Whether you’re looking for a more affordable lifestyle than the big city in New York or just want to live somewhere with warmer weather, Georgia may be the perfect choice.
It’s quickly becoming the best state to retire in and Georgia is seeing a record number of new residents. In fact, the population grew 14.4% in the last decade, which is about 1.5 times the national average. That number is expected to increase by another 3% in the next ten years.
Moving over such a long distance may seem daunting, but this guide will help you navigate the moving process and prepare for your relocation.
Let’s dive in!
NY to Georgia: Average Moving Costs
There are a variety of factors that will affect your relocation costs.
The distance you need to cover is one of the biggest contributors to moving costs. It’s about 870 miles if you’re moving from New York City to Atlanta. If you’re moving from Buffalo in Upstate NY to southern Georgia, you’re looking at a little over a thousand miles. This difference will affect the cost of your move.
Renting a truck and moving yourself is the cheapest option, at about $2,500 to $3,000, plus fuel. However, you’ll need to factor in the time it takes you to pack, load the truck, and make the drive to your new home.
If that sounds like a lot of time-consuming work, you’re not wrong. Planning and executing a successful move can take literal months. The alternative is to hire a full-service moving company. This includes packing, shipping, and unpacking by a professional moving service.
Keep in mind that the cost of this kind of service can be tens of thousands of dollars. It’s unlikely a long-distance move like this would cost less than $5,000 and a fully furnished house can cost upwards of $15,000 or more.
In the end, you’ll need to determine your budget and how much work you’re willing to handle on your own. Even if you can’t afford a full-service move, you may still be able to use some moving services while keeping costs low.
Lowering Costs
No matter your budget, there are a few ways you can lower the costs when you’re choosing the right way to move.
Price Matching
While they may not advertise it, many professional moving companies will price match with competitors.
Look for affordable movers in your service area and request a free quote from several of them. Make sure that the quotes follow the same basic guidelines and you can leverage this to lower your costs.
Keep in mind that, if you’re trying to price match, most moving companies require a more accurate estimate than the moving quotes you can request online. Professionals will require an itemized list of furniture or they’ll want to visit your home to take inventory.
COVID-19 has made the quoting process even more complicated, but many moving companies have figured out how to adapt. Your Hometown Mover and other companies now offer a Live Video Estimate, where a live operator will walk you through taking an accurate inventory.
Collecting valid estimates can be time consuming, but it can help you drive the prices down among competitors and save you thousands in moving costs.
Moving Labor & Packaging Services
If you can handle driving a rental truck, you may be able to lower your costs and stick to a tight schedule, while still hiring some help for the heavy lifting.
The biggest time sink for most moving companies is the logistics that take place behind the scenes. For long-distance moves, the way the truck is loaded and the time commitment required from drivers increases the overall cost.
If you can drive your own truck, you’ll only have to pay for the services you need and can remove the lion’s share of relocation fees.
Search for moving companies that offer moving labor to help you load and unload the truck. These companies hire out movers on an hourly or daily basis.
You can get help with packing and loading and make the drive yourself. Once you’ve arrived, you can hire local movers to help you unload and unpack, too.
Keep in mind that hourly services may only handle certain aspects of the move, so make sure that you know what you need and what you’re getting in the agreement.
If you’re on a budget and can handle parts of the moving process yourself, this is a great way to compromise on the cost. This may be especially beneficial if you’re moving from Brooklyn or Manhattan, where you might be required to carry furniture down multiple flights of stairs.
Your Hometown Mover offers compartmental services to help you get started. Explore our packing services and moving labor options to learn more.
Financing Options
You might also be able to find a moving company that offers financing options for a full-service move.
With these “move now, pay later” options, you can finance the cost of your move and pay it back with a small amount of interest over a set term.
However, these options are scarce and have become even harder to find with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transit Times
When moving from New York to Georgia, you’ll be covering anywhere from 765 miles to over 1,200 miles.
Most moving companies will estimate 7 to 14 business days from pickup to delivery.
This may seem like a long time, but the delay is due to the way that most companies handle long-distance moves. The company will take your belongings and move them to a warehouse, so they can combine them with other shipments bound for the same destination.
While this allows the company to make the most of their resources and is more effective (and profitable) for them, it also means that your delivery will take longer.
What About Expedited Delivery?
If waiting a week or two to get your belongings is to be a bit much, ask your provider about expedited delivery options.
