The Cost of Moving in 2026: Here’s Everything You Need To Budget For

Moving often means an exciting new beginning, but the costs of it all can rack up fast. Factors like the distance you’re traveling, how many things you’re bringing along, and which type of move you choose all affect your cost of moving.

To get a better idea of what exactly goes into that cost, we’ve compiled a series of six examples, each with their own unique set of circumstances: A single man in a studio, a young couple in a one-bedroom apartment, a small family in a three-bedroom home, a family in a four-bedroom home, and a retired couple in a mobile home. We’ll illustrate the different items that affect the cost of moving in each case to give you an idea of what to expect with your specific move. Let’s jump in.

1. Joe — Studio Move

Joe is a recent college graduate who is finally ready to move out of his dorm and into the real world. He has a couple of job offers, with one being locally in Detroit and the other one all the way across the country in California (which could mean hiring cross-country movers). Since Joe was living in a studio space previously, he doesn’t have a ton of things, which makes his move easier.

Cost of Moving: Locally Within Detroit

If Joe decided to take on the local job offer and to move to a place closer to the office, his cheapest option would be to DIY the move with a rental truck, which could cost around $40 – $90. Of course, he’d still need to fund his own packing supplies (including items like boxes, packing tape, packing paper, and bubble cushioning roll), which could cost between $75 – $150, and he’d have to do all the packing, lifting, and driving himself.

If Joe’s willing to pack himself but would rather do it at his own pace (instead of rushing to get it done during his truck rental window), PODS moving services are his second cheapest option, at around $350 – $900. Of course, the most expensive but least labor-intensive option is to use full-service movers, which would cost around $490 – $1,050.

Cost of Moving: Cross-Country to Los Angeles

Cross-country moving costs are higher overall, and if Joe takes the LA offer, he will need to have a good chunk of money in his savings to account for the cost of moving across country. The rental truck would still be the cheapest option, at $1,667 – $2,973, though it would now be a 2,000-plus-mile drive rather than one under 50 miles. PODS wouldn’t cost much more, at $1,871 – $3,118, plus it comes with a month of storage, and he won’t have to worry about transporting anything. Hiring full-service movers is still the most expensive — at $3,257 – $5,658, it’s nearly twice as much on average as the cost of moving associated with hiring a rental truck. That said, if the LA job comes with a relocation bonus, it could be well worth sparing himself the stress of packing and transporting.

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a studio move as of June 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

2. Kathy & Rick — One-Bedroom Move

Kathy and Rick are a retired couple who are ready to downsize and start the next chapter of their lively golden years. They are moving out of their one-bedroom home in North Carolina and want to find a smaller home locally in the same town or possibly in Florida.

Cost of Moving: Locally Within North Carolina

If Kathy and Rick decided to downsize to a home locally, a rental truck would be the cheapest option (under $100), which is a wise idea if they’re looking to save money in retirement. However, they’d have to shoulder all of the packing, loading, and driving themselves, which they may not be up for.

Professional movers would charge somewhere between $659 – $1,401 and would take care of all of the loading, transport, and unloading for Kathy and Rick so they can focus on planning their new life stage. If they use PODS, it could cost several hundred dollars less (at around $467 – $655); they could take as long as they’d like to pack up their container, then have it picked up and transported to their new place. Plus, with a month of storage built into the cost of every move, they could take their time settling into their new home, or take some extra time to decide what they really need in their new place.

Cost of Moving: Out-of-State to Florida

If Kathy and Rick decide to opt for retired life in sunny Florida instead, they will have to consider interstate moving costs and pay between $593 – $1,041 for a move with a rental truck, plus the added cost of gas. The cost of moving out of state with PODS would be about twice as much ($1,679 – $2,798), while a full-service move could cost about four times as much as the rental truck route ($2,274 – $4,692).

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a 1-bedroom household as of June 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

The cost of a local move is significantly lower than a long-distance one.

