The Ultimate International Moving Cost Guide [2022]

Average International Moving Cost

International moving is a highly variable process. The final price you’ll pay will be unique to the specifics of your move. It’s impossible to estimate how much you’ll pay for an international move without knowing factors like:

• Where you’re going
• Where you need your shipment to be dropped off
• What types of items you are shipping
• What services you need

You might pay as low as $1,000 for a small move to a nearby, well-known destination –for example, from New York City to Montreal. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you might pay as much as $10,000 for a very large long-distance move—like moving from New York City to Auckland. The only way to determine exactly what you’ll pay is to get a binding estimate from a trusted international moving service provider.

Factors that Influence International Moving Cost

When setting a budget for your move, it can be helpful to know what moving companies consider when they price your move. Moving service providers will take the following factors into consideration when they provide you with a quote for your international move:

The Size of Your Move

One of the first factors that moving companies will consider when pricing your international move is the total weight of your shipment. International moves require specialized transportation where space is at a premium. This means that the more items you’re shipping, the more you can expect to pay. Many homeowners decide to downsize their homes before a move abroad, which helps reduce the total weight of their shipment.

The Distance You’re Traveling

The total distance that you’re traveling will play a major role in the total price you’ll pay. International moves often require air or sea freight, which is significantly more expensive than what you’d pay if you were moving via truck to another state within the country. This means that the further away from the United States you’re moving, the more you can expect your move to cost you.

Your Route

In addition to the distance that you’re traveling, your moving company will also price your move according to the route that you’re using to make it to your destination. Route and distance are not the same contributing factor. Some ports are very popular destination routes and more accessible, which lowers the cost of your move. A move from New York City to Montreal or New York City to London are both common moves that will cost comparatively less.

On the other hand, if you’re moving to an area with a less common transportation route, you’ll likely pay more, as your team will need to pay a premium to ensure delivery. For example, if you’re moving from New York City to Phnom Penh or from Seattle to Buenos Aires, you’ll need to save more money for your move.

Sea or Air Freight

There are two major types of international moving processes that you can choose from: sea freight and air freight. As the names suggest, sea freight is shipped via marine transport while air freight travels on a cargo airplane. Sea freight is less expensive than air freight but will arrive at your home later. Air freight is quicker but significantly more expensive.

Port-to-Port vs Door-to-Door Delivery

International moving companies also offer multiple types of delivery methods, including:

• Port-to-port: These shipments are shipped from a port of your choosing to an international port directly. While port-to-port shipments are less expensive than door-to-door service, you’re responsible for transporting all your things to the shipment port as well as any customs and taxes that you’ll need to pay when exporting your things. You’ll also need to arrange pickup at your location port abroad.
• Door-to-door: Door-to-door shipments are all-inclusive. Your moving company will arrive at your home to pick up your things and deliver them to your address of choice in the new country. Your moving company will be responsible for transporting your household goods to your port, shipping them abroad, managing customs clearance, and dropping your shipment off at your new property. While door-to-door moving provides you with a considerably less stressful move, the costs are considerably higher than port-to-port shipments.

Some moving companies also offer combination door-to-port or port-to-door services. Speak with a company representative provider before booking your move, as all moving companies don’t offer both delivery options.

Moving Insurance

Most moving companies will provide you with a basic level of insurance for your move, included with your quoted price. However, it’s highly recommended that you invest in additional moving insurance to protect your shipment, as replacing your belongings may be more difficult or more expensive away from home. Moving insurance costs can range from $100 to $1,000 or more depending on the total value of your shipment and your route.

Any Additional Services That You Schedule

Most international moving companies operate as full-service movers. This means that they often offer additional services beyond the basic transportation and loading assistance that you can expect from any moving company. Some of the most requested moving services for international moves include:

• Crating: If you’re shipping a large, awkwardly shaped, or exceptionally fragile item, you may need to invest in crating services to ensure that it arrives in your destination country intact. Professional moving companies can provide these services on your behalf. Crates will cost between $50 and $200 per item.
• Packing Services: If you need to streamline your moving process, you may want to hire your moving company to provide you with packing services. Purchasing packing services from your moving company ensures that all your items are packed safely and will give you access to professional-grade packing supplies. Packing can be expensive, ranging from $200 to $1,500+ depending on how many items you need to pack. Some movers will offer various levels, like full packing, partial packing, and fragile-only packing. This allows you to match your needs and budget more effectively.
• Car Shipping: International car shipping is significantly more complicated than shipping household goods like furniture and clothing overseas. Most full-service movers can help to connect you with professional car shipping companies as part of your moving package. Costs can range from $1,000 to $4,000+ per vehicle.

Any additional services that you schedule with your move will increase the total price that you’ll pay.

Storage Expenses

When moving between countries, storage can be very helpful. This will allow you to keep some items in your origin country, keep some items in your new country outside of your home, or simply help with the transition to your new home if you won’t be moving in right away.

The longer you need to store your items, the more you’ll pay for this service. Storage units typically start at around $100 per month. The larger the unit you need and the longer you need to rent it, the more you will pay.

