Average Moving Costs in the U.S. 2026: 25 Route Examples

There is no single “average” moving price. There are different average price ranges for different home sizes, routes, access conditions, and services. Moveline’s calculator estimates these ranges with a pricing model built from aggregated moving data and recurring patterns. Across the 25 full-service examples in this guide, 2026 ranges run from about $950 for a one-bedroom move to $7,900 for a five-bedroom move. Two-bedroom examples run from about $1,400 to $4,400 before packing, storage, difficult access, unusually heavy items, and other requested work.

The best way to understand the expected numbers is to compare realistic moves and learn the moving-industry realities behind their prices. This guide arranges 25 city-to-city examples from about 90 to 1,290 kilometers, using the same one- through five-bedroom assumptions and explaining a local detail that could change each move. Find the closest example for a useful starting price, then replace it with written estimates based on your belongings, addresses, timing, and services.

The quick answer by home size and distance

Distance increases transportation, fuel, driver, and equipment work, but it does not create one reusable price per kilometer. Loading and unloading exist on every route. A shorter move with stairs, a long carry, a high-rise elevator, or no legal truck position can cost more than a somewhat longer move between accessible homes.

Home size is only a starting point for the amount being moved. These examples assume approximately 2,700 pounds for one bedroom, 5,000 for two bedrooms, 8,000 for three bedrooms, 11,000 for four bedrooms, and 15,000 for five bedrooms. A packed one-bedroom home can outweigh a lightly furnished two-bedroom home, so the mover’s item list matters more than the bedroom label.

Twenty-five moving-cost examples from about 90 to 1,290 kilometers

The five tables use the same home-size assumptions on every route. Scroll horizontally on a small screen; the final column explains an origin, destination, corridor, access, terrain, or weather detail that can change the actual work.

88–299 kilometer routes

Routes 1–5: about 88–299 kilometers. Each row shows the same five home-size assumptions and a route-specific factor that may change a real quote.
Route	Road distance	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3 bedrooms	4 bedrooms	5 bedrooms	What can change this route
Los Angeles, CA → Riverside, CA	88 km	$1,000–$1,400	$1,400–$1,900	$1,850–$2,550	$2,300–$3,100	$2,900–$4,000	Southern California traffic and legal curb space can dominate this short move; confirm stairs, elevators, and the truck position at both homes. Caltrans QuickMap.
Chicago, IL → Milwaukee, WI	146 km	$1,500–$2,050	$1,900–$2,550	$2,400–$3,300	$2,900–$4,000	$3,600–$4,900	I-94 traffic, Chicago loading restrictions, Milwaukee building access, and winter road conditions can turn a short interstate route into a longer crew day. Wisconsin 511.
Los Angeles, CA → San Diego, CA	196 km	$950–$1,350	$1,450–$1,950	$1,900–$2,600	$2,300–$3,200	$2,900–$3,900	I-5 or I-405 congestion, coastal bottlenecks, apartment loading windows, and parking at either city can add labor and waiting. Caltrans QuickMap.
Raleigh, NC → Richmond, VA	250 km	$1,500–$2,050	$2,050–$2,800	$2,600–$3,500	$3,000–$4,200	$3,700–$5,000	I-85 and I-95 conditions, state-line paperwork, downtown curb space, and elevator reservations deserve a written answer before loading. Virginia 511.
San Francisco, CA → Fresno, CA	299 km	$1,550–$2,150	$2,150–$2,950	$2,700–$3,700	$3,200–$4,400	$3,900–$5,300	San Francisco hills, signs, long carries, or a shuttle can add more than Central Valley mileage; Fresno heat and final-address access also matter. Caltrans QuickMap.

349–550 kilometer routes

Routes 6–10: about 349–550 kilometers. Each row shows the same five home-size assumptions and a route-specific factor that may change a real quote.
Route	Road distance	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3 bedrooms	4 bedrooms	5 bedrooms	What can change this route
Buffalo, NY → Pittsburgh, PA	349 km	$1,150–$1,600	$1,700–$2,350	$2,200–$3,100	$2,700–$3,800	$3,500–$4,700	Lake-effect weather near Buffalo, hills and bridges near Pittsburgh, and winter conditions on the I-90/I-79 corridor can change timing and equipment. Pennsylvania 511.
St. Louis, MO → Kansas City, MO	400 km	$2,150–$2,900	$2,900–$3,900	$3,500–$4,800	$4,000–$5,500	$4,800–$6,600	I-70 construction and incidents, downtown loading space, event traffic, and the fact that the move stays within Missouri can affect both the contract and crew time. MoDOT traveler map.
Seattle, WA → Spokane, WA	451 km	$1,300–$1,800	$1,900–$2,600	$2,500–$3,400	$3,000–$4,200	$3,800–$5,200	Snoqualmie Pass, winter restrictions, grades, Seattle loading access, and Spokane delivery conditions can change the safe travel window. WSDOT real-time map.
Cleveland, OH → Indianapolis, IN	508 km	$1,650–$2,250	$2,300–$3,200	$2,900–$4,000	$3,500–$4,800	$4,400–$5,900	Lake-effect snow at the origin, I-71/I-70 work, interstate licensing requirements, and downtown parking or elevator rules can change the complete price. OHGO.
Boise, ID → Salt Lake City, UT	550 km	$1,400–$1,900	$2,000–$2,750	$2,600–$3,600	$3,200–$4,400	$4,000–$5,500	I-84 wind, grades, winter weather, long service gaps, and access in two fast-growing valley cities require a route and arrival plan. Idaho 511.