A few companies may offer expedited services with a turnaround time of one to three business days. These movers will skip the warehouse consolidation and drive your loaded truck straight from New York to its destination in Georgia.
However, expect to pay a premium for these services. They’ll likely add thousands to the cost of your move. This may be worth it, but keep in mind that, depending on the shipper, this may only save you a day or two on your estimated delivery date.
Double-check with your shipper on the timeframes of each service before you sign on to the additional costs for expedited delivery.
If you’re in a hurry, expedited delivery options can be a lifesaver when you’re in a hurry. Not only will you be able to save a big chunk of time on your move; it can also save you the headache of worrying about your possessions getting lost or mixed up with other shipments at the warehouse.
Shipment Tracking
With any long-distance move, your goods will be in transit for hundreds of miles.
This is one of the key differences between local and long-distance relocation. With local moves, you’ll have a good idea of where your possessions are at all times. You’ll even be able to follow the truck to your new home if you wish, so your items are never out of your sight.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely during a long-distance move. You and your belongings will be taking a completely different trip to your new home. And, in all probability, you won’t know exactly where your shipment is during transit.
Not knowing where your belongings are can add additional frustrations to your move. Not having a clear idea of when your shipment will arrive can make it difficult to plan your own schedule.
If you need some peace of mind, Your Hometown Mover offers live GPS tracking information on every shipment. Our world-class moving software sends automated texts with the exact location of your items, so you can plan ahead for your delivery.
Other companies may offer something like this as well. If not, ask if they have another way to provide you with regular updates and an expected delivery time.
Insurance
You have insurance options to cover your move and it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you.
Although most moving companies will do their best to protect your items and create a hassle-free moving experience, accidents do happen, and they come with a cost.
Understanding how insurance works and how most companies value your items can help you make this decision.
Basic Liability Insurance
Basic liability insurance is usually offered by most moving companies as part of a standard moving package.
This type of insurance may seem acceptable, but these rates are based on the weight of an item, not its perceived value. You may be putting your shipment’s value at risk if you’re using this form of insurance.
Let’s take a look at a quick example. If a piece of precious jewelry or a valuable painting was lost or damaged and you had a basic liability rate of $.60 per pound, you would only receive a fraction of the value of these items when filing a claim.
Premium Move Coverage
On the other hand, if you’re looking for full-value coverage, you’ll need premium insurance. This covers the value of your items, rather than their weight.
Of course, this requires additional work on your part because you’ll need to provide a list of the estimated value of all your items to your moving company. They will use that list to calculate a price based on the total value of the move.
Premium insurance usually includes a deductible amount, which you’ll be responsible for paying before a full payout is issued. However, if something happens during transit and your shipment is lost or destroyed, you’ll receive the full value of your items (less deductibles).
If you have large antiques or lightweight valuables, and you can’t take them with you in your own vehicle, premium insurance is the best option to protect the value of your belongings.
High-value items like antiques and oil paintings should be given careful consideration during the packing process. Your Hometown Mover offers custom crating and packing solutions to ensure that your valuables arrive safe and sound.
Moving Vehicles & Boats
While many of the metro areas in Georgia offer public transportation, it may be insufficient for your personal needs. Between bus stations, van lines, and MARTA trains, you may be able to explore most of Atlanta, but other areas will require a car.
If you already own a car, the most practical way to relocate it to Georgia is to drive it down the East Coast.
If you’re driving a rental truck, you can attach a rig to the back of it and pull your car along with you. Keep in mind that this will drastically extend the length of your vehicle, which can be challenging if you’re not used to driving large vehicles.
However, this may not be a viable option. Even if you hire a full-service moving company, you may have multiple vehicles or may not feel comfortable making a long-distance road trip.
In this case, you’ll need to look into rigging companies and auto transport solutions. Riggers will handle any boats or oversized vehicles you may have while auto-transporting services will transport cars and trucks.
Moving vehicles of any kind requires specialized equipment, so most professional moving companies don’t handle this directly. Instead, they’ll contract out with an auto-transporter or rigger on your behalf.
Unfortunately, your vehicle may not follow the same delivery schedule as your moving company, since it’s handled by a third party. If you’re expediting your moving delivery, the vehicle delivery may be excluded from that or may incur additional costs.
While Your Hometown Mover also outsources this work, our team will help you set everything up for an easy transition.
