The 8 Cheapest Ways to Move Cross Country in 2026

GSC data shows "cheapest option for moving cross country" is among the most searched moving queries. All 8 methods are ranked from cheapest to most expensive for a 1-bedroom home moving 1,500 miles. Includes uncommon methods most guides skip entirely.

Cost Ranking: 1BR Home, 1,500 Miles

Rank	Method	Cost (1BR, 1,500 mi)	Who Does the Work
#1	Personal Vehicle + Small Trailer	$300 - $800	Studio or minimal 1BR with a sturdy tow vehicle
#2	Ship Boxes + Fly	$400 - $1,200	Graduates, young renters with minimal furniture, or anyone willing to sell furniture and rebuy
#3	Cargo Trailer Rental	$500 - $1,200	Lightly furnished 1BR with a capable tow vehicle
#4	Rent a Moving Truck (DIY)	$1,400 - $2,500	Budget-conscious movers who are physically fit and comfortable driving large vehicles
#5	Freight Trailer (U-Pack / ABF)	$1,800 - $3,200	Budget-conscious movers with 1-3 bedroom homes who do not want to drive a truck
#6	Moving Container (PODS, U-Pack ReloCube)	$2,000 - $4,000	Anyone who wants to avoid driving a truck but can still load and unload
#7	Hybrid: Container + Hire Local Labor	$2,200 - $4,500	People who want full-service convenience without full-service prices
#8	Full-Service Movers (Self-Pack)	$3,000 - $5,500	Movers who want professional handling but want to control packing to save $300-$800

1

Personal Vehicle + Small Trailer

$300 - $800 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

Rent a small U-Haul cargo trailer (5x8 or 6x12) and tow it with your car. Works for studios and light 1BR apartments with minimal furniture.

Pros

Cheapest possible option
You control the driving schedule
No rental truck insurance needed

Cons

Limited to what fits in a small trailer (typically 1,000-1,800 lbs)
Reduces fuel economy significantly (30-40% worse)
Not suitable for 1BR+ with a full furniture set

Best for: Studio or minimal 1BR with a sturdy tow vehicle

Skip if: Anyone with more than basic furniture or without a tow-capable vehicle

2

Ship Boxes + Fly

$400 - $1,200 (Studio, 1,500 miles)

Ship all your possessions in boxes via USPS, UPS, or FedEx, then fly to your destination. Works only if you have minimal furniture to move or plan to sell/donate furniture.

Pros

Cheapest for studios with minimal furniture
No driving required
Flexible timeline

Cons

Not practical with furniture
Box shipping costs add up quickly (typically $20-$60/box depending on weight and service)
Requires selling or donating most furniture

Best for: Graduates, young renters with minimal furniture, or anyone willing to sell furniture and rebuy

Skip if: Anyone with a full furniture set

3

Cargo Trailer Rental

$500 - $1,200 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

Rent a larger enclosed cargo trailer (12x7 or 15x8) from U-Haul or similar. Tow with your vehicle. More capacity than a small trailer but still limited to tow vehicle capacity.

Pros

Cheaper than a full moving truck
You drive your car (more comfortable)
Good for lightly furnished 1BR

Cons

Requires adequate tow vehicle (usually a full-size truck or SUV)
Fuel economy drops significantly
Limited to ~3,000 lbs

Best for: Lightly furnished 1BR with a capable tow vehicle

Skip if: Anyone without a suitable tow vehicle or with heavy furniture

4

Rent a Moving Truck (DIY)

$1,400 - $2,500 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

Rent a 15-26 foot truck from U-Haul, Penske, or Budget Truck. You pack, load, drive, and unload everything. Fuel not included (budget $400-$900 for cross-country).

Pros

Most capacity per dollar
You control the moving schedule completely
Good for 1-3 bedroom homes

Cons

You do everything physically
Driving a 26-foot truck cross-country is stressful
Add fuel ($400-$900), hotels ($300-$500), and meals ($100-$200)

Best for: Budget-conscious movers who are physically fit and comfortable driving large vehicles

Skip if: Anyone who has never driven a large vehicle, has back problems, or is moving a 4+ bedroom home

5

Freight Trailer (U-Pack / ABF)

$1,800 - $3,200 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

ABF U-Pack delivers a freight trailer to your home. You load your portion of the trailer (you pay for linear feet used). ABF transports as part of their freight network. 3-7 business day transit.

