How Much Does it Cost to Move Out of State?

Moving to a new state is the beginning of a beautiful adventure. Maybe you landed your dream job two states over or are hoping to find new academic or professional opportunities clear across the country. No matter your reasons for moving, you’ll have to physically get yourself and your things to your new location.

There are different strategies when moving out of state that can cost a lot or a little, depending on your needs. Get a breakdown of how much each stage of moving costs — from hiring movers to transporting yourself across state lines!

Packing up

One of the first steps on any moving checklist is, of course, packing up your stuff from where it currently is so that you can take it to where you’re going. There are different ways to pack your things, and the time and cost to do so will depend both on the method you choose and the amount of stuff you own.

If you’re after the cheapest way to move out of state, you can save money by getting free boxes from Craigslist or visiting local grocery stores, retail chains, and even coffee shops to secure a few cardboard food boxes. Then, by packing your things yourself, this initial phase of your move could cost you just the time it takes to complete the task. On the other hand, if you decide to employ professional packers, the average cost can range from around $100 — if you live in a small studio — or up to $1,440 if you live in a larger home.

Cost range: $0 – $1,440

Moving on

Now that you have your entire life packed in boxes and wrapped in bubble wrap, it’s time to, well, move it. Again, the cost of physically transporting your things from one state to another will depend on three factors:

  • The number of things you own
  • The distance it needs to travel
  • The mode of transportation chosen

On the lower end of the spectrum — say you don’t have many large furniture items and are moving to a neighboring state as opposed from one coast to the other — you can likely pack up your things either in your own car or rent a moving truck.

If you decide to go the DIY route, a rental truck can cost on average between $130 to move a one-bedroom apartment 50 miles, up to almost $2,000 for a larger home to move 1,750 miles — or the distance from New York City to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

If you decide to use professional movers, the cost increases drastically. On the lower end — again, moving one bedroom around 50 miles — can cost up to $750. Meanwhile, if you have many large items and need to move them over 1,000 miles, it could cost you almost $8,000 for the convenience of having professionals transport the load.

Cost range: $130 – $8,000

Getting set up

The final stage of any move is moving into your new place. Just like with packing up, unpacking can also range from being completely free — albeit not great fun — to a more expensive process when you hire professionals to do it for you. The prices to have professionals unbox and set up your items is typically similar to the price you would pay to have them packed up: $100-$1,440.

Cost range: $0 – $1,440

Consider your options

As you can see, relocating out of state can cost you anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. If you plan on moving but aren’t 100% ready to commit to a particular city or area of town, save on the moving costs and consider renting furniture from CORT.

With CORT’s furniture subscription, you can rent what you need for as long as you need with a variety of flexible options that start at about $200/month to furnish an entire apartment. This means you can keep your current furniture in storage (or sell it!) and rent furniture in your new city until you land in the perfect forever spot.

And our relocation services don’t stop at basic furniture rental. Depending on your needs, we can also provide home essentials like dishware and appliances, interior decor, and more.

Start by creating a furniture subscription package online or enlist one of our furniture experts’ help to curate the perfect package for you! Then, let us know your move-in date, and our crew will move and assemble the furniture in your new home and pick it up at the end of your stay!

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