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All 8 Ways to Move Across the Country, Ranked by Total Cost
Every method, ranked cheapest to most expensive. Real cost examples, specific company recommendations, and honest anti-recommendations for each.
Sell and Replace
Cheapest for studio/1BR renters
$500 - $2,000
typical total
How It Works
You sell or donate most of your furniture before the move, ship clothes and essentials in boxes (USPS/UPS), buy a one-way flight, and purchase replacement furniture at the destination. Total out-the-door cost for a studio or 1BR is typically $500 to $1,600.
Real Cost Example
Jamie moved from Boston to Austin. Sold her IKEA bed, desk, and couch on Facebook Marketplace for $420. Shipped 12 boxes via UPS Ground for $310. Booked a $189 Southwest flight. Bought a used bed frame and desk at the Austin Facebook Marketplace for $350. Total move cost: $1,270.
Best For
Renters with IKEA-grade furniture moving 1,000+ miles. If your furniture cost under $2,000 to buy new, this is almost always the cheapest option.
Not For
Anyone with quality furniture, heirlooms, or a 3-bedroom+ home where replacement costs would exceed savings.
Companies
Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist for selling. UPS Ground or USPS for boxes.
Ship Boxes Only (USPS/UPS/FedEx + Fly)
Cheapest for small apartments keeping belongings
$800 - $2,000
typical total
How It Works
Pack everything that will fit in boxes and ship via USPS, UPS Ground, or FedEx Home Delivery. Books go via USPS Media Mail ($3-$8 per box). Clothes and kitchen items go via UPS Ground ($25-$55 per box cross-country). You fly or drive separately. No furniture unless you can disassemble and box it.
Real Cost Example
Marcus moved a studio from NYC to Denver. Shipped 22 boxes: 6 via USPS Media Mail ($40), 10 via UPS Ground ($380), 6 via USPS Priority ($138). Flight cost $220. He left the futon behind. Total: $778.
Best For
Studio and 1BR apartment dwellers who want to keep their clothes, books, and kitchen items but do not have large furniture worth shipping.
Not For
Anyone with a sofa, bed frame, dresser, or dining table they plan to keep. Those items need a truck or container.
Companies
USPS for Media Mail (books, CDs, DVDs). UPS Ground and FedEx Home Delivery for everything else. Greyhound Package Express for oversized items up to 100 lbs.
Cargo Trailer (You Tow)
Cheapest for 1BR loads with a tow vehicle
$1,000 - $2,500
typical total
How It Works
Rent a 5x8 or 6x12 cargo trailer from U-Haul or Budget ($250-$600 for a one-way cross-country rental). Tow it with your own pickup truck, SUV, or minivan that has a tow hitch and adequate capacity. Your own vehicle provides the engine, so you avoid the large truck rental fee.
Real Cost Example
Elena towed a 6x12 U-Haul trailer from Chicago to Phoenix with her Ford Explorer. Trailer rental: $420. Fuel dropped from 22 MPG to 14 MPG over 1,750 miles, adding $230 in extra fuel. Hotels: $220. Total: $870 vs $1,800+ for a 15ft truck rental.
Best For
Anyone who owns a truck, SUV, or minivan with towing capacity of at least 3,500 lbs and a 1BR or smaller load. Towing significantly reduces fuel economy but less so than driving a 26ft truck.
Not For
Anyone without a tow-capable vehicle. Anyone with 2BR+ loads. The 6x12 trailer holds about a 1BR apartment; beyond that you need a 15-20ft truck.
Companies
U-Haul (widest availability, most trailer locations). Budget (sometimes cheaper for one-way rentals). Penske does not offer cargo trailers.
Freight Trailer (U-Pack / ABF)
Cheapest for 1BR-2BR loads without driving
$1,800 - $3,500
typical total
How It Works
U-Pack (the consumer brand of ABF Freight) delivers a 28-foot trailer to your address. You load one end of the trailer, install a metal bulkhead divider, and U-Pack fills the rest with commercial freight. You pay only for the linear feet you used, typically $200-$250 per linear foot for long-distance routes. ABF professional drivers handle the road.
Real Cost Example
Tom and Priya moved a 2BR from New York to Denver. U-Pack quoted 11 linear feet at $220/foot: $2,420 total. PODS quoted $3,800 for the same route. U-Pack saved them $1,380.
Best For
1BR and 2BR moves of 1,000+ miles where you do not need storage and can load within 3 business days. Typically 20-40% cheaper than PODS for long-distance partial loads.
Not For
Local moves (U-Pack does not serve under 150 miles). Anyone who needs storage at the destination. Very large loads where the linear-foot pricing exceeds the cost of a full container.
Companies
U-Pack (only major option in this category). ReloCubes are an alternative U-Pack product: individual cube containers starting at $1,200 each for long-distance.
