2024 Study: Moving Costs Set To Reach a Five-Year High
Posted in: I'm Moving, Money Saving, Moving AdviceKey Findings
- The nationwide average cost of moving is projected to be the highest on record, based on HireAHelper data ($420)
- Overall cost of moving is up 2% over last year, based on HireAHelper data for the first five months of 2024
- Rhode Island (+18%) and Louisiana (+18%) are seeing the highest spikes in average price of local moves
- Missouri (-98%), Illinois (-7%), and Florida (-3%) had the greatest moving cost DECREASES so far in 2024
- The cost of moving in San Diego, CA has charted 26% higher than last year so far in 2024
In last year’s Moving Cost Survey, we found that more than half (52%) of our respondents had no plans to move in 2024, stating they couldn’t afford it. Unfortunately, the economy has likely done little to help change their minds over the last year.
During the first five months of 2024, the average move has cost about 2% more than during the same 5-month span in 2023. That’s especially notable because we haven’t even hit the peak moving summer months in 2024!
In this year’s study, we examine all the trends impacting the cost of moving, check where moving is spiking the most and where it may be getting cheaper, and see what those who plan on moving can expect to pay this year.
On Track for New Highs: Moving Costs To Average Above $400 in 2024
According to our data of tens of thousands of booked moves nationwide, the average price of a move has stayed above $400 in the first five months of 2024, which is the highest total since we began tracking it over five years ago. (Granted, as inflation is intrinsic to the modern-day U.S. economy, prices for most things will gradually rise over time.)
“Of the 40 states for which we have sufficient data, 30 saw an increase in the average price for a local move.”
Looking back at the previous high, the average cost of moving hasn’t gotten this high since 2022, back when costs reached a then historic high (as did inflation, overall). That said, 2022 was marked by an incredibly steep 10% increase in the average price of moving between April and May of that year (arguably related to postponed pandemic moves). In comparison, this year saw an increase during the same period of only 2% greater than the year before it, which is more or less in line with inflation.
How high will it go?
Having already reached $411 in May, our projections are that average prices will peak at $438 by August.
That would be off the 2022 high of $454, but still 4% higher than last year’s peak of $420.
Our overall 2024 projections (which do account for expected seasonality rises) suggest that the average cost of moving will remain above $400 throughout all points of 2024.
All in all, 2024 will end with an overall average cost of moving at $420. Again, this would make 2024 the most expensive year for moving since we began keeping records in 2018. We will break down what you can do to lower those costs — but first, let’s break down where prices are rising and falling the most.
See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.
Read real customer reviews.
Easily book your help online.
Where Moving Costs Have Surged (Rhode Island and Louisiana) and Fallen (Florida and Illinois)
Where is the cost of moving increasing?
The unfortunate answer is, almost everywhere. Of the 40 states for which we have sufficient data, 30 saw an increase in the average price for a local move. In fact, in nine states that cost increase has been in the double digits, year-over-year.
“…as the demand for moving services increased, the price tended to follow, which may explain why moving in (big) cities will be more expensive this year.”
The states where the cost of moving has jumped the most are Rhode Island (+18%), and Louisiana (+15%), where the year-over-year increase has been 15% or higher.
It’s worth noting that a big contributor to this has been gas prices (as gas prices heavily inform the price at which movers full-service movers will quote); and gas prices have been spiking in both Louisiana and Rhode Island. Another explanation could simply be the growing demand for moving services, as all three states show an increase in moving activity in the first five months of 2024, compared to the same period last year.
In more encouraging news, the average price of a move has gone down in some key states that see a lot of moving activity throughout the year.
The states where moving costs have decreased the most on average are Florida (-3%), North Carolina (-4%), and, most notably, Illinois, where moving is 7% cheaper on average than it was last year.
Moving Costs by City in 2024: How Demand and Competition Affect Moving Costs in U.S. Cities
At the city level, the change in moving costs is spread somewhat more evenly, as roughly the same number of cities saw costs both rise and fall, year-over-year.
San Diego, CA (+30%) is the city where the average price of a local move in the first five months of 2024 has grown most significantly, compared to the same period in 2023.
In fact, Colorado Springs, CO is the only other city that has seen the cost of moving increase by 20% or more year-over-year in 2024. Two cities in Ohio, Cleveland, OH (+16%) and Columbus, OH (+13%), also made the list of the top 10 cities with the most significant spikes in moving costs.
| City | Year-over-year change in moving costs | City | Year-over-year change in moving costs | |
| San Diego, CA | +26% | Los Angeles, CA | -23% | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | +22% | Seattle, WA | -19% | |
| Savannah, GA | +16% | St. Louis, MO | -19% | |
| Cleveland, OH | +16% | Cary, NC | -13% | |
| Columbus, OH | +13% | Chicago, IL | -13% | |
| Virginia Beach, VA | +13% | Orlando, FL | -13% | |
| Summerville, SC | +12% | Arlington, VA | -12% | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | +12% | Ocala, FL | -12% | |
| Tucson, AZ | +11% | St. Augustine, FL | -11% | |
| Knoxville, TN | +10% | Alexandria, VA | -10% |
One thing the cities with rising costs have in common is that a higher number of moves occurred in most of them in 2024, compared to 2023. In other words, as the demand for moving services increased, the price tended to follow, which may explain why moving in these cities will be more expensive this year.
The Cities Moving Prices Have Fallen in 2024
Elsewhere, moving appears to be getting less expensive in big cities, as the prices have dropped significantly in Los Angeles, CA (-24%), Seattle, WA (-23%), St. Louis, MO (-20%), and Chicago, IL (-15%).
This doesn’t always mean fewer people are moving in and out of these cities, but, rather, another market force is at play – competition! In most big cities where the cost of moving decreased the most this year, the number of companies offering moving services increased year-over-year.
To see how the moving costs have changed in 2024 in all the cities, check our interactive map below.
When Moving Gets Expensive: Our Top Tips for Saving Money on Your Move
For all those planning to move this year, the prospect of paying more for their move is hardly good news. Many find moving stressful as it is (though it doesn’t have to be) and the last thing they want to worry about is how much more they’ll have to pay for it.
Not to worry, because we’ve got you covered with our tried and tested advice on how to save money on your move.
Here are our top 10 tips:
- Declutter and get rid of stuff you no longer need or use
- Use your belongings as packing materials to save space and reduce the need for additional supplies.
- Avoid buying packing and moving supplies (collect free boxes, use your own blankets as packing materials)
- Avoid peak moving season (May through September).
- Schedule your move on weekdays, but avoid rush hour to prevent additional costs from traffic delays.
- Consider hiring loading and unloading help while doing the driving yourself — a hybrid move.
- Consider portable moving containers (they’re a good middle ground between DIY and full-service moves).
- Ask rental truck stores if they’ll give a discount for dropping a truck off at a different nearby location!
- Even if you hire full-service movers, pre-pack as much as possible into your own car (if you have one).
- To get a list of all your best moving options sorted by value, check HireAHelper.com.
You can read more about practical and creative ways to save money on your move, even if you’re moving in the summer, aka peak moving season.
