Most moving-cost guides cover one city at a time, which is useless if you're deciding between cities, comparing a quote against the local norm, or just trying to understand why the same two-bedroom move costs hundreds of dollars more in one metro than another. This page pulls all ten of the major US cities we track into a single, sortable 2026 comparison so you can see the whole picture at once — then model your own move with a calculator that adjusts for the city you actually live in.
The short version: local moves are billed by the hour, so a city's labor rate is the biggest single driver of what you pay. In 2026 that rate runs from about $90–$140 per hour for two movers and a truck in San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas up to $150–$200 per hour in New York. Long-distance moves work completely differently — they're priced by weight plus mileage, so where you start matters far less than how much you own and how far it's going. Both models are broken down below, with the named sources behind every number.
Free City-by-City Moving Cost Calculator
Pick your city and answer four questions to model a 2026 price range tuned to that metro's mover rates and access quirks.
Modeled from 2026 published hourly mover rates per city and interstate weight-and-mileage norms. Always get 2–3 in-home or video quotes for your exact price.
2026 Local Moving Cost by City — Sortable Comparison
The table below compares all ten metros on the numbers that decide a local move: the hourly rate for two movers and a truck, and typical all-in local move costs by home size (easy access, self-packing). Click any column heading to sort. Walk-up stairs, elevator reservations, full packing, and peak dates push every city toward the high end of its range.
| City ↕ | 2 Movers + Truck (/hr) ↕ | 1-Bedroom Local ↕ | 2-Bedroom Local ↕ | 3-Bedroom+ Local ↕ | Cost Tier ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $150–$200 | $700–$1,800 | $1,200–$2,800 | $2,200–$4,500 | Highest |
| San Diego, CA | $120–$170 | $700–$1,800 | $1,300–$2,900 | $2,100–$4,600 | High |
| Los Angeles, CA | $120–$180 | $600–$1,600 | $1,100–$2,600 | $1,900–$4,200 | High |
| Philadelphia, PA | $110–$160 | $550–$1,500 | $1,000–$2,400 | $1,750–$3,900 | Above avg |
| Chicago, IL | $100–$150 | $550–$1,500 | $1,000–$2,400 | $1,700–$3,900 | Average |
| Houston, TX | $100–$150 | $550–$1,500 | $1,000–$2,400 | $1,700–$3,900 | Average |
| Austin, TX | $100–$150 | $500–$1,400 | $950–$2,300 | $1,650–$3,800 | Average |
| Dallas, TX | $90–$140 | $500–$1,400 | $950–$2,300 | $1,600–$3,700 | Below avg |
| Phoenix, AZ | $90–$140 | $500–$1,400 | $950–$2,300 | $1,600–$3,700 | Below avg |
| San Antonio, TX | $90–$140 | $480–$1,350 | $900–$2,200 | $1,550–$3,600 | Lowest |
Ranges are typical all-in local move totals (movers + truck) for an easy-access, self-packed move. Stair, parking, elevator, and building-fee surcharges for these metros are explained in the cost-driver sections below. Sources and methodology are listed below the long-distance table.
Hourly Mover Rates by City (2026)
Because local moves are billed by the hour, the crew rate is where the city-to-city gap really shows up. The figures below are for a standard two-mover crew with a truck; adding a third or fourth mover for a larger home raises the hourly rate but usually shortens the job, so a bigger crew is often cheaper overall on an hourly move. Most companies also set a 2–3 hour minimum plus a one-time travel or truck fee of roughly $70–$130.
| Metro | 2 Movers + Truck | 3 Movers + Truck | Notable Local Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $150–$200/hr | $200–$280/hr | Walk-up flights + building COIs and move-in fees |
| Los Angeles, CA | $120–$180/hr | $170–$250/hr | Hillside long carries + parking permits |
| San Diego, CA | $120–$170/hr | $170–$260/hr | Stairs, long carries, coastal-zone parking |
| Philadelphia, PA | $110–$160/hr | $150–$220/hr | Narrow row-house staircases + street permits |
| Chicago, IL | $100–$150/hr | $150–$220/hr | Vintage walk-ups + high-rise COIs; winter weather |
| Houston, TX | $100–$150/hr | $140–$220/hr | Two-story access + summer heat scheduling |
| Austin, TX | $100–$150/hr | $140–$210/hr | Peak-season demand + summer heat |
| Dallas, TX | $90–$140/hr | $140–$200/hr | Upper-floor carries + summer heat |
| Phoenix, AZ | $90–$140/hr | $130–$200/hr | Extreme summer heat — schedule early mornings |
| San Antonio, TX | $90–$140/hr | $130–$200/hr | Long, hot summers — protect fragile items |
Long-Distance Moving Cost by Distance (2026)
Interstate moves don't follow the hourly model — carriers price by shipment weight plus mileage. That means your origin city barely changes the number; what matters is how much you own and how far it travels. The table below shows 2026 full-service estimates by distance band and home size, regardless of which city you're leaving. A portable container service (PODS, U-Pack) that you load yourself typically runs 40–55% less.
