Moving from Pennsylvania to Alaska
Moving from Pennsylvania to Alaska covers roughly 2,769 miles, and you have two genuine options: barge your belongings from Tacoma, or drive the Alaska Highway through Canada with them. This checklist covers the paperwork, the timing, and everything else the move involves.
Generate My ChecklistPA vs AK at a Glance
Income Tax
Sales Tax
Time Zone
You'll be changing time zones
Distance
Moving Cost
Freight shipping required; cost varies by cargo volume.
What This Move Means for You
Higher cost of living
Alaska runs about 34% more expensive than Pennsylvania overall. Budget extra for housing, groceries, and day-to-day costs before committing to a new place.
No state income tax in Alaska
Alaska charges no state income tax, versus a top rate around 3.07% in Pennsylvania. For most movers that means a meaningful bump in take-home pay.
Colder winters ahead
Alaska averages 22°F cooler than Pennsylvania. Pack cold-weather clothing and expect higher heating bills through the winter.
Much drier climate
Alaska is far drier than Pennsylvania — roughly 26" less precipitation a year. Expect to adjust to lower humidity and drier air.
Before You Leave Pennsylvania
Mail your plate back after you get new plates
Get a plate from your new state first. Then mail your Pennsylvania plate to PennDOT. The address is Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Return Tag Unit, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597. PennDOT marks the plate as dead. This protects you if someone tries to use the plate. Send the registration card with it, as the next step explains. To change the address on your vehicle registration, mail Form MV-8. You cannot do it online.
Source: PennDOT, Moving Out of PennsylvaniaReturn the plate within 30 days of cancelling insurance
Your insurer tells PennDOT when you cancel your policy. PennDOT must receive the plate and registration card no more than 30 days after the insurance was cancelled. If they arrive later, your registration is suspended for three months. To avoid the suspension, return the plate and card when you cancel the policy.
Source: PennDOT, Insurance Law FAQsFile a part-year PA-40 for the year you move
Part-year residents file the same PA-40 form as residents. Fill in the part-year resident oval if you moved out during the year. Pennsylvania taxes all your income while you were a resident. After you move, it taxes only income from Pennsylvania sources. Interest, dividends, and gains on intangible property are not taxed for the part of the year you lived elsewhere.
Source: PA Department of Revenue, PA-40 InstructionsFile a final local earned income tax return
Outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a local earned income tax on top of the state tax. File the annual local return by April 15 of the next year, even if no tax is due. File it with the local tax collector for every tax collection district you lived in during the year. A worksheet on the form splits your income by the number of months at each address.
Source: PA DCED, Annual Local Earned Income Tax Return (CLGS-32-1)Philadelphia residents pay the City Wage Tax instead
Philadelphia does not use the local earned income tax return. All employed Philadelphia residents owe the City Wage Tax, wherever they work. Your employer withholds it from your pay. After you move, you owe it only if you still work in Philadelphia. Non-residents pay a lower rate.
Source: City of Philadelphia, Wage Tax (employers)Rent from a house you kept stays taxable
Nonresidents must report net income from rental property in Pennsylvania. They also report gains from selling real property in Pennsylvania. Nonresidents do not pay Pennsylvania tax on ordinary interest and dividends.
Source: PA Department of Revenue, Nonresidents and Part-Year ResidentsTell the assessor within 45 days if the house is no longer your home
The homestead exclusion covers only your primary residence. If you rent the house out, it no longer qualifies. Notify the county assessor within 45 days. In Philadelphia, notify the Department of Revenue. If you do not, you pay the tax you saved, plus interest. You may also pay a 10 percent penalty.
Source: Montgomery County, Homestead/Farmstead ExclusionYour Moving Timeline
8 Weeks Before
Compare barge freight from Tacoma against driving the Alaska Highway yourself — the drive runs several days through Canada and needs a passport for everyone in the vehicle, plus proof of rabies vaccination for pets. Barge lead times run several weeks, so book early either way.
4 Weeks Before
Notify your utility providers, update your address with USPS, and begin packing non-essential items.
1 Week Before
Confirm with your movers, finish packing, clean your home, and prepare a moving day essentials bag.
Moving Day
Supervise loading, do a final walkthrough of your old home, and hand over the keys.
After the Move
Update your driver's license at the Alaska DMV, register to vote in AK, and set up your new utilities.
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Climate Comparison
Pennsylvania
Humid continental with cold winters and warm, humid summers.
Alaska
Subarctic climate with long, extremely cold winters and brief summers.
Utilities & Cost of Living
Pennsylvania
Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is it from Pennsylvania to Alaska?
Pennsylvania and Alaska are approximately 2,769 miles apart as the crow flies.
- Because the route crosses water, you will need to ship your belongings by freight rather than driving a moving truck.
How much does it cost to move from Pennsylvania to Alaska?
Shipping household goods to Alaska requires freight transport.
- Costs typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on cargo volume and carrier, and do not follow the seasonal pricing patterns of truck moves.
How do I ship my belongings to Alaska?
You have two options.
- Barge service runs between Tacoma and Alaskan ports such as Anchorage and Whittier, typically taking one to two weeks door to door.
- Alternatively you can drive the Alaska Highway through British Columbia and Yukon with a rental truck or trailer — several days on the road, and everyone in the vehicle needs a passport to cross into Canada.
- Compare both; the barge is usually simpler, the drive is sometimes cheaper for a small load.
What is the cost of living difference between Pennsylvania and Alaska?
Pennsylvania has a cost of living index of 96.2 versus 129 for Alaska (US average = 100).
- Overall, Alaska is about 34% higher than Pennsylvania.
How soon do I need to update my driver's license after moving to Alaska?
After establishing residency in Alaska, you have 90 days to update your driver's license at a Alaska DMV office.
- Vehicle registration is a separate transaction with its own deadline, which in most states differs from the license deadline — confirm both with the Alaska DMV before you go.
What is the climate like in Alaska?
Alaska has subarctic climate with long, extremely cold winters and brief summers.
- The annual average temperature is 27°F, with about 16 inches of precipitation per year.
- Average monthly electricity bills run around $144.