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Moving Guide

The Absolute Cheapest Way to Move Cross Country (All Options Ranked)

10 min read

Last year I helped a friend move from Boston to Phoenix. She got quotes ranging from $800 to $15,000 for the exact same amount of stuff.

The $15,000 option was full-service movers who pack, load, drive, and unload everything.

The $800 option was selling everything she owned and driving with her car packed full.

Both are valid. The question is: how much are you willing to sacrifice in convenience to save money?

After moving cross-country three times and helping a dozen friends do the same, I've tried every method. Some save massive amounts of money but require serious effort. Others are expensive but stress-free.

Let me rank every cross-country moving method from absolute cheapest to most expensive, with real costs, pros, cons, and who each method works for.

Method #1: Sell Everything, Drive Your Car ($500-$1,200)

The nuclear option. Sell all furniture and large items. Pack clothes and essentials in your car. Drive to new city.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix (2,400 miles):

  • Gas for car (30 MPG): $280
  • Hotels (2-3 nights): $180-$300
  • Meals on road: $80-$150
  • Shipping a few boxes USPS: $100-$200
  • Total: $640-$930

You'll spend $1,500-$2,500 buying used furniture at your destination, but that's not a "moving cost"—you'd eventually buy furniture anyway.

Pros

  • Cheapest possible method
  • Fastest (no loading/unloading trucks)
  • Fresh start with no junk
  • Flexible timing (leave whenever you want)

Cons

  • Lose sentimental furniture
  • Shopping for furniture is exhausting after moving
  • Only works if you don't own much or don't care about what you own
  • Can't bring large items (grandma's table, artwork, etc.)

Who This Works For

  • Recent college grads with IKEA furniture
  • Minimalists who own little
  • People with more time than money
  • Anyone whose furniture is worth less than shipping costs

Bottom line: Extreme but effective. Perfect for 20-somethings, terrible for families.

Method #2: Freight Trailer (You Load/Unload) ($1,200-$2,500)

Companies like ABF U-Pack or Old Dominion drop a trailer at your house, you load it, they drive it cross-country, you unload it.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix, 15 linear feet of a 28-foot trailer:

  • ABF U-Pack: $1,850
  • Old Dominion: $1,650
  • Loading help (TaskRabbit, 3 hours): $120
  • Unloading help: $120
  • Packing supplies: $50
  • Total: $1,940-$2,140

Pros

  • Way cheaper than full-service movers
  • You keep your furniture
  • Professional drivers handle the long haul
  • Pay only for space you use

Cons

  • You do all physical labor
  • Fixed pickup/delivery windows (less flexible)
  • Trailer parks on street (you carry stuff to it)
  • Need to recruit help or hire local labor

Who This Works For

  • People willing to trade labor for savings
  • Anyone with friends/family who will help
  • Remote workers with flexible schedules
  • People moving 1-3 bedrooms worth of stuff

Bottom line: Best value for most people. Saves $2,000-$4,000 vs movers with moderate effort.

Method #3: Rent Cargo Trailer, Tow With Your Vehicle ($1,300-$2,200)

Rent a U-Haul or Penske cargo trailer and tow it with your truck/SUV.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix with U-Haul 6x12 cargo trailer:

  • Trailer rental (one-way): $850
  • Gas for your vehicle towing (worse MPG): $450
  • Hotels: $200-$300
  • Meals: $100
  • Loading/unloading help: $150
  • Total: $1,750-$1,850

Pros

  • Cheaper than renting full truck
  • You control timing completely
  • Vehicle you're driving gets better MPG than rental truck
  • Can bring more stuff than just packing your car

Cons

  • Vehicle must be rated to tow 3,500+ lbs
  • Driving with trailer is stressful if inexperienced
  • Limited space (can't bring all furniture)
  • Worse gas mileage than normal driving

Who This Works For

  • People with trucks/SUVs capable of towing
  • Couples where one person drives car, other drives vehicle towing trailer
  • Anyone moving 1-bedroom worth of stuff
  • People comfortable driving with trailers

Bottom line: Great middle ground if you have a vehicle that can tow.

