{"id":26087,"date":"2025-12-01T13:57:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T13:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/?p=26087"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:39:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:39:17","slug":"how-much-does-moving-out-of-state-really-cost-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/how-much-does-moving-out-of-state-really-cost-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does Moving Out of State Really Cost in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<p>Planning an <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/moving-out-of-state-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">out-of-state move<\/a> can feel overwhelming. You\u2019re not just packing boxes, you\u2019re budgeting for truck rentals, labor, travel, and potentially full-service help. Whether you\u2019ve moved before or this is your first time relocating out of state, understanding what contributes to the total cost of the move is essential. <br><br>Below, we walk through two concrete examples using UniMovers\u2019 rates. These will show you how to relocate out of state without nasty surprises in your budget. We also include comparisons with a full-service moving company and an out-of-state moving truck rental to help you choose the best out-of-state moving companies or options for your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#h-the-cost-of-moving-out-of-state\" >The Cost of Moving Out of State<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-scenario-a-moving-from-raleigh-nc-to-charleston-sc\" >Scenario A: Moving From Raleigh, NC to Charleston, SC<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-scenario-b-moving-from-charleston-sc-to-iowa-city-ia\" >Scenario B: Moving From Charleston, SC to Iowa City, IA<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-impacts-the-cost-of-an-out-of-state-move-most\" >What Impacts the Cost of an Out-of-State Move Most<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-other-costs-to-consider-in-an-out-of-state-move\" >Other Costs to Consider in an Out-of-State Move<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-relocate-out-of-state-with-smarter-choices\" >How to Relocate Out of State with Smarter Choices<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-faqs\" >FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/nav><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-cost-of-moving-out-of-state\">The Cost of Moving Out of State<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re moving out of state, it\u2019s helpful to see how costs scale with distance. We\u2019ll use <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/rates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UniMovers\u2019 labor-only rates<\/a> plus estimates for <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/the-most-affordable-moving-truck-rentals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rental trucks<\/a> and travel fees. Let\u2019s take a look at two scenarios for an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scenario-a-moving-from-raleigh-nc-to-charleston-sc\"><strong>Scenario A: Moving From <a href=\"http:\/\/unimovers.com\/movers\/ia\/raleigh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Raleigh, NC<\/a> to <a href=\"http:\/\/unimovers.com\/movers\/sc\/charleston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charleston, SC<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An out of state move from Raleigh, NC to Charleston, SC is a relatively short move (about 280 miles). Suppose you&#8217;re moving a 2-to 3-bedroom home. Using UniMovers\u2019 actual estimates and rates, we would recommend three movers, which costs $180\/hour. If loading and unloading take six hours, total labor would cost $1,080. Additionally, a travel fee would apply for the movers to travel to the second, out-of-state address. Conservatively, that might add $600\u2013$800. So labor plus travel might run around $1,600-$2,000. However, in this case, UniMovers has locations in both Raleigh and Charleston, meaning you can save money by utilizing local teams to avoid a travel fee. In that case, you would only pay the estimated $1,080 for labor across both locations.<br><br>Then comes the out-of-state moving truck rental or transport. Renting a one-way moving truck that can accommodate a two- or three-bedroom home, plus paying for fuel, insurance, and drop-off fees, could cost another $800-$1,500 (using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/Truck-Rentals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U-Haul pricing<\/a>). That brings the total out-of-state move cost for Scenario A (labor plus transport) to about <strong>$1,900-$3,500 <\/strong>using UniMovers for loading and unloading plus a rental truck.<br><br>By comparison, hiring one of the best out-of-state <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northamerican.com\/full-service-moving-company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full-service moving companies<\/a> could run much higher\u2014often <strong>$3,500\u2013$6,000+<\/strong>\u2014since those quotes typically include materials, packing, transport, specialized handling, and sometimes <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/the-most-affordable-storage-units-that-fit-your-needs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">storage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/moving-sustainable-boxes-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"Woman packing belongings into a moving box for her out of state