Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
What is the Cheapest Way to Move?
By Aly J. Yale MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Moving can get expensive — particularly with today’s high rates of inflation. There are packing supplies to buy, trucks to rent, gas to pay for and many other costs to cover.
It’s smart to minimize the moving expenses for your upcoming relocation. Whether you’re moving locally, across the country or overseas, here’s the cheapest way to move.
Table of Contents
- The cheapest ways to move
- Tips to save money when moving
- Cheapest way to move FAQs
- Summary of our guide to the cheapest way to move
The cheapest ways to move
The cheapest moving option depends on how far you’re going and what type of transportation is required to get there. Overseas moves and long-distance movers, for example, are going to cost substantially more than local moves or those that cross the state or beyond.
Naturally, the size of your home factors into costs, too. A larger property is going to take more time and, thus, more money to move — particularly if you’re hiring professional movers.
Cross-country moves
Moving across the country isn’t inexpensive, not matter how you do it. But there are more affordable ways to proceed. For example, choosing a moving container or pod you load and unload yourself can save you money over hiring a full-service moving company or, perhaps, even over renting a U-Haul truck.
Average cost to move across the country
The typical cost to move across the country ranges between about $2,700 and $7,000, according to HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost to move out of state will depend on factors like the size of your home, the number of movers used, the type of moving company and the distance you’re going.
Just keep in mind: You’ll also need to account for the costs of getting you and other members of your household to your new state, so factor in gas, food and lodging, too.
Here’s a look at how much a cross-country move would typically cost for a two- to three-bedroom home. Keep in mind that moving from a home that’s larger than three bedrooms will likely cost more than these figures.
| Type of moving company | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Full-service | $4,000 to $10,000+ |
| Moving containers (pods, etc.) | $700 to $5,000 |
| Moving truck rental | $1,200 to $2,100 |
| Shipping furniture | $300 to $800 per item |
| Freight trailer | $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Shipping cars | $700 to $1,200 |
Data courtesy of Angi and HomeAdvisor
Other services that can add to the cost of the move include packing services, furniture assembly and disassembly, and cleaning or moving valuables. If you need quotes for cross-country moves, use our guide to the best long-distance moving companies.
Cheap ways to move across the country
As you can see above, the cheapest way to move across the country is typically a DIY move.
These are moves in which you do the packing yourself and then:
- Rent a moving truck;
- Rent a moving container or pod; or
- Rent a trailer.
The exact cost you’ll pay depends on the size of your home and the distance you’re going, but for smaller homes, you could pay as little as $700 to rent a moving container.
Local moving
Local moves are typically the cheapest, as they require less labor and fewer travel hours. In some cases, you may be able to do it all yourself without any professional help (and you could, of course, always ask family and friends to pitch in).
Average cost of a local move
The cost of a local move spans a wide range, of anywhere between about $200 and $3,000 or more. The exact cost depends on many factors, like the number of movers you need, the size of your home and the distance from your home to your new location.
Generally speaking, you might expect to pay about the rates below for a local move:
| Home Size | Number of Movers | Average cost |
| Studio | 2 | $212 |
| One bedroom | 2 | $424 |
| Two bedrooms | 3 | $954 |
| Three bedrooms | 4 | $1,484 |
| Four bedrooms | 4 | $1,908 |
| Five bedrooms | 5 | $3,180 |
Data courtesy of Moving.com
If you require extra equipment (dollies, blankets, etc.) or packing, unpacking, clean-up or furniture assembly services, these will also add to your final costs.
Cheapest way to move locally
If the above costs seem too pricey, you can choose to go DIY with your move. The simplest option is to pack up the items in your own vehicle, and take loads gradually to your new home until you’ve moved over all your possessions. You can also ask friends and loved ones to assist.
The DIY route is the absolute cheapest way to move locally, but be aware: It can be a hassle. Make sure you’re prepared for the physical work it will require, and give yourself plenty of leeway time-wise. If you have a large home or many household members, it could take dozens of trips to move all your items.
If a DIY move seems like too much of a hassle and professional movers are out of the question, consider renting a moving truck and loading the boxes and furniture yourself. Even a small truck will reduce the number of trips you have to take between one house and the other, and the grief of trying to load larger items of furniture into or onto your car.
Finally, if you need a full-service move, seek out our recommendations for your state or city or consider one of our recommended interstate moving companies.
Moving overseas
When you move overseas, you don’t really have the option of DIYing your move. Instead, you’ll need to ship your items — either by air or by sea — to get them across the ocean. For this reason, minimizing your belongings and shopping around for your movers will be key.