3. The Miller Family — Two-Bedroom Move

The Miller family is expecting another baby soon. They want to stay in the area and move directly into town, but they are also considering moving a few states away in order to be closer to family. The overall moving costs will vary greatly, however.

Cost of Moving: Locally Within Charleston

The Millers currently live in Charleston, and they can keep their moving costs relatively low if they keep their move local. The cost of a rental truck for a two-bedroom home in Charleston is under $100, while a professional full-service move would cost them somewhere closer to between $801 – $1,851. PODS, on the other hand, would cost them between $451 – $656, and would have a month of storage built into the cost, too. The overall cost of packing supplies to move a two-bedroom residence would be somewhere between $200 – $300, which would bump up the total cost of any of these options.

Cost of Moving: Out-of-State to Louisiana

If the Miller family decided on Louisiana for a long-distance move, the cost of moving out of state with a rental truck could be up to $1,300, plus money to fill the gas tank. A professional full-service move would take care of loading, unloading, and transport entirely for $2,609 – $5,757, while the cost of PODS moving containers would fall in a somewhat similar range ($2,023 – $3,371).

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a 2-bedroom household as of June 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

4. The Anderson Family — Three-Bedroom Move

Joe and Felicia Anderson have just started working remotely, so they are no longer tied to a specific workplace. They have an endless amount of options for where to relocate, but they have been considering a move to the East Coast to live close to the water. The family currently lives in Oklahoma, and they are renting a three-bedroom home. A forever home instead of a rental place is hopefully in the cards for them!

Cost of Moving: Locally Within Oklahoma

If the family decides to move to a new home locally in their area of Oklahoma City, they should budget for a rental truck costing anywhere between $65 – $123. A professional full-service move, on the other hand, would increase those costs to between $1,123 – $2,705. If the Anderson family decided to move with PODS instead, they could estimate having to pay between $383 – $629, plus they’d have the flexibility of packing at their own pace. Packing supplies to move a three-bedroom residence of a family would most likely cost somewhere between $300 – $400.

Cost of Moving: Cross-Country to the East Coast

The Andersons would love to live somewhere cooler, so if the family settles on an area on the East Coast such as Boston, they could plan to spend a total of $1,574 – $2,792 on a rental truck (plus the cost of gas) vs. a full-service professional move, which would triple that cost on average ($5,370 – $8,346). The cost of moving across country to Boston with the help of PODS would land somewhere between $3,822 – $6,370. Since they’re looking to buy their forever home rather than rent their next place, they’re likely moving with a lot of stuff, so a service like PODS that offers monthly storage could help them ease in.

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a 3-bedroom household as of June 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

5. The Smith Family — Four-Bedroom Move

The Smith family currently lives in a four-bedroom residence in Houston, Texas; however, the home has experienced significant flood damage from a recent tropical storm. The family plans to relocate to a new four-bedroom residence somewhere locally, but they’re also considering moving to another state less impacted by storms. The family is deciding if they want their teenage kids to finish up school in the area first, or move to a different state with better education opportunities — especially for college.

Cost of Moving: Locally Within Houston

If the Smith family decides to stay local to Houston, a rental truck would be the cheapest option, at about $64 – $125. With a four-bedroom home’s worth of stuff, though, they may want to opt for a full-service mover for around $1,329 – $3,556, which would save them the work of loading up and transporting all of their boxes. If they want a little time to store their belongings between moves while they figure out their kids’ schooling situation, PODS could be a great option, since it would cost about $897 – $1,744, including a month of storage. An estimated range for packing supplies will ultimately depend on how many belongings they were able to save from the flood but could fall anywhere between $400 – $500.

