Moving to a new city or state can be an exciting time in one’s life Move Across Country. However, it also requires careful planning and budgeting. There are numerous expenses involved with relocating across long distances within the United States.
This article discusses the different costs one should plan for when moving across country and provides a rough estimate of the total funds needed. It is aimed to give readers an idea of what to financially prepare for in their cross country move.
Moving Expenses
One of the biggest expenses in a long distance move is the cost of transporting your belongings. Packing up your household items, loading them onto a moving truck or shipping container, transporting them across several states, and unloading everything at the new location can range significantly depending on the moving company, distance, and size of the shipment.
Most moving companies will provide a free in-home estimate based on a walkthrough of your property to give you a better idea.
As a general rule of thumb, plan to spend between $2,000-$5,000 or more for a one-bedroom apartment worth of items to up to a 3-4 bedroom family home. Many moving companies offer various packaging, pickup, and delivery options that can lower or increase this price range considerably.
For long distance self-moves where you pack and load the truck yourself, renting a moving truck yourself is another expense to consider.
- Renting a small 10-foot truck for a 3-4 day local rental period usually costs $200-$400 depending on pick up and drop off dates.
- Renting a larger 16-21 foot truck for a one-way cross country move can range from $1500-$3000 depending on distance and days rented.
Other moving costs include boxes, packing materials, supplies for unpacking, and professional packing services if needed. Budget $300-$1000 or more for these extras depending on the size of your household. Planning, packing, and labeling everything yourself can save money versus hiring packers.
Move Across Country – Temporary Housing
Unless you are moving directly from one home purchase to another with no gaps in between, you will likely need temporary housing for at least a few weeks. Most cross country moves require securing new accommodations before physically relocating.
Budgeting for 2-4 weeks of short term rentals, extended stay hotels, or Airbnb is recommended while house hunting at your new location. Rates can vary widely based on location but assume $1000-$3000 total for temporary accommodations.
Other Relocation Expenses
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
| Gas and food for driving yourself/ moving truck | $500-$1000 |
| Utility deposits and connection fees (electricity, water, internet, etc.) | $200-$500 |
| Changing address on important accounts and documents | $50-$100 |
| Renter’s or homeowner’s insurance | $50-$150 per month |
There are other miscellaneous costs involved with relocating far distances as well such as gasoline money if driving yourself, food costs along the way, utility deposits and connection fees at your new residence, and fees to change addresses on important accounts and documents.
Budgeting an additional $1000-$2500 covers most of these ancillary moving expenses as outlined in the table.
Total Cost To Move Across Country
To summarize the estimated costs broken down by each category:
- Moving costs (packaging, labor, transport): $2000-5000
- Rental truck or temporary housing: $1000-3000
- Utility setup and deposits: $200-500
- Gas, food, other travel costs: $500-1000
- Additional relocation expenses: $50-150
The grand total average cost to move across the United States in a long distance relocation typically ranges from $5000 up to $10,000 or more depending on the distance, size of your household goods shipment, and your individual moving needs and budget.
It is always best to plan for costs on the higher end to avoid surprises and have a financial safety net for unexpected expenses.
Move Across Country – Tips For Saving Money On Your Move
While relocating long distances usually involves high costs, there are some strategies to help cut back on expenses:
- Sell or donate unwanted household items before moving to downsize what needs transporting.
- Pack carefully and maximize space in boxes/moving truck or container to avoid fuel surcharges.
- Look for corporate moving discounts and military or alumni moving benefits through work or school affiliations.
- Consider moving during fall or spring versus peak summer season for potentially lower moving rates.
- Get free in-home moving estimates from multiple companies to compare costs and services offered.
- Drive a rented truck yourself instead of hiring movers for cheaper self-move options.
With thorough planning and realistic budgeting using the tips and estimated costs outlined above. You can have a financially stress-free cross country move.
Proper preparations well in advance of your target moving date will keep expenses as low and organized as possible for relocating to a new home in a different state.