Rental Truck (U-Haul, Penske, Budget)
Most flexible DIY option for 2BR+ loads
$1,500 - $4,500
typical total
How It Works
Rent a 15-26ft truck from U-Haul, Penske, or Budget. You load, drive, and unload. Truck comes empty; you bring your own blankets or rent them ($30-$60). One-way pricing varies dramatically by route supply and demand. Fuel is your responsibility at roughly $0.50-$0.60 per mile for a 26ft truck.
Real Cost Example
The Hendersons rented a 26ft U-Haul for a 2,100-mile move from Orlando to Phoenix. Truck: $1,940. Fuel (12 gallons/hour at 8 MPG): $1,102. SafeMove insurance: $115. Hotels (2 nights): $290. Packing supplies: $180. Total: $3,627.
Best For
2BR to 3BR household loads where you or a partner can drive. Anyone who wants full control over timing and delivery. Budget-constrained families where labor is free (friends and family).
Not For
Solo movers without a truck-driving co-pilot. Anyone uncomfortable with a 26ft vehicle (height 12.5ft, length 26ft, no rear view mirror, difficult mountain passes). Anyone traveling solo on a 3+ day drive.
Companies
U-Haul: cheapest sticker price, widest one-way network, mixed customer service reviews. Penske: 10-20% more expensive, newer trucks, better service. Budget: usually between the two.
Moving Container (PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT)
Most flexible option with built-in storage
$2,500 - $5,500
typical total
How It Works
PODS or 1-800-PACK-RAT delivers a 7-16ft container to your driveway. You pack it over 1-5 days at your own pace. The company picks it up and delivers it to your new address (or keeps it in storage if you are not ready). Professional drivers handle all road driving.
Real Cost Example
Sarah needed a container because her new apartment was not ready for 3 weeks. PODS delivered a 16ft container, she packed it in 2 days, and PODS stored it for 3 weeks before delivering to her new address. Total: $3,600 including 3 weeks of storage.
Best For
2BR to 3BR household moves where you need storage flexibility (move-out and move-in dates do not align). People who cannot or prefer not to drive a large truck. Anyone willing to pay a premium for the convenience.
Not For
Anyone on a tight budget who does not need the storage feature. Rural areas where PODS has limited coverage. Very large 4BR+ loads that require multiple containers.
Companies
PODS: largest network, widest coverage, 7ft and 16ft options. 1-800-PACK-RAT: competitive pricing in covered metros, 12ft and 16ft options, often 10-15% cheaper than PODS.
Hybrid (Container + Day Labor)
Best value for people who cannot do physical work
$2,800 - $5,500
typical total
How It Works
Rent a PODS, U-Pack, or PACK-RAT container. Instead of loading and unloading yourself, hire TaskRabbit or Dolly day laborers at $80-$150 per hour per pair. Loading typically takes 2-4 hours for a 2BR, unloading 2-3 hours. Total labor cost: $320-$900. Combined with container transport, total is 30-40% below full-service van lines.
Real Cost Example
Mei-Ling moved a 2BR from Chicago to Dallas. U-Pack trailer: $2,650. TaskRabbit loading crew (4 hours, 2 people): $520. TaskRabbit unloading crew at destination: $420. Total: $3,590 versus a full-service quote of $5,800.
Best For
Anyone who cannot physically load/unload but cannot afford full-service movers. The arithmetic works best for 2BR-3BR moves where full-service costs $6,000+ and DIY-with-labor comes in at $3,500-$4,500.
Not For
Very small loads (just hire a van man instead). Very large loads or those with specialty items (pianos, gun safes) that require professional equipment beyond what TaskRabbit crews carry.
Companies
TaskRabbit (widest US coverage). Dolly (strong in major cities, lower rates). HireAHelper (vetted local movers by the hour, fixed hourly rates).
Full-Service Van Line
Most convenient, most expensive
$3,500 - $10,000+
typical total
How It Works
A full-service van line crew packs your belongings, loads the truck, drives to the destination, and unloads and places furniture. You supervise. Cost is based on the weight of your shipment (typically $0.50-$0.80 per pound) plus the distance. A 2BR apartment at 5,000 lbs moving 2,000 miles costs roughly $4,500-$7,000.
Real Cost Example
The Martinez family moved a 4BR from Atlanta to Seattle. Allied Van Lines quoted $9,200 binding estimate (8,500 lbs, full packing service included). They confirmed USDOT number, verified on FMCSA.dot.gov, and got Full Value Protection. Move completed without issues.
Best For
Employer-reimbursed relocations. 3BR+ households where the physical and time cost of DIY is prohibitive. Retirees downsizing with quality furniture. Anyone with heirloom or high-value items needing professional packing.
Not For
Budget-constrained moves. Anyone willing to do some physical work for significant savings. Renters with cheap furniture (sell and replace will always be cheaper).
Companies
North American Van Lines, Allied Van Lines, United Van Lines, Mayflower. Always verify USDOT number at FMCSA.dot.gov before booking. Get three binding estimates.