Visa and Lawyer Fees

One of the first steps in the international moving process is ensuring that you can legally enter and reside in the country you’re headed to. Though this might sound like a basic consideration, many ex-pats underestimate the cost of the visa process. For example, if you’re moving to the United Kingdom, you can expect to pay around $2,000 for your settlement visa.

There are multiple types of international visas, and the visa that you’ll need to pursue will vary depending on where you’re moving to. In some cases, it is necessary to retain an immigration lawyer to assist you in the visa filing process, which adds an extra expense to your visa budget.

Pet Transportation

Moving your furry or fluffy friends to a new country involves more than just packing them up in a moving crate and giving them a little food like you would when you take them to the veterinarian. In order to bring your pet abroad, you’ll need to secure an International Health Certificate, which confirms that your pet is in good health. You’ll need to schedule an appointment with a USDA accredited veterinarian to receive your health certificate, which means that you’ll need to pay a vet appointment fee.

Most countries require pets entering the country to be vaccinated against rabies and undergo a rabies blood test to ensure that they will not be a threat to domestic animals. Some countries also require pets entering the country to be microchipped, which may cost an additional $45 to $100 depending on your veterinarian and the type of pet you own. If you’re traveling within Europe, you’ll also likely need to get a pet passport before your companion can enter the country.

How to Reduce Your International Moving Costs

As you can see, moving internationally can be an expensive process. However, with a little bit of organization and planning, you can control your moving expenses. Use the following tips to save money on your move:

Split Your Shipment Between Air & Sea

Though door-to-door air freight will arrive at your home quickly and with barely any effort on your part, shipping your entire home via air freight will not be financially feasible for most homeowners. However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll need to suffer while waiting for your sea freight to arrive. You can strategically split your shipment to sustain yourself until your full shipment is received.

When packing your things, create a separate pile for absolute must-haves that you cannot bring along with you on your flight. This might include things like clothing that doesn’t fit in your suitcase, basic cooking appliances and utensils, and electronics that you are not allowed to bring on the plane with you. Ship these items via air freight and schedule them to arrive at your new home shortly after you do. You can then ship the remainder of your things via sea freight.

Have a Packing Party

While you can easily hire a moving company to pack for you, it’s much more affordable to do your own packing. But that doesn’t mean that packing has to be boring. Consider holding a “packing party”, asking your friends and family to come over and help you pack up while enjoying some delicious food and drinks. A packing party is a perfect way to reconnect with your loved one before you move—and to save money on your packing services.

Comparison Shop

When you were purchasing a home, you probably didn’t buy the first one that you saw on the internet. When you were looking for a job, it’s likely that you didn’t only interview with one company. So why would you only get an estimate from a single moving company?

Shopping around is one of the most effective ways to lower what you’ll pay for your move. Getting at least three quotes from competing moving companies in your area allows you to compare prices and get the best rate. You may even be able to use competing quotes as leverage to secure a more affordable move from the company you really want to work with.

We recommend getting quotes for your international move as soon as you know when you need to move. Be sure to get all of your quotes in writing to ensure that your moving company will honor the quote that you received.

Move During the Off-Season

One way to significantly reduce your international moving cost is to move during the off-season, from September to March. The busy season for moving companies is during the summer months. This is when families with children have free time to move because their kids aren’t in school. Since it’s the busy season with greater demand, movers charge more to pack and ship. Try scheduling your move in the winter or early spring to reduce your cost.

Hold a Garage Sale

Holding a garage sale is a great way to get rid of things that you don’t want and earn a little cash for your upcoming move. As the size of your home plays a major role in the price that you’ll pay for your move, downsizing as much as possible will help you save before you move internationally.

Place a sign somewhere with lots of through traffic, like at the entrance to your neighborhood or a bulletin board at your local coffee shop. Set up your display early in the morning the day of your sale, around 6:00 or 7:00 am. This is when the bargain hunters usually begin their search. Then watch as people fill up your driveway to peruse your unwanted belongings.

Donate What You Can’t Sell

After you’ve held a garage sale to attempt to get rid of as much extra stuff as possible, now is the time to take stock of the rest and see what you can give away. Ideally, the items you have left would all be suitable to be given new life since you were trying to sell them anyway. You can use a charity navigator to find nonprofits accepting physical donations.

As you donate, focus on getting rid of larger items that would otherwise increase the weight of your move. Donating things like books and furniture will reduce the weight of your freight, saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You can even donate a piano or other large musical instrument.

If there is a homeless shelter in your neighborhood or a youth community center, they might also need the items you have left. Most places like this will also give you a receipt for tax purposes, allowing you to write off the donation.

Top International Moving Companies

Moving abroad is significantly more complicated than making a move to a new state—and it can also be much more expensive. The key to enjoying a more affordable move is to stay organized and begin the planning process as early as possible. We recommend that you start your search for international moving services by getting a quote from our three recommended moving providers listed above. Collecting multiple quotes helps you get a better idea of what you can do to limit your moving expenses and to get the best price possible.