Moving Costs: Local vs Long Distance — Complete 2025 Guide

Whether you're moving across town or across the country, understanding typical costs helps you budget, evaluate quotes, and avoid common scams. Moving costs have increased 10-15% since 2020 due to fuel and labor costs.

Local moves (under 50 miles) are charged hourly: $80-$150/hour for a 2-person crew with a truck. A 1-bedroom apartment takes 3-5 hours ($250-$750). A 3-bedroom house takes 6-10 hours ($500-$1,500). Add materials ($50-$200).

Long-distance moves (over 400 miles) are charged by weight and distance: $2,000-$5,000 for a 1-bedroom, $4,000-$8,000 for a 3-bedroom, $6,000-$12,000+ for a 4+ bedroom. A 2,000-mile move for 8,000 lbs averages $5,000-$7,000.

Additional costs that inflate your estimate: packing services ($300-$1,500), heavy/specialty items like pianos ($200-$1,000), stair charges ($50-$150 per flight), long carry fees ($75-$200), storage ($100-$300/month), and insurance ($50-$500).

The cheapest way to move long-distance: rent a moving container (PODS, U-Pack) for $2,000-$5,000, rent a truck and DIY ($1,000-$3,000 + fuel), or ship only essentials and buy replaceable furniture at your destination.

Full-service versus DIY comparison for a 3-bedroom long-distance move: full service movers $5,000-$8,000 (they pack, load, drive, unload), truck rental + labor $2,500-$4,500 (you drive, hire local labor at each end), container $2,500-$4,000.

Moving insurance: basic liability coverage (included free) pays only $0.60/lb — a 50-lb TV gets you $30. Full value protection ($50-$500 additional) covers actual replacement cost. Always upgrade or purchase separate moving insurance.

Red flags for moving scams: very low estimates (they'll inflate on moving day), large deposit requirements (legitimate movers charge 10-20% or nothing upfront), no physical address or DOT number, and refusal to do an in-home estimate.

Timing saves money: mid-month moves are 20-30% cheaper than end-of-month (when most leases turn over). Tuesday-Thursday saves 10-20% versus weekends. September-April is cheaper than summer peak season.

Tax deductions: moving expenses are no longer deductible for most people (eliminated in 2018). Exception: active-duty military members can still deduct qualifying moving expenses.