| Distance | 1-Bedroom | 2-Bedroom | 3-Bedroom+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~250 miles | $1,200–$2,400 | $1,800–$3,500 | $2,800–$5,500 |
| ~500 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | $2,300–$4,400 | $3,500–$7,000 |
| ~1,000 miles | $1,900–$3,800 | $2,900–$5,400 | $4,500–$8,800 |
| ~2,000 miles | $2,400–$4,600 | $3,600–$6,600 | $5,500–$10,500 |
Planning a long haul? Our cross-country moving cost guide breaks interstate pricing down further by route and service level, and the relocation cost calculator models any distance and home size in seconds.
What Makes One City Cost More Than Another
The numbers above aren't arbitrary — a handful of factors explain almost the entire gap between the cheapest and most expensive metros, and most of them never show up on a first quote:
- Local labor rates. Movers' wages, fuel, and insurance track the local cost of living, which is why coastal metros (New York, San Diego, Los Angeles) sit well above the Sun Belt (San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas) on an hourly basis.
- Building access. Walk-up stairs (New York, Chicago, Philadelphia row houses), high-rise Certificates of Insurance and move-in fees, and hillside or coastal long carries (Los Angeles, San Diego) all add billable time to an hourly move.
- Parking and permits. Dense cities require temporary no-parking signs or permits so the truck can stage at the curb; skip them and a long carry or a ticket lands on your bill.
- Climate and season. Northern metros get cheaper but slower in winter; Sun Belt cities carry a real summer-heat penalty, so early-morning, off-peak scheduling matters most there.
- Demand timing. Everywhere, the May–September peak, weekends, and month-end lease turnover run 15–30% above a mid-week, off-season date.
How to Budget Your Move: 5 Steps (Any City)
- Find your city's baseline. Start from the hourly rate and home-size range for your metro in the table above, then open your city's full guide for the local access and permit details.
- Add your access costs. Count flights of stairs, note any elevator reservation or COI, and check parking at both addresses. These are the surprises that turn a low quote into a high bill.
- Right-size the crew. Two movers for a studio or one-bedroom, three to four for a two- or three-bedroom. On an hourly move, an undersized crew that runs long costs more than a bigger crew that finishes fast.
- Pick your date strategically. A weekday, mid-month, off-season slot can cut 15–30% versus a Saturday at month-end — and in the Sun Belt, off-peak also dodges the summer-heat surcharge.
- Get 2–3 written quotes. Use in-home or video surveys, confirm any building fees and COI requirements, verify the mover's USDOT/MC license, and get the hourly rate, minimum, and travel fee in writing before booking.
On an hourly move, anything that helps the crew (or you) work faster directly lowers the bill. These are the supplies frequent movers actually reach for, whatever city you're in:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are approximate and set by Amazon.
7 Ways to Lower Your Moving Cost in Any City
- Move off-season and mid-week. A weekday in the off-season can run 20–30% less than a peak Saturday on the same home.
- Book mid-month. Avoiding month-end lease turnover keeps you out of the highest-demand slots.
- Declutter before you quote. Fewer boxes means fewer billable hours on a local move and less weight on a long-distance one.
- Pack yourself. Full packing adds $250–$1,500; do your own boxes and reserve the crew for furniture and fragiles.
- Get the parking sorted. Permits or no-parking signs that let the truck park at your door beat a long-carry charge every time.
- Right-size the crew. A bigger crew that finishes fast often beats a small crew that runs into overtime on an hourly job.
- Consider a container for a long move. If you're leaving the metro and can load yourself, a portable container saves 40–55% over full service.
