Moving from Philadelphia, PA to New York City, NY
At 95 miles, Philadelphia to New York City is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. At 95 miles the drive is on the clock too — about 2 hours each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee. It does cross a state line, so the federal interstate rules apply even though the job is priced like a local one.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Philadelphia, PA to New York City, NY covers 95 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 1,646 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 95 miles, crews cover Philadelphia to New York City in a single day — about 2 hours on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Philadelphia to New York City
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Philadelphia to New York City
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $42–$53 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $495 to $817. The 95 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Philadelphia to New York City
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,646 people a year (±432) moved from Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia, to New York County, NY, home to New York City. Going the other way: about 1,280 people a year (±330). Movers from Philadelphia County make up 1.7% of the 98,721 people a year who moved into New York County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 11,698 ±1,204 |
| Delaware County, PA | 8,343 ±1,332 |
| Bucks County, PA | 5,797 ±970 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,242 ±635 |
| Chester County, PA | 2,473 ±515 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Kings County, NY | 12,241 ±1,085 |
| Queens County, NY | 5,938 ±795 |
| Bronx County, NY | 4,965 ±883 |
| Nassau County, NY | 3,494 ±841 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 3,342 ±656 |
Licensed movers at each end
196 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Philadelphia. 90 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 7.2% of their 401 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Transfer LogisticsUSDOT 346532 | Sewell · 14 mi | 134 trucks | 262 | 2.0% of 201 |
| Wayne Moving and StorageUSDOT 1771238 | West Chester · 23 mi | 28 trucks | 19 | 0.0% of 8 |
| ABC Pro Movers IncUSDOT 2631702 | Philadelphia · 11 mi | 26 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Hughes Relocation Services IncUSDOT 110502 | Lansdale · 21 mi | 21 trucks | 5 | 50.0% of 2 |
| Reads Moving Systems IncUSDOT 113600 | Montgomeryville · 19 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Clemmer Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 85504 | Telford · 28 mi | 17 trucks | 24 | 8.3% of 12 |
How these figures are calculated
At the New York City end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of New York City: Piece of Cake Moving (New York City, 340 trucks), Roadway Moving (New York City, 190 trucks), Great Moving Inc (Staten Island, 70 trucks), Great Moving & Storage Inc (South Plainfiel, 70 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Pennsylvania, so Pennsylvania rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Pennsylvania licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Pennsylvania, so your protection on this 95-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Philadelphia to New York City
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $42 to $53 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in New York City
A local move inside New York City later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from New York City are Jersey City (about 3 mi), Newark (about 10 mi), Paterson (about 19 mi).
Other routes from Philadelphia
All routes from Philadelphia, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia to Wilmington, DE | ~29 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Allentown, PA | ~56 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Dover, DE | ~68 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Newark, NJ | 85 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Jersey City, NJ | ~92 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Baltimore, MD | ~104 mi | $468 – $624 |
| Philadelphia to Harrisburg, PA | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
| Philadelphia to Yonkers, NY | ~111 mi | $500 – $666 |
Also moving to New York City: from Jersey City, NJ, from Newark, NJ, from Paterson, NJ, from Mount Vernon, NY.
Philadelphia to New York City moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia to New York City?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $495 – $817; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $831 – $1,506. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 95 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Philadelphia to New York City take?
One day. The drive is about 2 hours, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Philadelphia to New York City?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 95 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Philadelphia to New York City an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Pennsylvania, so the move is regulated by Pennsylvania rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Pennsylvania requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Philadelphia to New York City each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,646 people a year (margin of error ±432) moved from Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia, to New York County, which contains New York City.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.