Cost of Moving: Cross-Country to Massachusetts

Massachusetts is ranked third in the country for education, which is somewhere the Smith family is considering for the kids’ college. If the Smith family decided to move with a rental truck from Houston to Massachusetts, the approximate cost range would fall between $1,827 – $3,394. A full-service move would significantly increase their moving costs to closer to $7,550 – $11,768, while the cost of PODS moving containers would be a pretty similar amount at $6,039 – $10,065. Depending on how hands-on they’re able to be with the move, they could save some money, but between the stress of recovering belongings from the flood damage, finding a new home, and choosing a school for their kids, a more full-service moving service could be helpful.

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a 4-bedroom household as of June 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

If you’re not sure where your move will take you, PODS is a great choice.

6. Chris & Joanne — Three-Bedroom Move

Chris and Joanne are a retired couple currently living in Missouri who might be having some special upcoming moving plans! Joanne recently inherited a two-bedroom mobile home from her aunt, and the couple is planning to move out of the three-bedroom home they’ve been renting in order to live in the mobile home full-time. The couple is deciding if they want to buy land for the mobile home in Missouri, or embark on a long-distance move to Florida where they can find a mobile home community to live in (and also buy a new mobile home once they arrive).

Cost of Moving: Locally Within Missouri

If the couple opts to buy some land for their mobile home in Missouri and move out of their three-bedroom rental, their plan is to rent two of the 8-foot PODS containers. One container would be used to transport the belongings to the new home, and the other container would be used to store particular seasonal items so they don’t clutter and take up space in the smaller mobile home. The cost of PODS moving containers would be between $457 – $687.

If Chris and Joanne were to move their belongings out of the three-bedroom residence locally using a rental truck, they could pay $66 – $123, though they may still need to rent a storage solution separately or else declutter significantly, since they’re moving into a smaller place. Hiring a full-service mover would set them back $1,112 – $2,758.

Cost of Moving: Out-of-State to Florida

Chris and Joanne may also move to Florida, in which case their moving costs will naturally increase. A rental truck will be their cheapest option at $1,083 – $2,017, while hiring a full-service mover will be the most expensive at around $4,412 – $7,359. If they stick with PODS, they can expect to pay between $2,776 – $4,627.

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a 2-bedroom household as of June 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

How To Choose the Best Moving Option for You

There are lots of factors that go into the cost of moving overall, and you have options when it comes to how much of your budget you want to spend. Rental trucks will typically save you the most money, but sometimes full-service movers are needed if you require the additional assistance.

While there are lots of moving companies out there to choose from, you can’t go wrong when you choose the services of PODS, which includes one-month storage built in every move, extra packing and loading help if needed, three different container sizes to choose from (you can use their moving and storage calculator to pick the best size for you), and the option to keep your containers in a secure PODS Storage Center if needed.

Whichever option you choose, don’t forget to brush up on the hidden costs of moving, like packing supplies, gas, hotel stays, and more.

Cost of Moving — FAQs

Q: How do you estimate the cost of a move?

A: The best way to estimate the cost of your move is to get a quote directly from the moving company you’re going to use. You can visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Q: What is a reasonable amount for moving expenses?
A: A reasonable moving budget can vary, depending on your own circumstances, like the size of your home, the time of year, and whether you DIY the move or hire full-service movers. A local move can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to over a thousand dollars, while long-distance moves can average around $2,500 to $5,000.

Q: What is the most cost-effective way to move?
A: The most cost-effective way to move is to ask friends and family for help packing your things, and consider getting rid of belongings that you may no longer need. Instead of using a more costly moving option like full-service movers, try out a rental truck on your own or use PODS moving services! 

Moving with PODS eliminates the stress of driving a rental truck.

Let PODS Help You Settle Into Your New Home

These example moves highlight how different each move can be, from the reason for moving and the needs of the people making the move, to the distance and the size of the move. No matter your situation, you can make your move to a new city flexible with PODS portable moving containers.

Once your container is delivered, you can take your time packing and loading since one month’s storage is included in the cost of every move. PODS can even refer you to local packing and loading services to help with the heavy lifting if needed.

Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}