Georgia Resources
Depending on where you’re relocating, Georgia has a lot to offer, including tons of beaches, nearly 50 state parks, and beautiful weather throughout the year.
The state offers a lower cost of living and a thriving job market, making it a great place to call home.
Cost of Living
For New Yorkers, the cost of living in Atlanta is considerably lower. In fact, it’s 44% lower in Atlanta than in NYC.
Georgia as a whole is the 6th cheapest state to live in the country. Real estate prices are low, with the median home value of $180,679 and Georgia’s median household income of $56,183. This is a considerable difference from New York, where the cost of living in the state is the third highest in the country.
Regions
Georgia can be divided into five geographic regions: Appalachian Plateau, Valley and Ridge, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain.
Each area has its own beauty and attractions, and the population between regions is greatly varied.
While Atlanta is located in the Piedmont region, we’ll talk about it separately, since it holds the largest population in the state.
Appalachian Plateau: Outdoor Paradise
The Appalachian Plateau may be the smallest region in Georgia, but it makes up for it with its natural beauty.
This region is one of the most popular places for visitors to the state, with scenic views and plenty of outdoor activities.
Popular pastimes include hang gliding, hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, whitewater rafting, and much more.
Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon State Park highlight the region’s beauty. Check out Rock City atop Lookout Mountain or hike any of the 64 miles of trails in Cloudland Canyon.
For a little military history, head on over to Fort Oglethorpe and visit the Southeast Veterans Museum, the 6th Cavalry Museum, or the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.
If you’re trying to get away from the big city and move to a small town, LaFayette or Trenton may be the place for you. Both have plenty of outdoor activities and golf courses to explore.
Historic Valley and Ridge
Like the Appalachian Plateau, Georgia’s Ridge and Valley region is popular with outdoor adventurers.
Here you’ll find lots of waterfalls, including Amicalola Falls, which is the highest in the state.
If you’re a fan of Civil War history, this area is home to many historical landmarks. You can also visit the Historic Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel & Museum, which was the first railroad tunnel in the South.
This area is perfect for farming and pasteurizing, with a longer than normal growing season due to its mild winters and summers.
Textile and carpet manufacturing is the main industry in this region, with the city of Dalton known as the Carpet Capital of the World.
Dalton is the perfect middle ground if you’re looking for a city that’s small enough to feel safe, but big enough to have plenty of stores and restaurants.
The Beauty of Blue Ridge
If you love the mountains and you’re looking for a beautiful place to call home, the Blue Ridge region might be just the ticket.
It’s home to the highest mountain peak in Georgia: Brasstown Bald. There’s plenty of outdoor recreation, including whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and more.
In fact, on Springer Mountain, you’ll find the southern terminus and beginning of the Appalachian Trail.
If you’re looking for history, the city of Dahlonega was the center of the United States’ first major gold rush. You can even take a tour through one of the mines with the Consolidated Gold Mining Company.
Blue Ridge (the city) offers a wide variety of events and attractions year-round and is one of the most well-known cities in the northern part of the state.
A great way to see this area is to take the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. It’s a four-hour trip with stops in some of the quaint little towns in the area and scenic views of the forest, Georgia’s countryside, and the Toccoa River.
Augusta and the Piedmont Region
The Piedmont region is home to the majority of Georgia’s population and includes big cities such as Atlanta, Augusta, and Athens.
Augusta is the second-largest city in the state and also the second oldest with a rich history. It was a pivotal site during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and is home to the Augusta Downtown Historic District. Golf is a popular sport in the area and Augusta is home to the Masters’ Tournament.
Another interesting city to visit is Athens. This college town is home to the University of Georgia and is full of fun activities for the whole family.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly area, Decatur has some of the best public schools in the state. And, it’s only six miles outside of Atlanta.
Atlanta, the Big Peach
Atlanta is the state’s capital and almost a region unto itself. This metropolitan area has something for everyone, from sports to music, to history.
No matter which sport is your favorite, all the major ATL sports teams — Braves, Falcons, and Hawks — call Atlanta home.
It has a diverse music scene and is a hub for rap and hip-hop music. Live music can be found any night of the week, and Atlanta is huge in the festival scene, hosting big multi-day shows at multiple venues.
Atlanta played a crucial part in both the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. You’ll find museums, historical sites, and more within the city.
You can even learn all about Coca-Cola’s history at the World of Coca-Cola museum.
