Cheapest Ways to Move Across Country

The cheapest way to move across the country is to rent a moving truck and drive it yourself, which typically costs $1,500–$3,500 for a cross-country trip depending on truck size and distance. Other affordable options include portable moving containers ($3,000–$7,000), freight trailer services ($2,000–$5,000), and peer-to-peer shipping marketplaces like CitizenShipper where independent transporters bid on your move. Below is a full cost comparison of seven cross-country moving methods, ranked from least to most expensive, along with tips to cut costs further.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Move Across the Country?

The cheapest way to move across the country depends on how much time, effort, and convenience you’re willing to trade for cost savings. In most cases, self-driving with your pet is the lowest-cost option, while full-service relocation companies are the most expensive.

1. Self-drive with pet: ~$300–$1,500 (fuel, food, lodging)
2. Ground transport marketplace (e.g., driver bidding services): ~$200–$1,000+
3. Shared ground transport routes: ~$300–$900+
4. In-cabin airline travel (small dogs only): ~$125–$200 + your ticket ($300–$800 total)
5. Airline cargo (large dogs): ~$300–$1,200+
6. Flight nanny service: ~$500–$1,500+
7. Full-service pet relocation companies: ~$1,000–$6,000+

For most pet owners, ground transport marketplaces typically offer the best balance of affordability and safety, while airline options become more expensive due to fees, restrictions, and added logistics. Full-service providers are the most convenient but come at a premium for door-to-door handling.

1. Do-It-Yourself

Opting for a do-it-yourself long-distance move is your cheapest option. This option has the lowest overheads BUT don’t fall into the common trap of not calculating the cost of gas and potential accommodation if your trip requires an overnight stay. 

Gas Price

If you are going to be moving states aka across the country and you want to drive yourself you need to accurately calculate gas price to ensure you stick to your budget. First, decide which vehicle you will take. Will you hire a van or pack everything into your own station wagon. Then use a handy online calculator to determine your gas price. Keep in mind gas prices can vary city to city and state to state so add an extra 5-7 percent to account for these changes. 

Renting a Truck Price

If you don’t own a vehicle large enough to move all your stuff you will need to rent one. The price of renting a truck is influenced by many factors including its size, how long you need to drive, if you will return it, and possibly your age and driving record too. Get several quotes before deciding which company to go with and don’t be afraid to haggle.  

Additional Expenses

You may need to hire or buy extra equipment such as a moving trolley, blankets, or straps. Take all this into account. Cut costs by borrowing from friends or looking for items on your local second-hand market. 

2. Hire Professional Movers

Hiring a moving company is an easy way to move across the country but it certainly isn’t the cheapest. But depending on when you move it can still be affordable.

Cost-effective tricks

If you are flexible with your moving dates and are planning well up-front, try to schedule your long-distance move from mid-September through April. Avoiding the peak moving season (late spring through summer) can save you up to a whopping 30% of the price you would pay during the peak moving season. This is an elegant cost-effective trick to saving a lot of money. 

Research potential companies well. Ask for a discount if you provide assistance for loading and unloading and see if they have any deals for moving during the week instead of the weekends. Triple-check what your moving company’s policy is for handling bulky items, carrying goods up and down the stairs, and hoisting service. You don’t want to get stuck with any unexpected costs. 

Finding both an inexpensive and reliable moving company for a cross-country move can feel like winning the lottery. One smart way to feel this lucky is to check out CitizenShipper. At CitizenShipper, you can simply post your shipment by providing basic details about the household items you are moving, as well as the pickup and drop-off location. You will then receive quotes from reliable moving companies. And the best part about it is that you can check the reviews of the previous customers who have already used the services of the companies that have sent you the quotes. Also, you can start chatting with the movers. Ask them all the questions you have about the possible expenses. It’s an easy and enjoyable experience and can save you some bucks. CitizenShipper can also help you find a reliable and safe transporter for your pet! Many of the drivers on the site specialize in moving dogs and cats long-distance and have the appropriate experience and equipment to make the move a breeze.

3. Rent a Moving Container

A moving container is a large box that gets dropped off at your house, you fill it with your stuff, and then it gets spiked up and moved. This can be cheaper than renting a truck or driving yourself as shipping companies can combine many containers in one laid to reduce the costs. It can also be really handy as you can have several days before it’s picked up to pack your container – making the moving process much smoother. 