move\" class=\"wp-image-25014\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/moving-sustainable-boxes-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/moving-sustainable-boxes-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/moving-sustainable-boxes-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/moving-sustainable-boxes-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/07\/moving-sustainable-boxes-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scenario-b-moving-from-charleston-sc-to-iowa-city-ia\"><strong>Scenario B: Moving From Charleston, SC to <a href=\"http:\/\/unimovers.com\/movers\/ia\/iowa-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Iowa City, IA<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For a move from Charleston, SC to Iowa City, IA the distance is far greater (approximately 1,000 miles). Using UniMovers\u2019 labor-only rate with three movers at $180\/hour, loading and unloading may still take around six to eight hours, depending on how much there is to move and how much prep work is needed. That gives a labor cost of $1,080 to $1,440. Then the travel fee for the crew to travel to the second address could add around $3,000. So, the labor plus travel portion alone might run $4,000-$4,500. Fortunately, UniMovers has local teams in both Charleston, SC, and Iowa City, IA. By working with them directly, you can avoid travel fees and keep your labor costs in the range of $1,080\u2013$1,440.<br><br>When you factor in the cost of an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.budgettruck.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">out-of-state moving truck rental<\/a> for a long-distance trip, including fuel, drop-off fees, insurance, and possibly overnight travel, the total could reach<strong> $2,500\u2013$4,000+<\/strong>. <br><br>Altogether, an out-of-state move under Scenario B might run $3,500\u2013$8,000+ with UniMovers handling loading and unloading while you arrange transport. Opting for a full-service mover who would cover everything from packing to delivery <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northamerican.com\/moving-resources\/tips\/moving-cost-three-bedroom-house#:~:text=The%20cost%20of%20your%20move,Add%2DOn%20Services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">could raise the total<\/a> to <strong>$7,000\u2013$10,000+<\/strong>, depending on weight, access, and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-impacts-the-cost-of-an-out-of-state-move-most\">What Impacts the Cost of an Out-of-State Move Most<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several factors drive up the cost when you move out of state. First, the number of movers matters. UniMovers charges $60\/hour\/mover. Every additional mover increases the hourly rate and often reduces hours needed, but sometimes fewer movers make the job go slower, costing you more in the end.\u00a0<br><br>Next, the number of hours needed for labor for loading and unloading can add up. Travel fees can also increase your overall cost if there are no local teams to service your labor-only move. Long-distance moving companies will also charge travel fees, but they will cost more as they also transport your items.<br><br>Out-of-state moving truck rentals also rise sharply in cost with distance, fuel price, size of the vehicle, and whether it\u2019s a one-way or round-trip. Factors like timing (peak seasons, weekends) and add-ons such as packing, furniture disassembly, or specialty item handling can further raise your costs, all of which contribute to your final out-of-state moving total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/man-in-blue-polo-shirt-moving-boxes-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"Man moving boxes into his new home\" class=\"wp-image-10511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/man-in-blue-polo-shirt-moving-boxes-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/man-in-blue-polo-shirt-moving-boxes-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/man-in-blue-polo-shirt-moving-boxes-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/man-in-blue-polo-shirt-moving-boxes-1536x1075.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/man-in-blue-polo-shirt-moving-boxes-2048x1434.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-other-costs-to-consider-in-an-out-of-state-move\">Other Costs to Consider in an Out-of-State Move<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While labor and truck rental are major drivers of out-of-state move costs, several other expenses factor in, especially for long-distance moves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Packing materials<\/strong>: Boxes, tape, packing paper, moving blankets, and ratchet straps can add up in cost. However, there are plenty of ways to save money or <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/how-to-save-money-on-moving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get moving supplies for free<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transportation costs<\/strong>: Beyond truck rental, you\u2019ll need to budget for gas, mileage, and insurance. For long hauls, fuel alone may cost several hundred dollars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Travel costs<\/strong>: Consider your own travel during the move. Will you drive your car, fly, or take a bus? Longer relocations may require overnight hotel stays and meals on the road, adding hundreds to the total.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Optional and non-monetary costs<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/should-i-tip-my-movers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tipping movers<\/a>, lost work time, temporary or <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/more-affordable-mobile-storage-vs-moving-trucks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mobile storage<\/a>, and the stress of coordinating logistics all add to the burden of an out-of-state move.