600–797 kilometer routes

Routes 11–15: about 600–797 kilometers. Each row shows the same five home-size assumptions and a route-specific factor that may change a real quote.
Route	Road distance	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3 bedrooms	4 bedrooms	5 bedrooms	What can change this route
Knoxville, TN → Charleston, SC	600 km	$1,850–$2,550	$2,600–$3,500	$3,200–$4,400	$3,900–$5,300	$4,700–$6,400	Mountain grades through the I-40/I-26 corridor can affect timing; Charleston may add historic-street, flood, parking, or building-access constraints. DriveNC.
Baltimore, MD → Boston, MA	650 km	$1,450–$2,000	$2,100–$2,850	$2,700–$3,800	$3,400–$4,600	$4,200–$5,700	I-95 tolls and congestion, multiple metro areas, truck routing, and dense-city curb and building rules can add waiting or a smaller delivery vehicle. FHWA 511 directory.
Las Vegas, NV → Reno, NV	696 km	$1,500–$2,050	$2,150–$2,900	$2,800–$3,900	$3,400–$4,700	$4,300–$5,800	US-95 is a long desert corridor with heat, wind, limited services, and winter exposure farther north; fuel stops and communication belong in the plan. Nevada 511.
Cincinnati, OH → Charlotte, NC	753 km	$2,300–$3,100	$3,100–$4,200	$3,800–$5,200	$4,500–$6,100	$5,400–$7,300	River crossings, hills, mountain weather, I-75/I-40 conditions, and loading access in both downtown areas can change crew and truck time. DriveNC.
Nashville, TN → Savannah, GA	797 km	$2,000–$2,750	$2,800–$3,800	$3,500–$4,800	$4,100–$5,600	$5,100–$6,900	Atlanta or central-Georgia traffic, I-16 conditions, Savannah's historic street pattern, coastal weather, and building access can change the final day. Georgia 511.

851–1,055 kilometer routes

Routes 16–20: about 851–1,055 kilometers. Each row shows the same five home-size assumptions and a route-specific factor that may change a real quote.
Route	Road distance	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3 bedrooms	4 bedrooms	5 bedrooms	What can change this route
San Francisco, CA → Eugene, OR	851 km	$1,900–$2,600	$2,600–$3,600	$3,400–$4,600	$4,000–$5,500	$5,000–$6,700	Bay Area access, I-5 mountain passes, snow, wildfire or smoke, and wet-weather unloading in Oregon require alternate timing and floor protection. Oregon TripCheck.
Columbus, OH → Atlanta, GA	894 km	$2,400–$3,300	$3,200–$4,400	$4,000–$5,400	$4,600–$6,300	$5,600–$7,600	A multistate drive through hill country, winter exposure near the origin, Atlanta congestion, and destination parking can change arrival time and labor. Georgia 511.
Louisville, KY → Des Moines, IA	950 km	$1,950–$2,700	$2,700–$3,700	$3,500–$4,700	$4,100–$5,600	$5,100–$6,900	River crossings, wind, ice, construction, and long highway stretches affect travel; downtown access and a rural final mile should be priced separately. Iowa 511.
New York, NY → Detroit, MI	992 km	$1,700–$2,350	$2,400–$3,300	$3,100–$4,300	$3,800–$5,200	$4,800–$6,500	New York truck routes and curb access, tolls, several state systems, winter weather, shared truck space, and Detroit delivery access can change the quote. FHWA 511 directory.
Tampa, FL → New Orleans, LA	1,055 km	$2,000–$2,750	$2,800–$3,800	$3,500–$4,800	$4,200–$5,700	$5,200–$7,000	Gulf Coast storms, flooding, bridge and I-10 conditions, heat, and dense New Orleans loading access call for a written weather and waiting plan. Florida 511.

