Interactive Moving Cost Map by State — Live Pricing

Based on our 26ft truck rental data, moving from Georgia is among the cheapest in the country. A one-way 26ft truck from Atlanta, GA to New York, NY costs approximately $1,516 — compared to over $10,999 for the same truck from Los Angeles, CA. States like Tennessee, Texas, and Florida also offer lower outbound truck rental rates because rental companies have excess fleet in those markets and incentivize one-way moves out.

Truck rental pricing is driven by fleet demand imbalance, not just mileage. California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois are high outbound migration states — creating a surplus of trucks at the destination and a shortage at the origin. U-Haul, Budget, and Penske charge premium one-way rates from these states to cover the cost of repositioning empty trucks. A 26ft U-Haul from Los Angeles to New York can cost $10,999, while the reverse route is often $3,000–$5,000 less.

For a 2-bedroom home on a cross-country move (2,000–2,800 miles), professional movers typically cost $6,500–$14,000, while renting a 26ft truck costs $3,000–$11,000 depending on route direction. For shorter moves under 500 miles, hiring movers for a 2BR home averages $1,200–$4,500, while truck rental runs $800–$2,500. Our calculator on this page shows both options side-by-side using real market rates for your specific origin state.

California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, and Massachusetts consistently have the highest moving costs — both for truck rentals and professional movers. California leads due to high labor rates, long interstate distances, and extreme truck rental demand imbalance. A local move within California for a 2BR home averages $1,200–$2,800, and long-distance truck rentals out of California run $7,800–$10,999 for 26ft trucks headed east.

Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas are the most affordable destination states for long-distance moves. These are high inbound migration states — Texas is the #1 move-in state in the country — meaning rental companies have plenty of inventory and prices are competitive. Moving into Texas from the Midwest or Southeast can be accomplished for $1,500–$3,500 with a 26ft truck rental, well below the national average.

The California to New York corridor is consistently the most expensive moving route in the US. A 26ft truck rental from Los Angeles to New York City averages $10,999, covering approximately 2,800 miles. Professional full-service movers on this route run $8,000–$14,000 for a 2-bedroom home. The California to Georgia route is the second most expensive at approximately $7,800–$9,500 for a 26ft truck.

Illinois to Wisconsin (Chicago to Milwaukee area) is the most affordable documented route at approximately $799 for a 26ft truck rental — just 90 miles. For true long-distance routes (over 500 miles), Georgia to New York at roughly $1,516 and Tennessee to Texas at around $2,100 represent the best value corridors. These routes benefit from surplus truck supply at the origin and high demand at the destination.

The cheapest months to move are October through February. Moving demand peaks between May and September — especially June, July, and August — when families relocate before the school year. During peak season, truck rental rates can be 20–40% higher and professional movers are often booked weeks in advance. Booking a late fall or winter date can save $500–$2,000 on a long-distance move. Our state pages show the best and worst months for each individual state.

Home size is one of the biggest factors in moving cost. A studio or 1BR apartment typically generates 300–500 cubic feet of goods, requiring a 10–15ft truck and 2 movers. A 2BR home averages 700–900 cubic feet — a 26ft truck and 2–3 movers. A 4BR home can exceed 1,500 cubic feet, requiring 3–4 movers. Every additional bedroom adds approximately $300–$800 to local moves and $1,500–$3,000 to long-distance moves.

According to migration data integrated into our platform, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are the top inbound migration states in 2025. Texas leads nationally — driven by job growth in Austin, Dallas, and Houston — followed by Florida, which benefits from no state income tax and a growing tech and finance sector. This high inbound demand means these states have well-stocked truck rental fleets and competitive moving company markets, resulting in lower move-in costs.

For moves over 1,000 miles, renting a truck is almost always cheaper — but requires significantly more effort. On the California to New York route, professional movers cost $8,000–$14,000 while a 26ft truck rental runs $10,999, making movers surprisingly competitive. For shorter long-distance moves (500–1,000 miles), the gap is larger: movers might charge $3,000–$6,000 while a truck rental costs $1,500–$3,000. Key factors: physical help available, comfort driving a large vehicle, and whether you can handle 2–3 days of driving.

Our state pricing data is calculated using a multi-factor model incorporating: actual U-Haul, Budget, and Penske truck rental rates by state and route direction; US Census American Community Survey (ACS) mobility data for inbound/outbound migration flows; American Housing Survey (AHS) median home square footage by state; real labor market rates for moving crews; and seasonal demand multipliers. Prices are updated regularly and represent realistic estimates for a standard 2-bedroom move.