cost in the first place. And since we had a connection to the guy who was moving into our place, I took photos and wrote detailed descriptions of all the furniture we weren’t bringing with us, in hopes he might want to buy some of it. It was a time-consuming process, but the new tenant wound up wanting almost all of it! He Venmoed us $1,100 for the pieces he was interested in, which made it well worth the effort.
Day 14: Start packing up your New York apartment
My personal feeling is it’s never too early to start packing, but I’d say make sure you’ve begun in earnest by the time your move date is two weeks out. Don’t seal up the boxes until Day 25 or so, but you can start filling them now with items you don’t use on a regular basis, making sure to label the boxes carefully and avoid overloading them.
Day 28: Bring your freaking sheets with you
Since we’d have to go without the majority of our stuff for weeks as we waited for the rest of our stuff to arrive, I made sure to leave space for daily items in our checked luggage. For us, that list included a few kitchen supplies, toiletries, our electronics, and was missing one big item: bed linens.
We’d always planned to purchase an air mattress before our first night in our new apartment, but for some reason, we hadn’t considered what we’d sleep under. We spent a few embarrassing, shivery nights swaddled in coats and towels before a lovely friend took pity on us and brought over some sheets, pillows, and a comforter.
Month 2: Okay, You’re in LA. Now What?
Congratulations! Your feet are on the ground in Los Angeles, and the settling in has begun. (This is the easy part, I promise.)
Day 1-5: Stretch your apartment-hunting legs (literally)
The advice we heard over and over again was simple: walk the streets looking for “FOR RENT” signs. Once you find one, call the number listed and cross your fingers you get to talk to a real person, who will either schedule an appointment or come show you the place right then.
“To get a moving permit, Los Angeles City residents can call (213) 485-2298 with at least five days’ notice—be prepared to pay around $50.”
We got started in West Hollywood, because it was walkable to my boyfriend’s new job, and set our sights on a one-bedroom for $2,000 or less. I’d learned from my research that that would be a tough ask, and one agent actually laughed in our faces as she showed us a unit, but I figured we could afford to be a little picky since this was our first day looking. That mindset paid off when just down the block from that giggly agent, we found the perfect spot on our very first day looking: an adorable one-bedroom for just $1,750.
We applied on the spot and were approved, our new building manager eyeing us nervously as we sweatily raced through the application, desperate to protect this apartment from the hordes of prospective renters we were certain were on our tail. (We saw no one all day, our brains are very sick.)
Day 5: Give your address to your moving company
Once you have keys in hand, it’s time to inform the moving company (or whoever you’re storing your stuff with) of your new address, which in our case also triggered the next phase of our move. Oz would be moving our boxes from New York storage and onto the truck any day now, which opened a 14-day window during which we could expect to receive our items.
Day 15: Get a moving permit, ideally for the correct city
As the time got closer, we heard from Oz again, with informative emails narrowing down the delivery window to a certain day, and noting that we’d likely need a moving permit.
To get a moving permit, Los Angeles City residents can call (213) 485-2298 with at least five days’ notice—be prepared to pay around $50. (For West Hollywood residents, the number is (323) 848-6392, and charges start at $10 and go up to $35 depending on the specifics of your move.)
Just for fun, try knowing what city you live in beforeyou get a permit. I called LA instead of WeHo, and they got all the way out to our block before realizing that we were outside the LA City limits. They refunded my money, but I had to start over with WeHo with not enough time before the deadline, which was nice and stressful. (Thankfully, everything ultimately worked out.)
Day 15: Ask your landlord whether your new building requires a Certificate of Insurance (COI)
This was a new concept to me. Oz noted in an email that if our building required one, they’d be happy to provide it, but that didn’t turn out to be necessary at our location.
I wish my fridge looked this cool.
Day 15: Be aware that for some bizarre reason, your apartment might not come with a fridge
I know. This is a very weird one. Our apartment did come with a fridge. And we were warned that plenty don’t. If yours doesn’t, don’t worry—there’s apparently a thriving market for secondhand fridges in and around LA. If you need one, consider planning its arrival for the day the rest of your stuff arrives, so you don’t have to lug it into your apartment solo. (Remembering to check with your movers to make sure that’s an okay task to add, of course.)
Day 366: Note that your lease will likely transition to month-to-month after a year
Apparently, this is the case in other cities as well, but since I’d been in a rent-stabilized unit for most of my time in New York, I wasn’t aware. After your first year in many LA apartments, your lease will switch over to a month-to-month situation.
And that’s a wrap on that—you’re officially an Angeleno! Who knows if the time will ever come when I need to attempt this long distance move in reverse, but if it does, I feel much more prepared now than I did the first time around.
Homebodies of Michigan: 77% of people living in Michigan were born there
Only 25% of people living in Nevada were born in Nevada, 19% were born in California
14% of the Oregonian population are actually from California
People born in New York state account for 8% of Florida’s population
A quarter (25%) of Miami residents are from Cuba
52% of New Yorkers were born outside the state of New York
28% of Miami residents who were born elsewhere are under 24
Americans move around a lot. Less than in years and decades, as we’ve noted in our studies, but millions of Americans move every year.
Whether it’s chasing dreams in New York City or LA, chasing the sun in Phoenix or Miami, or craving a change of pace in Seattle or Austin – many of us end up living in places far from places where we were born.
