Local moving costs in 22 U.S. metro areas

Data from Lugg, analyzing hundreds of thousands of local moves across 22 U.S. metro areas, reveals that the typical local move has a median cost of approximately $145. New York City was identified as the most expensive metro for local moves at about $155, while Salt Lake City was the most affordable at roughly $95.

Key trends indicate that August is the busiest month for moving, often driven by lease turnovers and students returning to school. Most local moves are small in scale, with 96% fitting into a van or smaller vehicle, and the median distance traveled has decreased from 8.5 miles in 2022 to 6.4 miles in 2026. The couch is the most frequently moved item, appearing in about 1 in 5 moves. Pickup trucks remain the most commonly booked vehicle across all studied metropolitan areas.