International Moving Costs: How Much Does It Cost to Move to Another Country?

It is often said that when you move to a new place you find yourself in a new world – new surroundings, new community, new lifestyle…

This can’t be truer than when moving to another country – it is, quite literally, a whole new world. And, therefore, a whole new level of challenging. You’ll have to adapt to a new culture, get used to new social practices, maybe even learn a new language – not to mention the Gordian task of planning and organizing a successful international move.

Moving countries is not just a big step in one’s life – it’s a giant leap into the unknown that brings a myriad of emotions, concerns, and questions. And one of the most troublesome questions that comes to mind is “How much does it cost to move internationally?”

If moving across the country is so costly, then moving across the world must be sky-high expensive. And, indeed, the typical international moving costs can easily exceed $10,000 for distant overseas moves.

The cost of moving to another country, however, depends on a great number of factors and you need to take them all into account in order to be able to make a realistic budget for your international relocation.

Here is everything you need to know when calculating international moving costs:

Key Costs of Moving Abroad

There are several significant costs to consider when moving internationally:

1) Cost of shipping household goods overseas

The biggest expense you’ll have when moving abroad is the cost of shipping your belongings from your current home to your new residence in your destination country.

International moving shipping costs are calculated based on the volume or weight of the goods, the required moving services, the type of transport used, the relocation distance, the relocation route, and the time of year when the move takes place. (See below for details)

Good to know: When shipping your items overseas, you will most likely need to pay for professional packing as well.

It is highly advisable to have your belongings professionally packed when moving abroad, so that they have a better chance to survive the risky trip to your new country intact and unscathed. Besides, international movers are not liable for items not packed by them.

Depending on where you’re moving to, you may not have the option to pack your belongings yourself at all – some countries require the moving company to vouch for the goods being shipped (to ensure that nothing illegal is imported), so your movers will have to do the packing.

2) Cost of shipping a vehicle overseas

If you want to ship your car to your new country, you need to add a couple of thousand dollars to your international moving budget – vehicle shipping costs start at around $700 and can reach $4,000 or more, depending on the size and weight of the vehicle, the chosen international car shipping method, the distance to the destination country, and the applicable overseas destination taxes and charges.

You can find more details on how to ship a car overseas here.

3) Moving insurance costs

Most international moving companies provide basic insurance coverage as part of their service, but you’re highly recommended to pay a little extra for a more comprehensive insurance policy.

Moving insurance costs are based on the value of the goods and can be anywhere between $100 and $1,000 or more (if transporting high-value items).

4) Customs duty charges and taxes

Most countries have duty-free policies for importing used household goods for personal use. Yet, there are many specific requirements that vary from country to country, so you may need to pay customs duty for certain goods (such as a motor vehicle, for example).

Customs charges and fees are based on the type and value of the goods, but the global average for customs duties is about 1.8% of an item’s purchased value.

5) Storage costs

Storage is often needed when moving internationally – you may need to fly to your new country before your items are shipped (so your goods will need a place to wait), you may need to keep your belongings somewhere safe while looking for an appropriate home in your new country, etc.

Storage costs are based on the size of the storage space you need, the desired extra features (climate control, high-end security, etc.), and the storage period. You can expect to pay about $300 a month for a storage unit that can accommodate the contents of a typical 3-bedroom home.

6) Visa fees

You may or may not need a visa when moving abroad, depending on your destination country and the reason for your move (work, study, retirement, etc.). Every country has its own specific visa requirements and different types of visas have different fees, so be sure to contact the nearest Foreign Consular Office of the country you’re moving to and ask for additional information on visas and their prices well before your move date.

Visas can cost anywhere between $150 and $2500 and this fee needs to be paid each time the visa is renewed.

7) Travel costs

When moving to another country, you’ll probably need to fly there a few times before the actual relocation. Then, when the time comes to finally make the move, you’ll have to buy plane tickets for you and all your family members, of course.

This could be quite a big expense, so be sure not to overlook it when making your international moving budget. Airfare will depend on where you’re flying to, the time of the year (high or low season), and how much luggage you want to bring.

You can save some money on travel costs by booking your flight well in advance.

Good to remember: If you want to bring your pet(s) along, be sure to ask your chosen airline about their pet policy. It may be possible for your animal friends to travel in the cabin with you, or they may have to travel in a special cargo compartment within the aircraft (in suitable pet carriers). Have in mind that insurance and certain medical certificates will be required when moving pets abroad (make sure you check your new country’s import regulations).

You can find additional information on how to move pets overseas here.

8) Accommodation costs

It is very difficult to find an appropriate new home for you and your family from afar, so you’ll most likely need temporary accommodation after arrival in your new country – you’ll need a place to stay for a couple of months until you get to know your new city, decide where exactly you want to live, and find a suitable property to buy or to rent.