Method #4: Rent Moving Truck, Drive Yourself ($2,200-$4,800)

Classic DIY move. Rent 20-26 foot truck from U-Haul, Penske, or Budget.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix, 26-foot truck:

  • U-Haul truck rental: $2,600
  • Gas (220 gallons @ $3.50): $770
  • Hotels: $250
  • Meals: $120
  • Loading/unloading help: $300
  • Packing supplies: $60
  • Total: $4,100

Penske costs more upfront but gets better MPG:

  • Penske truck: $3,200
  • Gas (180 gallons @ $3.50): $630
  • Hotels: $250
  • Meals: $120
  • Help/supplies: $360
  • Total: $4,560

Pros

  • Can bring everything you own
  • Full control over timing and route
  • No middlemen or coordination
  • Cheaper than full-service movers

Cons

  • Driving a 26-foot truck across the country is exhausting
  • 3-4 days of travel time
  • You load and unload everything
  • Truck gets 8-10 MPG (gas adds up)

Who This Works For

  • People with lots of stuff
  • Families who need to bring everything
  • Anyone comfortable driving large vehicles
  • People who can take a week off work for the move

Bottom line: Standard DIY method. Saves money but requires effort and time.

Method #5: Portable Moving Container (PODS, U-Pack) ($2,800-$5,000)

Company drops a container at your house, you load it on your schedule (3-7 days), they pick it up and deliver to new address.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix, 16-foot container:

  • PODS: $4,200
  • U-Pack ReloCube (2 cubes): $3,400
  • Loading help: $150
  • Unloading help: $150
  • Total: $3,700-$4,500

Pros

  • Load at your own pace (no rush)
  • Company drives it (you don't)
  • Container sits at your house (no street parking)
  • Flexible scheduling

Cons

  • More expensive than freight trailers
  • Delivery can take 1-2 weeks
  • Need driveway/space for container
  • Sometimes requires permits from city

Who This Works For

  • People who want flexibility to load over several days
  • Anyone who can't take time off to drive cross-country
  • People with driveway space for container
  • Those willing to pay extra for convenience

Bottom line: Middle-tier cost. Good for people who value scheduling flexibility.

Method #6: Hybrid (Freight Trailer + Ship Some, Sell Some) ($2,000-$3,500)

Combine methods for optimal cost.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix:

  • Sell 40% of furniture (make $800)
  • Freight trailer for remaining furniture: $1,400
  • Ship 10 boxes via Greyhound/Amtrak: $300
  • Drive car full of essentials: $300 gas + $200 hotels
  • Gross cost: $2,200
  • Net cost after sales: $1,400

Pros

  • Optimizes for cost
  • Keeps only valuable/sentimental items
  • Cheaper than any single method
  • Declutters your life

Cons

  • Requires planning and coordination
  • Time-consuming (selling furniture takes weeks)
  • Need to buy replacement furniture
  • More complex logistics

Who This Works For

  • Strategic planners who want absolute cheapest option while keeping some furniture
  • People with 2-3 months to plan
  • Anyone okay with selling and replacing cheaper items

Bottom line: Best value if you have time to execute properly.

Method #7: You Pack, Movers Drive ($3,500-$7,000)

You pack and load, professional movers drive your stuff, you unload (or they do for extra cost).

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix, 3-bedroom house:

  • Container or truck (you-pack service): $4,200
  • Insurance: $150
  • Packing supplies: $100
  • Unloading help at destination: $300
  • Total: $4,750

Pros

  • Professional drivers (less stress)
  • You save money by doing packing/loading
  • Insurance available for damage
  • Delivery on specific dates

Cons

  • More expensive than full DIY
  • You still do physical work
  • Less control over timing than driving yourself
  • Need to finish loading by deadline

Who This Works For

  • People who can pack/load but don't want to drive cross-country
  • Families with kids (can't take 4 days to drive)
  • Anyone with valuable items who wants professional transport

Bottom line: Reasonable middle ground between DIY and full-service.

Method #8: Movers Pack, You Load Truck ($5,000-$8,500)

Movers come pack everything professionally, you load it into rental truck and drive.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix:

  • Professional packing service: $1,200-$2,000
  • Rental truck: $2,600
  • Gas: $770
  • Hotels: $250
  • Unloading help: $200
  • Total: $5,020-$5,820

Pros

  • Professionals pack fragile items correctly
  • You save money by driving yourself
  • Everything is insured during packing
  • Saves your time and stress on packing

Cons

  • Expensive for partial service
  • You still drive the truck
  • Packing happens in one day (strangers in your house all day)

Who This Works For

  • People with expensive/fragile items
  • Anyone with back problems who can't pack heavy boxes
  • Busy professionals who can't take time to pack

Bottom line: Pays for convenience where it matters most (packing) while saving on transport.