1,090–1,294 kilometer routes

Routes 21–25: about 1,090–1,294 kilometers. Each row shows the same five home-size assumptions and a route-specific factor that may change a real quote.
Route	Road distance	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3 bedrooms	4 bedrooms	5 bedrooms	What can change this route
Oklahoma City, OK → Denver, CO	1,090 km	$2,000–$2,750	$2,800–$3,800	$3,500–$4,800	$4,200–$5,800	$5,200–$7,100	Plains wind, winter closures, snow, elevation changes, long fuel intervals, and Denver parking or building reservations can affect timing and equipment. COtrip.
Washington, DC → Jacksonville, FL	1,144 km	$2,050–$2,800	$2,800–$3,900	$3,600–$4,900	$4,300–$5,800	$5,300–$7,200	I-95 bottlenecks, DC truck and curb rules, several state traffic systems, Atlantic storms, and Jacksonville heat or gate access can add time. FHWA 511 directory.
Miami, FL → Birmingham, AL	1,195 km	$2,050–$2,800	$2,800–$3,900	$3,600–$4,900	$4,300–$5,900	$5,300–$7,200	South Florida tolls and loading restrictions, tropical weather, long I-75/I-85 travel, heat, and Birmingham hills can change the working plan. Florida 511.
St. Louis, MO → Houston, TX	1,251 km	$2,400–$3,300	$3,200–$4,400	$4,000–$5,500	$4,700–$6,400	$5,800–$7,800	Long multistate travel, thunderstorms or flooding, fuel and rest planning, Houston traffic, heat, gates, and loading rules can affect delivery. DriveTexas.
Albuquerque, NM → Bakersfield, CA	1,294 km	$2,400–$3,300	$3,200–$4,400	$4,000–$5,500	$4,800–$6,500	$5,800–$7,900	I-40 high-desert travel, Flagstaff elevation and winter weather, Mojave heat, long service gaps, and California destination access require alternate stops and timing. Arizona 511.

How timing can change a real quote

Moving prices can change with provider capacity, weekday or weekend demand, month-end bookings, school calendars, closing dates, and the pickup or delivery window. Weather can also change the work: storms, snow, wildfire, heat, and road closures may affect scheduling, protection, or the route.

Do not apply one national seasonality percentage to a table value. Ask each provider for a complete written price for the dates that actually work, then compare pickup certainty, the delivery range, cancellation terms, storage exposure, housing overlap, and any building reservation that could make a cheaper date impractical.

What affects moving prices in reality

The belongings: Weight or volume, carton count, dense books, gym equipment, safes, pianos, artwork, fragile pieces, furniture preparation, and packing change the crew, truck space, and handling work. Give every mover the same room-by-room inventory.

The two addresses: Stairs, elevators, loading docks, building hours, parking, permits, gates, low clearances, long carries, narrow streets, hills, and the need for a smaller shuttle vehicle can matter more than a modest mileage difference. Send photographs or video before the estimate is finalized.

The route and delivery promise: Tolls, traffic, mountain passes, storms, winter closures, wildfire, heat, road work, storage, the delivery range, and whether your belongings stay on one truck or share space with other moves can affect scheduling and price. Check current conditions through the linked state travel-information systems near moving day.

The service: Loading and transportation do not automatically include packing, unpacking, custom crates, appliance preparation, storage, extra stops, damage protection, or added work caused by difficult access. Compare everything included in the written estimate, not only the headline price.

The company and contract: Interstate and same-state moves can follow different consumer rules. For an interstate move, confirm whether the company will move your belongings itself as the carrier or arrange another company as a broker. Check its current U.S. DOT record, identify the company that will physically transport the belongings, and obtain a written estimate. For a move contained within one state, check the state or local agency that regulates movers.

Replace the closest example with a price for your move

Start with the route nearest your expected distance and the home-size column closest to the belongings you plan to take. Use the Moveline moving calculator with the real ZIP codes, then prepare one item list and a record of access at both addresses. The table has done its job once it gives you a reasonable starting range and shows which facts must be confirmed.

For an interstate move, FMCSA recommends written estimates from several movers. Give each company the same item list, access details, dates, packing needs, delivery requirements, damage-protection choice, and possible extra work. A low estimate is not the lower complete price when it leaves out work you will need.

Use Moveline’s moving-company selection guide to verify the provider and the estimate-comparison guide to understand the price terms. For a shorter job, the local moving-cost guide explains labor, minimums, and travel charges; for a coast-to-coast move, use the cross-country cost guide.

Sources

Moveline moving calculator — route and price research checked August 2, 2026
OpenStreetMap contributors — route-distance data
Project OSRM — road-route calculations
U.S. Energy Information Administration: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update
FMCSA: Estimating Charges
FMCSA: Steps to Select a Mover
FMCSA: Search for a Registered Mover
FHWA: 511 Traveler Information

Average Moving Costs in the U.S. 2026: 25 Route Examples

The quick answer by home size and distance

Twenty-five moving-cost examples from about 90 to 1,290 kilometers

How timing can change a real quote

What affects moving prices in reality

Replace the closest example with a price for your move

Sources

Start Planning Your Move

Calculate Your Moving Cost

Join the Moveline Network

Do Not Sell