And, if you love traveling, Atlanta’s international airport is the busiest in the world. It’s right across the street from the Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world.
Coastal Plain
The Coastal Plain region is the largest in the state. It’s divided into the upper and lower regions, with different characteristics in each.
The upper portion is covered in flatlands and supports most of Georgia’s agricultural production. The lower region sports marshes and swamps, but is also a huge tourist area with plenty of sandy beaches.
Visit Jekyll Island for kayaking and paddleboarding or head to the Midway Museum to explore the Colonial and Civil War era in Georgia. St. Mary’s is also full of history and offers many walking tours to see everything.
If you’re looking for a great place to relocate, Savannah was Georgia’s first city and capital. It is one of the top 10 friendliest cities in the US and is one of the largest shipping centers in the country, too. It’s a charming Southern city with plenty to see and do.
Weather Considerations
Each of Georgia’s five regions experiences slightly different weather conditions.
Even with slight weather variations, the entire state experiences mild winters, with the Appalachian Plateau and northern regions getting the coldest. Northern regions in the state have lows between 25°F and 37°F, but Atlanta’s lows are between 33°F and 54°F.
Summers are also mild throughout the state, with southern regions seeing the highest temperatures. In July, the average high for places like Savannah is 90.5°F.
While you won’t see much snow in Georgia, the state regularly experiences severe weather in the summer. A large portion of the state is in an area known as Dixie Alley and is prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Hurricanes and tropical storms often pass through Georgia after making landfall in other parts of the South. Make sure that you’re aware and prepared for severe weather conditions.
Coronavirus Considerations
Georgia’s response to COVID-19 has been very different from New York’s response.
New York was the epicenter of the disease in April 2020 but has since worked diligently to suppress the virus.
Georgia has taken a much less restrictive stance. The state has allowed gyms, bars, restaurants, and movie theaters to remain open since very early in the pandemic, with only a short closure that lasted a few weeks.
The governor never issued mask mandates and has actively prevented local governments from issuing them.
You can find out Georgia’s COVID-19 status and the latest restrictions by checking the Georgia Department of Public Health.
FAQ
What is the average cost to move from NY to GA?
If you’re moving with professional movers, a cost between $5,000 and $15,000 — depending on the distance between your New York residence and your new Georgia home — is a real possibility.
It’s possible to move for much less, but the cost of the truck rental plus fuel, along with costs for packaging and shipping will still run into the thousands.
How long will my move take?
A typical move takes anywhere from 7 to 15 business days to deliver after your goods are picked up from your home.
Your moving company should provide an estimated delivery time so that you have a clear understanding of how long you’ll be without the contents of your home.
You can also pay for expedited delivery services in order to acquire your goods even faster, but these options are often prohibitively expensive.
What is life like outside of Atlanta?
Most of Georgia is rural, with a few urban hotspots intermingled throughout the Piedmont region.
To leave the Atlanta metro area and explore, you’ll need a car. However, this isn’t so different from New York State once you’re outside of NYC and the surrounding region.
Because Georgia touches the Blue Ridge Mountains at the top of the state and the Atlantic Coast, the state is home to a variety of diverse landscapes and wildlife.
How can I move my boat/car?
For road vehicles, the easiest way to move something is to drive it to your new destination.
The moving company you use for your relocation will contract with an auto-transport or rigging company in order to help you move any additional vehicles.
These services are typically third-party and stand apart from any contractual agreements you’ve made with your moving company, such as delivery times.
How does the cost of living compare between NY and GA?
If you’re coming out of NYC, living anywhere in Georgia is likely to be substantially cheaper due to lower housing rates. As a whole, Georgia is the 6th cheapest state to live in the country.
However, the difference may not be so great if you’re coming from somewhere in the Upstate. NerdWallet estimates that the cost of living is about 9% higher in Atlanta than it is in Syracuse, NY.
It’s safe to expect some variance based on where in NY you’re moving from and where in GA you’re moving to.
Moving to Georgia from NY
Moving from New York to Georgia can seem like a daunting task, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Your Hometown Mover can help! With locations in New York and South Florida, our teams can work with you to create a long-distance moving solution that makes sense for your family.
We offer guaranteed pricing and offer expedited delivery within 1 to 3 days for many moves. Get a free moving quote today.
Our team will do the heavy lifting so that you can spend less time worrying about your relocation and more time enjoying your new home.