Method #9: Full-Service Movers (Basic) ($6,000-$12,000)

Movers pack, load, drive, and unload. You do nothing.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix, 3-bedroom house:

  • Base quote: $7,500
  • Packing materials: $300
  • Stairs/elevator fees: $200
  • Long carry fees: $150
  • Fuel surcharge: $250
  • Insurance/valuation: $200
  • Total: $8,600

And that's if nothing goes wrong. Add 20% for hidden fees that always appear.

Pros

  • Zero physical effort required
  • Professionals handle everything
  • Insurance covers damage
  • Fastest timeline (they do everything in days)

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Hidden fees stack up
  • Some companies hold stuff hostage for extra payment
  • Less control over timing

Who This Works For

  • Corporate relocations with employer paying
  • High earners who value time over money
  • Elderly or disabled people who can't do physical labor
  • Families with young kids who can't help

Bottom line: Convenient but costs 3-5X more than DIY options.

Method #10: White-Glove Full-Service Movers ($12,000-$25,000+)

The ultra-premium option. Pack, crate, insure, transport, unpack, arrange furniture.

Real Cost Breakdown

Boston to Phoenix, 4-bedroom house with high-value items:

  • Premium moving service: $18,000
  • Custom crating for art/antiques: $2,000
  • Full-value insurance: $800
  • Unpacking and setup: Included
  • Total: $20,800

Pros

  • Absolute white-glove treatment
  • Custom crating for valuables
  • They unpack and set up everything
  • Concierge-level service

Cons

  • Absurdly expensive
  • Only makes sense for wealthy people or corporate packages

Who This Works For

  • Executives with relocation packages
  • Wealthy individuals moving estates
  • Anyone moving museum-quality art or antiques

Bottom line: For the 1%. Irrelevant for normal people.

The Complete Cost Ranking

  1. Sell everything + drive car: $500-$1,200
  2. Hybrid method: $1,400-$3,500
  3. Freight trailer: $1,900-$2,500
  4. Tow cargo trailer: $1,750-$2,200
  5. Rent truck, drive yourself: $3,500-$4,800
  6. PODS/containers: $3,700-$5,000
  7. You pack, movers drive: $4,000-$7,000
  8. Movers pack, you drive: $5,000-$8,500
  9. Full-service movers: $6,000-$12,000
  10. White-glove service: $12,000-$25,000+

Which Method Should You Choose?

Choose "Sell Everything" If:

  • You're under 30 with minimal furniture
  • Furniture is cheap IKEA stuff worth less than shipping
  • You want ultimate simplicity
  • Budget is under $1,500 total

Choose "Freight Trailer" If:

  • You want best value for money
  • Willing to do loading/unloading
  • Moving 1-3 bedrooms worth
  • Budget is $2,000-$3,000

Choose "Rent Truck" If:

  • You have lots of furniture
  • Want complete control over timing
  • Comfortable driving large vehicles
  • Budget is $3,500-$5,000

Choose "PODS/Containers" If:

  • You need flexible loading timeline
  • Can't drive cross-country
  • Have driveway space
  • Budget is $4,000-$5,000

Choose "Full-Service Movers" If:

  • Employer is paying
  • You're physically unable to do labor
  • Time is more valuable than money
  • Budget is $8,000-$12,000

FAQ: Cheapest Moving Methods

Q: What's the absolute cheapest way? Sell everything, drive your car. Total cost under $1,000.

Q: What's the best value (cheap but not insane)? Freight trailer. Save $3,000+ vs movers with moderate effort.

Q: Can I move cross-country for under $2,000? Yes. Freight trailer, sell some furniture, do your own loading. Very doable.

Q: Is saving money worth the effort? Depends. Saving $5,000 by doing labor yourself is worth it to most people. You decide.

Q: What hidden costs do people forget? Gas (always more than estimated), hotels, meals, packing supplies, tipping movers, insurance.

Q: Should I get insurance? If using movers, yes. If DIY, your renters/homeowners insurance might cover in-transit items—check first.

Q: How far in advance should I book? 8-12 weeks for best prices and availability.

Bottom Line

You can move cross-country for $800 or $20,000. The difference is how much effort you're willing to put in.

Most people land in the $2,000-$5,000 range using freight trailers, rental trucks, or hybrid methods.

If you have more time than money, go DIY. If you have more money than time, hire movers.

There's no "right" answer—just the right answer for your situation.

Meta Description: From $800 to $15,000—we ranked every cross-country moving method by price with real costs and who each works for.

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