Average price of a cross-country move

When it comes to costs that define adulthood, buying a car and making a rent or mortgage payment might come to mind. Another pricey life expense is paying for a move to a new home. While you might be able to get away with a low budget for a local move, coast-to-coast relocation is a different story.

You could pay $15,000 or more for movers to take care of everything, but there are more economical solutions where you handle packing, loading and unloading. With a DIY-moving service like U-Pack®, you can get the cross-country moving experience you need for significantly less than the rates of a full-service company. And you won’t have to drive a moving truck! Let’s see how prices compare between other DIY options and what other expenses to expect when moving across the country. 

Cost of relocating across the U.S.

Often, the best way to get a feel for the price of relocating is to see example quotes from several DIY-moving services. 

We looked at prices for a cross-country move from Santa Barbara, CA, to Savannah, GA, in April 2023, using each company’s recommended equipment for a 3-bedroom home. These quotes were accurate at the time of posting, but actual moving costs will vary based on the timing and details.  

U-Haul® 

*State and local taxes may apply.  
**Based on AAA’s average gas price of $3.47 at time of posting for the 26-ft truck’s estimated 10 MPG according to U-Haul’s website. 

Penske® 

*Based on AAA’s average diesel price of $4.59 at time of posting for the 26-ft truck’s estimated 13 MPG according to Penske’s website. 

Budget® 

*Based on AAA’s average diesel price of $4.59 at time of posting for the 26-ft truck’s estimated 8 MPG according to Budget’s website. 

U-Pack 

For the same move, our all-inclusive price (equipment, transportation, fuel and standard liability coverage) for 17 linear feet of space in a moving trailer was only $4,878. As you can see, U-Pack was a much cheaper option in this scenario. Plus, you don’t have to drive a large moving truck across the country! 

You can check your rate for a cross-country move with a free online quote or by giving us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077. 

Need to make an apartment move? U-Pack can also save you money on smaller cross-country moves.  

What other expenses are there when moving across the country?

More goes into figuring out the cost of your move than just getting quotes. You’ll also want to budget for personal travel expenses and other incidentals.  

Here are some costs to consider:

• Airfare (can be $200 - $1,000 or more per person) 
• Fuel for personal vehicles (About $350 for a 3,000-mile trip in a 30 MPG vehicle) 
• Hotel (Around $150 per night) 
• Food ($50 - $75 per person, per day) 
• Packing supplies ($100 - $700 depending on home size)

Be sure to check online for any discounts on airfare, hotel and food while you travel. It’s also a good idea to leave some wiggle room in your budget in case of unexpected expenses along the way like car trouble or needing an extra night in a hotel.  

Need more info?  

If you have questions about making a cross-country move with U-Pack, let us know in the comments. We’re here to help! 

U-Haul® is a registered trademark of U-Haul International, Inc. Penske® is a registered trademark of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. Budget® is a registered trademark of Budget Truck Rental, LLC. Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third-party.