How much does it cost to hire movers?

Local moves average $800 to $2,500 for a 2-bedroom home. Long-distance moves average $2,500 to $7,500 depending on distance and shipment weight.

Is it cheaper to move yourself?

Usually yes for local moves: $150 to $400 for a truck rental versus $800-plus for movers. For long-distance moves the savings shrink after fuel, hotels, and time off work.

Moving Cost Calculator: What Your Next Move Will Cost

The movers' quote is only half the story. Here is the full budget for a move, from the truck to the utility deposits.

A local move costs $800 to $2,500 with hired movers or $150 to $400 for a DIY truck rental; a long-distance move runs $2,500 to $7,500 depending on distance and weight. Hidden costs like deposits, overlapping rent, and restocking the pantry add hundreds more. Budget the move, then check the destination with the free cost of living calculator.

What a move actually costs

Local moves are usually priced by the hour: two movers and a truck run $100 to $200 an hour, and a typical 2-bedroom apartment takes 4 to 6 hours. Total: $800 to $2,500.

Long-distance moves are priced by weight and miles. A 2 to 3 bedroom household moving 1,000 miles typically costs $2,500 to $7,500. Summer moves and end-of-month dates cost more because demand peaks.

DIY vs. hiring movers

A DIY truck rental costs $150 to $400 for a local move plus fuel, and $1,000 to $2,500 for a long-distance one-way rental. You trade money for a long day of heavy lifting and driving a truck you are not used to.

Hired movers cost 3 to 5 times more but include the labor, the truck, and usually basic valuation coverage. For long-distance moves, the price gap narrows once you count fuel, hotels, and your time.

The hidden costs people forget

Deposits stack up fast: security deposit, first month's rent, utility deposits, and sometimes last month's rent, often $3,000 to $6,000 out of pocket before the first box is unpacked.

Then the overlap costs: a few days of double rent, eating out while the kitchen is packed, restocking pantry staples, and replacing the things that did not survive. Budget an extra $500 to $1,000 for the transition month.