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-relocate-out-of-state-with-smarter-choices\">How to Relocate Out of State with Smarter Choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your goal is to minimize your out-of-state move cost while still using reliable service, there are a few guiding principles. <br><br>First, choose one of the best out-of-state moving companies that matches your actual needs. Perhaps you only require loading and unloading while arranging your own transport or truck rental. UniMovers often fits this approach, allowing you to limit services and control costs.<br><br>Second, be realistic about what you can do yourself. Packing ahead, having everything staged, disassembling furniture\u2014these things save mover hours. Third, shop out-of-state moving truck rental options early; one-way truck rental can be surprisingly costly if you wait until the last minute or misjudge truck size. Fourth, always get multiple quotes and <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/hiring-a-moving-company-what-type-of-movers-are-right-for-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">compare full-service movers and labor-only companies<\/a> like <a href=\"http:\/\/unimovers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UniMovers<\/a>. Fifth, time your move wisely. Moving in the middle of the week or during off-peak season often reduces surcharges and availability premiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing the true cost of moving out of state means adding up labor, travel fees, transport costs, and extra services. For a short interstate move like Raleigh, NC to Charleston, SC, that could mean $1,900-$3,500 with UniMovers labor-only services plus a truck rental. For a long move like Charleston, SC to Iowa City, IA, your cost is closer to $2,500\u2013$4,000+ under similar arrangements. <br><br>If you go with one of the best out-of-state full-service moving companies, you\u2019ll pay more, but the logistics will be handled for you. If your priority is balancing cost and convenience, using more DIY-friendly methods like renting your own moving truck and hiring labor-only moving companies like UniMovers for loading and unloading often offers the best middle ground.<br><br>Relocating out of state is rarely simple, but by understanding how each cost component adds up\u2014labor rate per mover, hours required, travel, and transport\u2014you can plan ahead, avoid surprises, and pick solutions that work for both your schedule and your budget. If you\u2019re about to move and want a personalized estimate, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/rates\/#travel-fee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UniMovers&#8217; rate calculator<\/a> or request quotes from full-service movers to see exactly what your out-of-state move will cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-69668345b9f33\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How much does it cost to move out of state?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The cost of an out-of-state move largely depends on the distance you&#8217;re moving and which type of movers you decide on\u2014DIY, labor-only, or full-service. Shorter moves with a DIY or labor-only approach may only cost a few hundred dollars. However, a long-distance move or utilizing a full-service moving company can drive that price up into the thousands.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-69668345b9f36\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Does UniMovers provide packing services?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, all of UniMovers&#8217; services, including packing, are offered at the same flat hourly rate. Customers just need to provide their own boxes, tape, and packing supplies.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-69668345b9f37\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the cheapest way to relocate out of state?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Renting your own truck and hiring a labor-only moving company for loading and unloading is usually the most affordable option.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-69668345b9f38\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">When is the best time to move out of state?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Avoid peak summer weekends if possible. Moving mid-week or during the off-season can save hundreds.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planning an out-of-state move can feel overwhelming. You\u2019re not just packing boxes, you\u2019re budgeting for truck rentals, labor, travel, and potentially full-service help. Whether you\u2019ve moved before or this is your first time relocating out of state, understanding what contributes to the total cost of the move is essential. Below, we walk through two concrete [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":26088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_has_post_settings":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,79],"tags":[1144,18,313,1225,877,1168,1547],"class_list":["post-26087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","category-interstate-moving","tag-charleston-sc","tag-iowa-city","tag-moving-out-of-state","tag-moving-to-charleston","tag-moving-to-iowa-city","tag-raleigh-nc","tag-state-to-state-move"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26087"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27631,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26087\/revisions\/27631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}