Moving is one of the biggest unplanned expenses in American life. Whether you’re relocating across town or across the country, here’s what to actually budget.
Table of Contents
Average Moving Costs at a Glance
Move Type
DIY Cost
Professional Movers
Local (under 50 miles)
$200-$1,000
$800-$2,500
In-state (50-250 miles)
$500-$2,000
$1,500-$4,000
Long-distance (250-1,000 mi)
$1,000-$3,000
$2,500-$6,000
Cross-country (1,000+ mi)
$1,500-$4,000
$3,500-$8,500
Cost by Home Size
Professional Movers (Local Move)
Home Size
Estimated Weight
Average Cost
Time
Studio/1 bedroom
2,000-3,000 lbs
$500-$1,200
3-5 hours
2 bedroom
5,000-6,000 lbs
$800-$2,000
5-7 hours
3 bedroom
8,000-10,000 lbs
$1,200-$2,800
6-9 hours
4 bedroom
10,000-14,000 lbs
$1,800-$3,500
8-12 hours
5+ bedroom
14,000-18,000 lbs
$2,500-$5,000
10-16 hours
Professional Movers (Long-Distance, 1,000 miles)
Home Size
Estimated Weight
Average Cost
Studio/1 bedroom
2,000-3,000 lbs
$1,500-$3,000
2 bedroom
5,000-6,000 lbs
$3,000-$5,000
3 bedroom
8,000-10,000 lbs
$4,500-$7,500
4 bedroom
10,000-14,000 lbs
$6,000-$10,000
5+ bedroom
14,000-18,000 lbs
$8,000-$14,000
DIY Moving Costs
Truck Rental
Truck Size
Best For
One-Way Rental (1,000 mi)
Local (Per Day)
10 ft cargo van
Studio/1 BR
$800-$1,200
$30-$50
15 ft truck
1-2 BR
$1,000-$1,500
$40-$60
20 ft truck
2-3 BR
$1,200-$2,000
$50-$80
26 ft truck
3-4 BR
$1,500-$2,500
$60-$100
Plus fuel ($200-$500 for long distance), insurance ($50-$150), and equipment rentals.
Moving Container (PODS, etc.)
Container Size
Best For
Local
Long-Distance (1,000 mi)
8 ft
Studio/1 BR
$250-$500
$1,500-$2,500
12 ft
1-2 BR
$350-$650
$2,000-$3,500
16 ft
2-3 BR
$400-$800
$2,500-$4,500
Containers offer a middle ground — cheaper than full-service movers, less labor than truck rental.
Professional Mover Rates
Service
Typical Cost
Hourly rate (2 movers + truck)
$120-$200/hour
Each additional mover
$30-$50/hour
Packing services (full home)
$300-$1,000
Packing materials
$100-$300
Disassembly/reassembly
$100-$300
Piano/specialty items
$200-$1,000 each
Storage (per month)
$75-$300
Hidden Costs Most People Forget
Hidden Cost
Typical Amount
Security deposit (new place)
1-2 months rent
First/last month rent
1-2 months rent
Utility setup fees
$50-$200
Address change/mail forwarding
$1-$25
Cleaning (old place)
$150-$400
Temporary housing/hotel
$100-$200/night
Meals during move
$50-$150
Pet relocation
$200-$2,000
Vehicle shipping
$800-$1,500
New furniture/items
$200-$2,000
Total hidden costs
$1,000-$5,000+
Moving Costs by Route (Popular State-to-State)
Route
2-3 BR Home (Professional)
DIY (Truck Rental)
CA → TX
$4,000-$7,000
$1,500-$3,000
NY → FL
$3,500-$6,500
$1,300-$2,500
IL → TX
$3,000-$5,500
$1,200-$2,200
CA → WA
$2,500-$4,500
$1,000-$2,000
NY → NC
$2,500-$4,500
$1,000-$2,000
TX → FL
$2,500-$4,500
$1,000-$2,000
NY → NJ (local)
$800-$2,000
$300-$800
Best and Worst Times to Move
Time Period
Cost Impact
Why
May-September
+20-30% above average
Peak season, school schedules
End/beginning of month
+10-15%
Lease transitions
Weekends
+10-20%
Higher demand
October-March
-10-20% below average
Off-season, lower demand
Mid-month, weekday
Lowest prices
Least demand
Pro tip: Moving mid-week in October through March can save 20-40% vs. a summer weekend move.
Moving Cost as Share of Income
Annual Income
Avg. Local Move Cost
% of Income
Avg. Long-Distance Cost
% of Income
$30,000
$1,200
4.0%
$4,500
15.0%
$50,000
$1,500
3.0%
$5,000
10.0%
$75,000
$1,800
2.4%
$5,500
7.3%
$100,000
$2,000
2.0%
$6,000
6.0%
Key Takeaways
Local moves cost $800-$2,500 with movers — DIY cuts that to $200-$1,000
Cross-country moves average $3,500-$8,500 for a 2-3 bedroom home with professional movers