Binding-Quote Red Flags to Watch For
The cheapest headline rate is worthless if the final bill balloons. Before you sign, watch for these warning signs that separate a real quote from a bait-and-switch:
- A quote with no inventory. A legitimate estimate follows an in-home or video survey of what you're moving. A price quoted sight-unseen over the phone is a guess that can be revised upward on move day.
- A large deposit demand. Reputable movers ask for little or no deposit. A demand for a big upfront payment — especially by wire or cash app — is a common scam signal.
- No written, binding number. Insist on a written estimate that states whether it's binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed, plus the hourly rate, minimum hours, travel fee, and any building or stair charges.
- No USDOT/MC license. Interstate movers must have a USDOT number you can verify on the FMCSA website. No verifiable license is a hard stop.
- Pressure and vagueness. High-pressure upselling, refusal to put terms in writing, or evasive answers about insurance coverage all point to a mover to walk away from.
Methodology & sources: per-city local ranges are compiled from 2026 published hourly mover rates (two- to four-person crews including a truck) cross-referenced across moving-cost data platforms — HireAHelper, moveBuddha, and ConsumerAffairs (2026 movers cost guide) — together with typical job durations by home size and common access surcharges (walk-up stairs, high-rise move-in fees and COIs, parking permits, seasonal demand). Long-distance estimates use interstate weight-and-mileage norms for USDOT/FMCSA-licensed carriers. Where a metro lacks published local data, its figures sit at the national range rather than being invented. All figures are planning estimates — obtain written quotes from licensed movers before booking.
Moving Cost by City — FAQ
Which US city is cheapest to move in for 2026?
Among the ten metros here, San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas are cheapest for a local move, with two movers and a truck around $90–$140/hr. New York is the most expensive at $150–$200/hr, followed by San Diego and Los Angeles at $120–$180. Since local moves are hourly, the city's labor rate is the biggest driver of your cost.
Why do local moving costs vary so much between cities?
Local moves are billed hourly, so the local cost of labor sets the base rate — and that tracks each metro's wages, fuel, parking, and demand. City-specific access (walk-up stairs and building COIs in New York and Chicago, hillside carries in LA, summer-heat scheduling in the Sun Belt) then adds billable time on top.
How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom locally in 2026?
About $900–$2,900 depending on the city, with easy-access pickups at the low end and stairs, elevators, or peak dates at the high end — roughly $900–$2,200 in San Antonio, $1,000–$2,400 in Chicago or Houston, and $1,200–$2,900 in New York or San Diego. Most movers set a 2–3 hour minimum plus a travel fee.
How is long-distance moving cost calculated?
Interstate movers price by weight plus mileage, so origin matters far less than how much you own and how far it goes. A two-bedroom runs about $1,800–$3,500 at 250 miles, $2,300–$4,400 at 500 miles, $2,900–$5,400 at 1,000 miles, and $3,600–$6,600 at 2,000 miles full-service. Loading a container yourself costs 40–55% less.
When is the cheapest time to move?
Mid-week, mid-month dates from late fall through early spring are cheapest everywhere, because demand drops once summer ends. The May–September peak, weekends, and month-end each add 15–30%. In the northern metros the trade-off is winter weather; in the Sun Belt, off-peak simply dodges the summer-heat surcharge.
Are these moving cost figures exact quotes?
No — they're planning estimates compiled from published 2026 hourly rates, moving-cost data platforms, and interstate weight-and-mileage norms. Your real price depends on your inventory, access, date, and mover. Always get 2–3 written in-home or video quotes and confirm the rate, minimum, travel fee, and any building fees before booking.
Related Moving Cost Guides
Relocation Cost Calculator
Model any move by distance, home size, and service level on our homepage tool.
Relocation Cost Guide
What relocation really costs beyond the movers — deposits, travel, and setup.
Cross-Country Moving Cost
Long-distance pricing by home size, route, and service level.
First Apartment Checklist
Everything to budget and buy for a first place, move-in costs included.
Moving for College
Dorm and first-apartment move costs for students on a budget.
Embed This Calculator
Add our free relocation cost calculator to your own site with one snippet.
Ready to price your move?
Use the free relocation cost calculator to compare service levels and get an instant 2026 range for your exact home size and route.
Open the Calculator →