Moving from New York City to Boston can be an easy switch, as both cities share a lot of similarities. This guide will make the move easier.

They’re both big cities with tough continental climates where all 4 seasons are represented in their entirety. As a New Yorker, you will already be well-adapted to fast-paced city life but Boston has more of that small-town feel to it.

These similarities may help you adjust faster and can really help to accelerate how fast you adapt to your new city.

So if you plan on trading in the Big Apple for Beantown, this guide will explain the whole moving process and share some helpful tips to assist you with your relocation.

The Moving Process From New York City to Boston

How Far is Boston from New York City?

The distance between New York City and Boston is 216 miles. The driving time of this journey is approximately 3.5 hours by car depending on traffic.

So whether you’re planning on doing a DIY move and driving the journey yourself in a rented moving van or you’re planning to drive your car and hire a professional mover, it’s definitely worth noting that it’s not too long of a drive.

The flight time is roughly 1 hour long, so if the idea of sitting in a car for 3+ hours doesn’t sound like fun to you, you should definitely consider flying.

What is the Average Cost to Move From New York City to Boston?

The average cost to move from New York City to Boston is between $1500-$2500. That means on average it costs roughly $2000.

There are many variables that determine the exact cost of a move from New York City to Boston such as the number of items being moved, whether you’ll want additional packing and unpacking services, and whether you plan to hire professional moving services or do it yourself.

moving from nyc to boston cost

Should I Move From New York City to Boston?

While this move won’t involve much difference in climate, there are other benefits. The rental rate decreases and the fact that residents get to experience living in a city where many historical moments took place are two of the biggest benefits. If this sounds good to you, then you should move from New York City to Boston.

How New York City Compares to Boston

Living Costs Compared

The first thing a New Yorker will notice when they arrive in Boston is how affordable it is comparatively.

It’s no secret that New York City is one of the most expensive places to live in the US, let alone the world, so the rental and real estate prices in Boston will be a pleasant surprise.

Housing in Boston is around 11.5% cheaper than in New York City. The median rent in New York City is around $2,850, while it’s only $2,315 in Boston.

If you’re planning to buy a house in Boston you will be happy to hear that buying an apartment in Boston is cheaper than in NYC. The median sale price of a house in NYC is $705,407. In Boston, the median sale price is only $644,000.

Aside from real estate costs, the cost of living in Boston is around 13.2% cheaper than in NYC. So you can expect cheaper utilities, groceries, and healthcare costs in Boston.

Public Transportation

The T is Boston’s equivalent of the subway system, and it’s part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which also runs busses, trolleys, commuter rail, and ferries. Boston’s public transit system is among the best in the country, especially when it comes to convenience and accessibility.

Anyone who has lived in New York City will have experienced walking to work, but you will certainly find that Boston is a great city for walking too. Both cities have been ranked as some of the most walkable in the US.

In NYC an unlimited subway card costs $127 per month and $2.75 per ride. In Boston, a monthy pass costs $90 and one ride costs $2.40.

Weather

As we mentioned previously, both NYC and Boston have tough continental climates where all 4 seasons are represented in their entirety. They both have hot, humid summers. But winters can differ slightly.

On average, Boston gets about a foot more snow each winter than New York. While the coldest average monthly temperature in New York bottoms out at 27℉, Boston’s average lows in winter months are 19℉ or colder.

Moving From New York City to Boston DMV

When moving from New York City to Boston, it must be noted that you will have to get a new driver’s license.

If you have a driver’s license from another state, you need to convert it to a MA driver’s license upon becoming a resident in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, you can’t do it online or over the phone, so you will need to visit an RMV Service Center in person.

You must make a reservation for this. For more information about what documents are required and how to start the process click here.

Buying a home in Boston

As we mentioned earlier, buying a home in Boston is slightly cheaper than buying a home in NYC. These are the neighborhoods to consider if looking to buy a home.

Hopkinton

Are you dreaming of a neighborhood with a rural feel where most residents own their homes? Well, Hopkinton has one of the highest rates of homeownership in Massachusetts, as 83% of people own their homes.

The public schools in Hopkinton are highly rated and this suburb was voted the best suburb to buy a house in Boston on Niche.

Do you love running? Did you know that Hopkinton is the starting point of the Boston Marathon? There are also a lot of coffee shops and parks too. So if you are a family looking for a place to cultivate community this neighborhood is a great choice.

Dorchester

Dorchester is Boston’s largest neighborhood by area. It is probably Boston’s most ethnically and racially diverse neighborhood, in addition to being the most diverse in terms of housing stock. The neighborhood boasts a great mix of old Victorian-style townhouses and luxury condos.

If location matters to you, you’re in luck as Dorchester is very close to downtown Boston. So if you’re looking for a lively and eclectic neighborhood that has something happening 24-7, Dorchester might be for you.