However, depending on how far you need to move this can be expensive as the company may charge you for the cost of the container getting returned. Check the fine print before signing a deal.

The price of renting a moving container will depend on the container’s size and the distance of the move. For example, a three-bedroom apartment moved over 150 miles can cost you around 1,350 USD. Moving a studio over the same distance can cost as low as 1,125 USD. You can get a quote for your own needs, depending on the moving distance and the size of the container, if you use companies such as PODS.

Sell Everything and Rebuy at Your Destination

In extreme budget situations, it can actually be cheaper to sell most of your belongings before moving and repurchase essentials after you arrive. This strategy works best when the cost of transporting large household items outweighs their resale value or replacement cost.

Start by comparing estimated moving or shipping costs for furniture, appliances, and bulky items against what you could realistically sell them for locally. For example, moving a sofa, bed frame, and dining set across the country might cost $800–$2,000 in transport fees alone, while selling them could generate partial cash value and eliminate the shipping expense entirely.

This approach is especially useful for renters, students, or people relocating to lower-cost housing markets where used furniture is widely available. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and local thrift stores make it relatively easy to rebuild your setup affordably.

While this method reduces stress and moving logistics significantly, it does require time, flexibility, and willingness to start fresh with secondhand or budget replacements at your destination.

How to Move Across Country on a Budget: 8 Money-Saving Tips

Moving across the country can get expensive quickly, but there are several practical ways to cut costs without sacrificing reliability or safety.

1. Declutter before you move
Sell, donate, or discard items you don’t need. The less you move, the less you pay in transport, fuel, or shipping fees.

2. Move during the off-peak season (September–April)
Demand drops outside of summer, which often means lower prices and more negotiating power with carriers.

3. Get 3–5 quotes from different providers
Whether you’re using ground transport, rental trucks, or shipping services, comparing multiple bids can significantly reduce your total cost.

4. Use free moving boxes
Check grocery stores, liquor stores, Craigslist, or Buy Nothing groups for sturdy used boxes instead of buying new ones.

5. Book early
Prices tend to rise as your move date approaches, especially during peak weekends and month-end periods.

6. Compare one-way vs. round-trip truck rentals
Sometimes returning a rental truck to its origin location is cheaper than a one-way drop-off fee—or vice versa.

7. Ask about discounts
Many providers offer military, student, senior, or AAA discounts that aren’t always advertised.

8. Ship small items separately
For lightweight boxes, services like pointer align-baseline”>United States Postal Service Media Mail or United Parcel Service Ground can be more cost-effective than moving them with a full shipment.

Use a Peer-to-Peer Shipping Marketplace

A peer-to-peer shipping marketplace is one of the most flexible and cost-efficient ways to move items across the country, especially when you don’t want to deal with traditional moving companies or fixed-price shipping services. Instead of being assigned a carrier, you take control of the process by posting your shipment details and letting independent transporters compete for your job.

One of the best-known platforms in this space is CitizenShipper. The process is simple: you create a listing describing what you need moved—whether it’s household furniture, boxes of personal items, or even a pet—and drivers in the network submit bids. These transporters are typically background-checked and reviewed by previous customers, which helps add a layer of trust and transparency.

Once quotes start coming in, you can compare pricing, delivery timelines, vehicle types, and customer ratings. This makes it easier to balance cost with reliability instead of being locked into a single provider’s pricing structure. You also have the ability to message drivers directly, ask questions about their experience, and clarify logistics before booking.

This model works well for a wide range of moves, including furniture relocation, partial household shipments, and specialty transport like motorcycles or outdoor equipment. It’s also widely used for pet transport, where door-to-door service and individualized care are often preferred over cargo-based alternatives.

Because drivers are competing for your shipment, pricing can often be significantly lower than traditional moving companies—especially on popular routes where transporters are already traveling. At the same time, you gain more visibility into who is handling your belongings or pets.

After selecting a transporter, you book directly through the platform and coordinate pickup and delivery details. This combination of flexibility, competition, and transparency is what makes peer-to-peer shipping marketplaces an increasingly popular option for cross-country moves.

Final Words

Knowing your budget before researching your cross-country move is essential. Then from there, it’s just a matter of research and forward-thinking to ensure the journey stays cheap. Check out our blog for other useful articles about long-distance moves on a budget. 

Frequently Asked Questions