Moving from Seattle to New York City?
Reverse-Seattle move — finance, media, biotech, or Big Tech NY office — gives up WA 0% tax for NY+NYC ~14.7%.
- 2,849 mi Distance
- 5 days Drive time
- 11% lower Home prices
- $-14,700/yr Tax savings on $100K
Seattle-to-NYC is a defined Big Tech-to-finance pipeline. Amazon, Microsoft, and Google Seattle engineers chase Goldman, JPMorgan, hedge funds (Citadel NY, Two Sigma) and Big Tech NY offices. Trade: WA 0% income tax for NY+NYC 14.7% combined, but housing actually drops 11% and Seattle is also expensive.
Why people move from Seattle to New York City.
- Senior finance offer — Goldman, JPMorgan, Two Sigma, Citadel NY
- Big Tech NY — Google, Amazon NY, Meta NY
- Media/publishing/fashion industry concentration
- Career capital — NYC resume
- Walkable subway city — Seattle is bus-only, NYC is rail
- Cultural concentration — Broadway, museums, restaurants
The money side of WA → NY.
Seattle
- Median home$850,000
- Income tax0% (WA)
- Cost index165
New York City
- Median home$760,000
- Income tax10.9% NY + 3.876% NYC (~14.7%)
- Cost index187
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of New York City, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Central Park — 843 acres in Manhattan; lawns, ramble, reservoir, Bethesda Fountain
- Brooklyn Bridge — 1.1-mile pedestrian walk; sunrise or sunset for the view
- High Line — 1.45-mile elevated park on a former rail line through Chelsea
Culture & Arts
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island — Ferry from Battery Park; allow half day
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) — One of world's greatest museums; pay-what-you-wish for NY residents
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum — Two reflecting pools at the WTC site; deeply moving
Family-Friendly
- Coney Island — Boardwalk, Cyclone roller coaster, Nathan's hot dogs
- American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs, Rose Center planetarium, Hall of Ocean Life
Nightlife & Entertainment
- Broadway theaters — Times Square district; book through TodayTix or TKTS for discounts
- Times Square — Iconic neon and crowds; locals avoid but visit at least once
New York City's essential restaurants.
The dining list every New York City resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Katz's Delicatessen Jewish deli Lower East Side
Pastrami on rye since 1888
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Eleven Madison Park Plant-based fine dining Flatiron
Three Michelin stars
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Russ & Daughters Appetizing Lower East Side
Lox, sturgeon, bagels — NYC institution
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Joe's Pizza Pizza Greenwich Village
Classic NY slice; multiple locations
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Le Bernardin French seafood Midtown
Three Michelin stars; Eric Ripert
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Di Fara Pizza Pizza Midwood, Brooklyn
Domenico DeMarco's legendary pies
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Peter Luger Steak House Steakhouse Williamsburg
Cash-or-debit only; reservation needed
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Xi'an Famous Foods Chinese (Shaanxi) Multiple
Hand-pulled noodles; cult following
Best New York City neighborhoods for Seattle transplants.
Mapped to the Seattle neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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West Village / Greenwich Village
If Capitol Hill was your speed — walkable historic, restaurants, charm
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Brooklyn Heights / Cobble Hill
If you came from Bellevue family — brownstone, walkable, family-feasible
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Park Slope
If Ravenna/Wallingford was your vibe — Prospect Park, top schools
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Williamsburg / Greenpoint
If Ballard was your speed — hip walkable, art, food
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Long Island City, Queens
If you want value — Manhattan views, lower rent, transit
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Upper West Side
If Madison Park family was your goal — Central Park, walkable, traditional
What daily life feels like in New York City.
Climate
Humid continental — four real seasons. Hot, humid summers (80-95°F, July-Aug). Cold winters with snow (20-40°F, Dec-Mar). Spring and fall are spectacular. Hurricane risk minimal but possible (Sandy 2012 was the outlier). 224 sun days/year.
- Summer75-92°F
- Winter26-42°F
- Sun days/yr224
- Rainfall47 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score88/100
- Transit Score88/100
- Bike Score69/100
New York City is very walkable — daily errands rarely require a car.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Central Park — 843 acres of trails, lawns, and lakes
- Prospect Park (Brooklyn) — Olmsted's other masterpiece
- Hudson River Greenway — 13-mile bike path along Manhattan's west side
- Rockaway Beach — surfing, just a subway ride away
- Storm King Art Center / Hudson Valley — 1 hour north for hiking
- Atlantic Ocean access — Coney Island, Rockaways, Jones Beach
What changes about your daily life.
- WA 0% becomes ~14.7% NY+NYC tax — $14,700/year more on $100K
- Housing 11% cheaper — $850K Seattle SFH becomes $760K NYC condo
- Subway replaces buses — significant transit upgrade
- Coffee culture compresses (Seattle is the apex; NYC is good not great)
- Mountains/water access disappears — Cascades and Puget Sound replaced with concrete
- Pace intensifies — Seattle laid-back to NYC grind
- Weather shifts — gray rain to actual seasons (snow + heat)
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 2,849 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$8,500-$15,000
- Container/PODS$6,000-$10,500
- DIY (26-ft truck)$4,500-$8,000
- Best monthsApr-Oct (avoid mountain pass winter)
- Lead time12-14 weeks ahead
USDOT-registered cross-country.
Moving from Seattle to New York City: FAQ.
Will I save money on housing?
Modestly, depending on neighborhood. Seattle is ~11% pricier than NYC by median, but Manhattan-proper is more expensive than Seattle-proper. Brooklyn/Queens beat Seattle. Most movers downsize square footage even when paying less total.
Tax math — WA to NY?
Painful. WA 0% to NY+NYC ~14.7% is a $14,700/year hit on $100K. Need salary increase of 20%+ to break even. Most Seattle-to-NYC moves clear that bar (NYC tech/finance pays 15-25% more than Seattle equivalents) but verify with offer letter math.
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