Pros

Significantly cheaper than containers for larger loads
You do not drive the truck
Faster transit than many container services

Cons

Loading requires ground-level access (no ramps in some areas)
Timeline driven by ABF network schedule
You must load and unload yourself

Best for: Budget-conscious movers with 1-3 bedroom homes who do not want to drive a truck

Skip if: Anyone in a dense urban area without loading dock access

6

Moving Container (PODS, U-Pack ReloCube)

$2,000 - $4,000 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

Company delivers a container to your driveway. You load at your pace (typically 3-7 days). Company picks it up and transports it. You unload at destination. PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT, U-Pack ReloCubes.

Pros

You load at your own pace
No driving a large truck
Can serve as temporary storage
Good for most home sizes

Cons

More expensive than truck rental
You still do the loading and unloading
Urban delivery may not be possible in tight areas

Best for: Anyone who wants to avoid driving a truck but can still load and unload

Skip if: Anyone in a dense urban area where a container cannot be parked

7

Hybrid: Container + Hire Local Labor

$2,200 - $4,500 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

Rent a moving container and hire local labor-only movers (not a carrier) to load and unload. Services like HireAHelper or TaskRabbit connect you with local crews for $100-$200/hr.

Pros

Avoids driving a truck
Avoids loading and unloading yourself
Often cheaper than full-service movers
Container handles transport flexibility

Cons

Coordination between two services
Cost savings narrow if labor is expensive

Best for: People who want full-service convenience without full-service prices

Skip if: Anyone who needs guaranteed same-day loading and delivery windows

8

Full-Service Movers (Self-Pack)

$3,000 - $5,500 (1BR, 1,500 miles)

Hire full-service movers but pack all your own boxes (most expensive line item). Movers handle loading, transport, and unloading. You supply packed boxes only.

Pros

Professional loading and unloading
No driving required
More affordable than full packing service

Cons

Most expensive method on this list
You still need to do all the packing

Best for: Movers who want professional handling but want to control packing to save $300-$800

Skip if: Budget-constrained movers who can consider any of the above options

The "Sell and Rebuy" Strategy

For people moving a 2-bedroom home filled with IKEA-style furniture, this radical approach sometimes makes financial sense: sell everything on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Nextdoor before the move. Ship boxes of irreplaceable items (books, electronics, clothes, kitchen tools) via USPS. Fly to the destination. Rebuy furniture on arrival using the proceeds from selling.

When it works: Your furniture has some resale value (IKEA items sell for 40-60% of retail on Facebook Marketplace), and you can rebuy new or used furniture at the destination for similar or lower prices. For a 2BR with $8,000 worth of inexpensive furniture: sell for $3,500, ship boxes for $400, fly for $300, rebuy at destination for $5,000 total -- versus paying $5,500 to $7,500 for a container move. Net savings: up to $2,000 plus a fresh start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move cross country for under $1,000?

Yes, but only with minimal belongings. A studio or efficiency apartment with basic furniture and limited items can be moved for under $1,000 using a personal vehicle with a small trailer ($300-$800) or by shipping boxes via USPS/UPS and flying ($400-$900 for a studio). For anyone with a full 1-bedroom or larger home, moving for under $1,000 is not realistic unless you sell most of your furniture before moving.

What is the cheapest option for moving cross country?

The cheapest way to move cross country is using your personal vehicle with a small U-Haul trailer ($300-$800 for a light 1BR, 1,500 miles). If you have too much for a trailer, the next cheapest options are: rent a cargo trailer ($500-$1,200), ship boxes via USPS/UPS and fly ($400-$1,200 for studios), or rent a moving truck ($1,400-$2,500 for a 1BR). See our savings guide for additional ways to cut costs regardless of method.