Chelsea

If you are looking for an extremely affordable house in Boston, Chelsea might be the place for you. The area went bankrupt in 1991, but since then it has been going from strength to strength. Now the neighborhood offers some of the most competitive housing prices in Greater Boston.

It is situated three or four miles from downtown Boston. If you are an expanding family, you will be happy as the real estate for sale in Chelsea is spacious compared to regional standards, with 3- and 4-bedrooms on offer at what 1- and 2-bedrooms would go for in Boston proper or Cambridge.

Selling Your Property in New York City

The first step when planning to sell your property in New York City is finding the right realtor. You also have to consider when to sell your home.

Housing prices can fluctuate by thousands of dollars depending on what time of year you sell your home. June is the best month to sell in New York for speed, and July is the best month to sell for a better price in New York. Selling in either of these months is a great idea.

Figuring out what your house is worth is a vital task to ensure a financially favorable and speedy sale. Gauging your home’s value compared to the area’s market value is the best way to confidently price your home. An experienced real estate agent can provide a market analysis.

A good, reliable realtor will guide you through the whole process and can really help you alleviate the stresses that come with selling your home.

Finding a Job in Boston Before You Move There

Before you move to Boston, it’s advised to try and find a job so that your move can have one less stressor added to it. Some ideas of where to start the job search would be

City of Boston: Career Center

This is a great resource to find City of Boston jobs, this informative page is committed to assisting residents in their pursuit of finding a job. The page contains information on where residents can find job opportunities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Indeed

Indeed is always a great place to find job listings no matter where you are based. You can use the tools to filter your search to certain areas in Boston and there are always new job listings posted daily.

To see the jobs currently available in Boston, check them out here.

Word of Mouth

Do you know anyone living in the area? Ask them if they know anyone looking to hire! It’s such a simple concept but yet we forget to use it.

Moving From New York City to Boston Checklist

The following checklist will allow you to assess what needs to be done before trading the Big Apple for Beantown.

At Least 4 to 6 Weeks Before the Move

– Organize a professional moving company.

– Let your health care physician, dentist, and other service providers know that you are moving.

– Order moving supplies or ask your moving company to provide them as an additional service

– It is a great idea to sell or donate your unwanted items. You can sell on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Or you can donate them to the Salvation Army and they will pick items up at no charge.

– Begin packing; clearly mark boxes with a marker indicating which room they will be going into at delivery.

– You will need to make your change of address known to several different places, such as wherever you bank, the DMV, your workplace, any other financial institutions (such as credit card providers), the post office, your utility provider, and, saving the most important for last, your friends and family.

– Sort plane tickets if you’re planning to fly.

2 Weeks Prior to the Move

– It is imperative to clean and/or make needed repairs on your old home before moving out, since leaving your place an absolute mess may leave your security deposit in jeopardy.

– Because of the abundance of fragile items in your kitchen, you’ll want to pack these items away long in advance, with protective bubble wrap to ensure nothing gets broken in transit.

– You will also want to begin packing your things from bedrooms and bathrooms, except for your essential items that you will be using until you move.

– If necessary, you will want to arrange a babysitter for your kids and/or pets for parts of the move that you need to be able to focus and get things done.

A Couple of Days Before Your Move

– Clean up your home completely, double checking any cracks and crevices that may have your stuff hidden away.

– Unless your movers will do it for you, dissassemble your furniture to make your move a smoother process, and ensure to keep any screws, brackets, or other small items that are needed for reassembly. Pro tip: tape these smaller items in a bag to the bottom of the furniture.

– Print out the floor plan of your new home and have enough for the movers as well.

– You may want to hit the ATM before moving day, as you’ll need to have enough cash to tip your movers. Generally speaking, you’ll want to tip $20-$30 per mover.

– Make sure that you confirm with your movers the details of your move. The last thing that you want is to have moving day come around, and you and your movers aren’t on the same page.

– Get in touch with the landlord or current homeowner of your new place, and ensure that you’ll be able to get the keys to your new place when you arrive.

– Document the condition of your old place through pictures and videos, to ensure that you have proof of its state. This will come in handy if your landlord tries to keep your deposit, based on incorrect facts.

Moving Day

– Hand over your old home’s keys to the necessary people, such as landlord or building management.

– Do a quick run-through of your home to ensure that nothing gets left behind, whether it’s just a smaller item, or an entire box of stuff.

– Ensure that everything you packed up is in your new home before unpacking everything.

– If the moving company you are working with is going to assemble your furniture, make sure that they reassemble it in the correct room to avoid unnecessary work.

– Be sure to thank everyone helping you move, and leave them a tip!

You did it! Congrats and enjoy your new home!

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