In this post, we look at the U.S. states and cities to see where their residents are from. Which cities have the most diverse populations? Which states the most residents from neighboring states, and which are top destinations for expats from overseas?
Read on below to find out.
Born and Raised: Proud ‘Michiganers’ and More
Before we get into the cities, let’s have a quick look at the states. For most states, it is true that the lion’s share of the population was born in that state. The state that houses the highest percentage of its original residents is Michigan, with 77%. The lowest? It’s Nevada, where only 25% of the current population were born in Nevada.
Interestingly enough, it’s these states in the Midwest and around the Great Lakes that have the highest proportion of people born in them who still live there. Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin—over 70% of people living in these states never left them.
The curious exception to this rule is Louisiana, where only 24% of the population were born outside the Bayou State.
New Yorkers in California, Californians in Texas
Things get more interesting when we look at the people born outside the states they live in.
California might be a dream destination for many people in the U.S. and beyond, but boy do Californians get around. Not only were 19% of Nevada’s residents born in the Golden State, so were 14% inside Oregon, 10% in Idaho, and 9% in the state of Washington. Even 3% of all Texans were born in California.
“…it’s these states in the Midwest and around the Great Lakes that have the highest proportion of people born in them who still live there: Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin—over 70% of people living in these states never left them.”
But it’s not just Californians that like to settle outside their home state. New Yorkers have been up and down the East Coast: 11% of people in the neighboring New Jersey were born in the Empire State, as were 10% of those living in Connecticut, 8% of those in Florida. Enough New Yorkers have made it to the West Coast that 2% of California’s population are from New York, making it the largest out-of-state diaspora in the state.
Elsewhere, born-and-bred Texans, regardless of whether they were born in Dallas or San Antonio, have a strong presence in the four states Texas borders, just like those from the state of Illinois, who successfully settled just outside the border of their own state.
Breaking Down Cities: Where Are New Yorkers Actually From?
Now that we’ve looked at the states, let’s turn to the cities. We looked at ten of the biggest cities across the country to get a sense of just how many people from all over the country and the world they bring together.
Looking at the most obvious example of a global metropolis that is New York City, you might be surprised to find out that 48% of people living in NYC are from the state of New York, with the total share of U.S.-born population at 59%.
About 15% of New York City residents are from other countries in North America—DR and Jamaica being top countries representing the regions, while 12% are from Asia with 4.4% from China.
Just under 7% of New Yorkers were born in Europe, and there’s a clear Slavic bias there with three of the top four countries being Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.
We Love LA!
Across the country on the West Coast, the picture for Los Angeles is both different and similar to that of NYC. The overwhelming majority of the LA residents are American-born (62%), with 45% being born in the Golden State itself.
However, the breakdown of overseas residents is entirely different. Where New York is dominated by the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, more people in LA hail from Mexico and El Salvador. Where most Asian-born New Yorkers are from China, in Los Angeles, they originate from the Philippines and Korea.
The share of European expats in LA is half that of New York City – only 3.5% – with the biggest diaspora hailing from Armenia.
Miami, the Melting Pot City
The one big city with a starkly different picture of its population is Miami, FL. Not only do as many as 44% of its residents come from abroad, a quarter of them (25%) hail from Cuba.
“The state that houses the highest percentage of its original residents is Michigan, with 77%. The lowest? It’s Nevada, where only 25% of the current population were born in Nevada.”
Slightly more (28%) were born in Florida itself, with a share of all American-born residents at 41%. Where South American-born residents were much more of a rarity in the likes of NYC and LA, as many as one in ten people in Miami were born on that continent.
Expats from Europe make up 3% of Miami’s population, but note that most Europeans in Miami are from Spain. Asian-born residents barely register 1%.
Check our interactive chart below to find out how the population of other big US cities breaks down by their place of birth.
What Age to Move
Miami’s Cuban heritage isn’t the only thing that makes it stand out. Unlike many of the biggest cities in the United States, over a quarter of people moving there (28%) are in their teens and early twenties.
For cities like Boston, DC, and Philadelphia, the majority of people (over 50%) who were born elsewhere are Millennials, i.e., those who in 2020 are between the ages of 29 and 34.
Surprisingly enough, out-of-state movers to NYC, San Francisco, LA are overwhelmingly in their forties and early fifties.
Nearly 93% of people who moved to LA from outside of California were Gen X’ers, as are 83% of people in San Francisco. For New York City, Gen X’ers accounted for almost two-thirds (65%) of all residents born out-of-state.
These stats mean one of two things: either people who have moved to these cities moved a long time ago, or that people are moving to these cities when they’re much older and have the means to do it. Either way, it’s either a sign of trends changing or these big cities becoming increasingly unaffordable for young people to move into.
For better or for worse, most people across the United States tend to stay put and never leave their state. However, for all those homebodies, there are plenty of those who seek their fortunes elsewhere: all those New Yorkers in California, Cubans in Miami, Russians in New York City, and Californians in Texas.
Methodology
All the percentages, graphs, maps, and visualizations are based on the data from the American Community Survey – a Census Bureau survey reaching around 170,000 Americans each year – for the years 2014 through 2019 (latest year available) detailing the place of birth and the place of residence of survey participants.
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