Average cost of international moving
The average cost to move internationally ranges from $8,000 to $15,000, depending on the volume of your belongings and the destination to which you’re moving. The season in which you move also factors into cost.
Here’s the average cost of an overseas move (from the U.S.) for a three- to four-bedroom home.
| Destination | Estimated cost |
| Europe | $8,000 to $12,000 |
| Asia | $8,500 to $13,000 |
| Australia | $8,700 to $12,500 |
| Africa | $9,000 to $15,000 |
| South America | $8,500 to $13,600 |
Data courtesy of International Van Lines
Aside from moving fees, you should also budget for transporting your car and any Visa and immigration fees, which will likely be required before you can move to another country. If you have pets, arranging for their transportation will also add additional fees to your move. According to Move.org, it costs between $300 and $1,200 to ship your dog to another country.
The cheapest way to move overseas
You don’t have many options when moving internationally, so shipping a moving container is usually your only choice. You can help minimize these costs by purging items before packing (this can help you fit into a smaller, less expensive container). You could also consider shipping your container in a slow season (in the U.S., summer is the busiest — and priciest– moving season).
If you haven’t accumulated a lot of valued possessions, you could also opt to sell your belongings and start anew in the new country. You’ll need to compare the cost of items in your new location before deciding if this is the right move for your finances.
If you’re only moving to another country temporarily, renting storage units in which to keep your items in the U.S. may be an economical option. You could then retrieve your items once you’ve arrived back in the country. Need recommendations for storage options? Try our guide to the best storage companies in Florida.
Tips to save money when moving
As you can see above, moving is rarely an inexpensive exercise. Fortunately, some strategies can help lower your costs. Here’s how to move on the cheap — no matter where you’re going.
Create a budget
Setting a moving budget for yourself can help keep spending in line. You might even go so far as to break your budget down into individual line items. How much can you spend on moving supplies? What about movers, trucks and other rentals?
You can also set a monthly budget for your household. When drafting yours, be sure to allot a certain amount for savings each month. You can even put the funds in a designated savings account just for your move.
Sort out and sell or donate items you don’t want
Really want a low-cost move? Before you begin getting quotes for containers or movers, start by paring down your belongings. Declutter, donate, sell or throw away any items you don’t need, paying particular attention to larger items — ones that will take up a lot of space in moving trucks or shipping containers. You can also host a garage sale. Doing this will keep you from paying to move items you no longer use or want.
Packing yourself
Paying for packing services can get pricey. According to HomeAdvisor, packing services add an average of about $1,000 to a move, though there cost can reach up to $2,200 for larger homes.
Packing yourself — or with friends and family — can help you save those funds for other moving costs you might have, like gas, if you’re driving cross-country, or airfare, if you’re moving internationally.
Find free moving boxes and supplies
You can certainly buy moving boxes, but that’s not the most economical way to go about packing. To save cash, try to find free or gently used ones instead.
Some places to find moving boxes include:
- NextDoor
- Local Facebook groups
- Craigslist
- Freecycle
- Grocery stores
- Liquor stores
If you have any friends, family or colleagues who recently moved, you might also ask them. Saving Amazon boxes or other delivery containers is an option, too.
As for packing materials, consider skipping the packing peanuts and bubble wrap and instead use soft items that you’ll need to pack anyway — things like hand towels, dish rags, tablecloths and linens.
Compare moving quotes
If you’re planning to use any professional moving services for your move, always get several quotes. Providers vary in their levels of demand and availability, as well as in their respective overhead costs, so rates will range, too. Getting estimates from at least a few moving companies and moving container companies can ensure you get the lowest-cost move possible. You should also seek quotes for several pods moving costs if you’re going that route.
When getting quotes, make sure to ask about potential discounts. Some companies may offer price breaks to military members, teachers, first responders or other workers. Others may offer lower quotes for mid-week or mid-month moves when business tends to be a little slower.
Recruit your family to help
Ask your friends and family members to help out where possible. This might include recruiting them to pack dishes or move furniture, asking to borrow their vehicle or babysitting your kids or pets while you tend to moving tasks yourselves.
You can always offer free pizza or other perks as a thank you for their help. (It’s usually a lot cheaper than a professional moving company.)
Cheapest ways to move FAQs
Summary of our guide to the cheapest way to move
The best way to move on the cheap will always be to go DIY. In some cases, or some people, that’s just not practical. If that’s the reality for you, seek to minimize costs by paring down your belongings or renting a truck or trailer rather than hiring a full-service moving company. Try to filch free boxes and packing materials from recycling or on the street, and enlist friends and family to help you reduce moving expenses, too.
