How Much Does It Cost To Move To A New State?

Planning a move out of state can be daunting, whether you're moving for work, family, or other reasons. Our Complete Guide to Moving Out of State answers all your biggest questions about moving out of state, from creating to-do lists, planning, and budgeting for your move to downsizing, packing your belongings, and settling into your new home.

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1. DIY moves

Get a rough idea how much it will cost to move yourself out of state.

2. Hiring professional movers

Get approximate costs for hiring professional movers to help with your out of state move.

3. Consolidated shipping

Only sending some of your belongings? Find out how much consolidated shipping costs.

4. Extra expenses

Take a quick peek at some of the often overlooked expenses and how much you should budget.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about shipping boxes to another state.

Moving out of state can be expensive, particularly if you’re not well prepared. There are a lot of moving parts (pardon the pun) to a long distance move, and unplanned expenses can add up quickly if you’re not careful. 

Wondering how much money you should save to move to a different state? In this section of the Complete Guide to Moving Out of State, we’ll talk about the many costs of making a long distance move. We’ll also share some rough numbers to help you budget.

First, let’s explore the top three methods of moving out of state:

1. Do it yourself
2. Hire professional movers
3. Consolidated shipping

Note: The following estimates do not include the “extra moving expenses” we talk about further along in this article.

1. DIY moves (renting a truck and driving yourself)

While DIY moves are generally cheaper, by no means are they free, and they require a lot more time and effort. You’ll need to:

• Do all the packing
• Buy packing supplies such as boxes, tape, bubble wrap, crates, etc.
• Rent or buy equipment like dollies, moving straps, protective blankets, etc.
• Recruit manpower (a.k.a., friends and family)
• Rent a moving truck, and pay for gas and insurance

Below, we’ve combined the cost of store-bought packing supplies with a truck rental to give you a rough idea how much it might cost to move out of state:

Source: U-Haul. Estimates do not include the cost of gas, insurance, or other equipment.

2. Hiring professional movers

Hiring professional movers for a long distance move can be much more expensive—typically starting around $2,500 and potentially reaching $10,000 or more. Some people find the extra expense is worthwhile because of how much time, energy, and stress it can save.

If you hire professional movers to help you move out of state, the cost of your move will depend on:

• The distance between your departure and destination
• The total weight of your belongings
• Your moving date
• Labor—how many people will be helping with your move?
• Insurance
• Additional services such as furniture disassembly or packing

How much will you pay to hire long distance movers? Here are some rough numbers:

Source: Moving.com Moving Cost Calculator. Approximate cost based on the average weight of a full move (including furniture and boxes) for that size home. Estimates do not include the cost of packing services.

3. Consolidated shipping

If you have a smaller home and/or fewer belongings—less than a truckload—“less-than-truckload” (LTL) shipping, also known as consolidated shipping, may be the best option.

With a consolidated shipping company like TSI, you can choose the level of service that suits you. If you are only shipping boxes, you can pack everything up yourself, leave it on the curb for pickup, and have your items delivered within 3-5 days. TSI offers a flat rate box-and-ship program for shipments of less than 15 boxes, as well as personalized consolidated shipping for shipments of over 15 boxes.

CTA: Learn more about TSI’s box-and-ship program. 

If you have larger items, like furniture, art, and appliances (in addition to boxes), TSI offers a White Glove consolidated shipping option where movers will prepare your items, pack boxes if needed, load and unload the truck, and deliver everything to your new home in roughly 15-20 business days from pickup.

Here is an idea how much it might cost to use a consolidated shipping company:

Source: TSI. Approximate cost based on the average weight of a full move (including furniture and boxes) for that size home.

Budgeting for extra moving expenses

Inevitably, there will be “extra” costs associated with moving out of state beyond your moving truck or movers and packing supplies. Let’s take a quick peek at some of the often overlooked expenses and how much you should budget.

1. Cleaning

Whether it’s your previous home or your new one, you may need to hire a cleaning service at one or both ends of the move. Depending on the square footage and amount of cleaning needed, costs can range from $20-$50 per hour. The cost to clean a small apartment is typically around $100, while the cost to clean a 2,000 square foot home could be up to $250 or more.

2. Child care or pet care

On moving day, you may need to arrange for a sitter for your kids or find somewhere to board your pets. Here are some rough prices for both:

• Child care: $17-$21 per hour
• Pet boarding: $20-$30 per day, $45-$75 per night

3. Real estate and other home expenses

Moving expenses can include things like rental and security deposits, first and last month’s rent, and home inspection fees. Here are some ballpark rates for real estate and other home expenses:

• Legal fees: $150-$300 per hour or 5-10% of your purchase price
• Home inspection: $300-$500 according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Appraisal fees: $300 to $425 for a single-family home
• Down payment: The average down payment is about 6% of the loan value
• Repairs: Depending on the condition of the home, you should plan to spend roughly 1% of the home’s value on repairs

4. Utility service deposits

Setting up new water, internet and cable services sometimes requires a deposit. Check with the local utility companies in your new state to get estimates in advance. 

5. Mail forwarding

You can change your address online at USPS.com. You’ll need a valid email address and a credit or debit card.

6. Time off of work

You may need to take time off work for packing and moving day(s). If you don’t have any vacation days to use, time off can be costly. Consider drafting a moving schedule and start as early as possible to minimize the amount of time off you’ll need. 

7. Vehicle shipping

For long-distance moves, you may need to have vehicles shipped separately, especially if you’re the one driving the moving truck. According to forbes.com, the average cost to ship a vehicle is between $1,200 and $2,100.

8. Overnight accommodations

Depending on how far you’re moving, you may need to stop along the way. Remember to budget $40-$100 per night for a hotel or motel. According to roughguides.com, typical rates in motels and hotels start at $45 per night in rural areas and around $80 in major cities and can go much higher.

9. Meals

Moving is hard work, even if you’ve hired a professional team. When you’re moving out of state, the long haul means you’ll have to feed the family while you’re on the road, and many people find eating out or ordering in most convenient. Eating out could easily run you $25-$30 per day or more per person, so be sure to factor this into your moving costs. 

10. Household items

Odds and ends are always left behind when you move, and you’ll likely need to replace them at your new location. Set aside about $50-$100 to pick up some of these items when you land:

• Shower curtain
• Toilet brush
• Plunger
• Garbage/recycle bins
• Light bulbs
• Wall hangers
• Mop/broom

11. Groceries

While many of your non-perishables may have been packed up for the move, you probably unloaded a lot of food from your fridge and pantry. You’ll need to do a solid grocery run to stock up on all those staples.

Frequently Asked Questions