So, when estimating your international moving costs, don’t forget to plan for extended hotel stays or other short-term accommodations and make sure you have enough money for initial housing expenses (down payment on a house or a few months’ rent, security deposits, insurance taxes, services connection fees, etc.).

Good to remember:

• Keep in mind that property taxes and fees vary from country to country and make sure you understand all the charges you’ll be liable for when buying/renting a property in your new country;
• You may need to buy furniture, appliances, and various other everyday items for your new home (unless you’ve shipped all your household items and furnishings to your new country), so you should budget for the cost of furnishings as well;
• Find out the cost of living in your new country and make sure you have the finances to cover your living expenses for at least three or four months after the move.

Factors That Determine International Moving Costs

To be able to calculate your international moving costs, first you need to figure out the cost of shipping your belongings to your new country (your biggest expense when moving abroad). And to do so, you need to know what factors determine the final price and how your specific relocation needs and requirements will affect the amount you’ll have to pay.

So, how much does it cost to ship household goods overseas? International moving companies’ costs are based on seven main factors:

1) The size of your move

The more items you have for moving, the higher the shipping costs will be, of course. The price will be determined either by the volume or the weight of your goods, depending on the type of transportation you choose:

# When shipping by sea, it is the volume of your goods that matters:

• If you’re moving a one- or two-bedroom home, your belongings will fit in a 20ft shipping container;
• If you’re moving a three- or four-bedroom home (or taking your car to your new home), you’ll need a 40ft container.

The cost to ship a 20ft container to another country is about 25% less than the cost of shipping a 40ft container the same distance, so the volume of your goods will determine how much you’ll have to pay for your international move.

Good to know: If your shipment requires less than a full container, you may be able to reduce your moving costs by using groupage (Less than Container Load or LCL, also known as a shared container as your items will be sharing the container space with other customers’ shipments). This is the most cost-effective option for very small moves, but it is slower and riskier – your belongings can be lost or damaged when the container is opened for loading and unloading other shipments. So, unless you’re moving only a few boxes, Full Container Load (FCL) is your better option – you’ll be paying for the entire shipping container, but your goods will be safer, the delivery will be faster, and it will be cheaper in terms of cost per cubic meter (most shipping companies charge a flat rate for the use of the container, so you may have to pay for more space than your goods actually take).

# When shipping by air, the weight of your goods will determine the cost – you’ll have to pay a certain amount per pound of your shipment.

Bonus tip: To reduce your international moving shipping costs, you’re advised to pare down your possessions before the move and relocate only items that you really need and love – consider the specifics of your new country (climate, importation regulations, etc.), the type of residence you’re going to live in, your new lifestyle after the relocation, the value of your possessions, and the risk of moving them at such a great distance and make a rational decision about what to take to your new home. You can find an exemplary international packing list and some expert tips on what to pack for moving abroad here.

2) The moving services you need

Depending on the type of your goods, your particular relocation needs and requirements, and the specifics of your origin and destination locations, some additional moving services may be required:

• Delicate items and specialty items may need extra protection – specialized packing materials, custom crating services, etc.;
• Larger furniture may require disassembly or hoisting services;
• The access to your origin and/or destination properties may be limited, so you may need shuttles services or the movers may have to carry your items for a long distance between the moving truck and the entrance to your home;
• Your items may need to be transported at a great distance from your current home to the nearest major seaport or airport from where they can be shipped to your new country (or from the port where they arrive in your destination country to your new home);
• Your goods may have to be put in storage while awaiting further transportation;
• You may need your items delivered within a specific timeframe;
• You may want additional insurance coverage.

Each of these extra moving services will incur an extra cost, so the final price of your international move will go up.

3) The transportation method

The mode of transport you choose to move your goods to your new country will determine both the shipping costs and the time it will take your belongings to arrive:

• Air freight is quicker, but much more expensive;
• Sea freight is cheaper, but much slower.

Therefore, it makes sense to ship your most important and most essential belongings by air, as they will arrive within days and to use sea freight for the rest of your goods.

Regardless of whether you choose air shipment or sea shipment, trucks will almost always be needed to take your shipment from your home to the seaport or airport (and the other way around upon arrival in your new country).

International moves within the same continent are usually done entirely by truck (if you’re moving from the United States to Canada or Mexico, for example).

4) The pickup and delivery method

There are different types of international moves, depending on whether the pickup and delivery of your items are performed at your address or at a port:

• Port-to-Port Moves – With this option, you’re responsible for getting your goods to the port of origin, the shipping company transports them to the destination port, and then you take them to your new home. Port-to-port shipping rates are lower than other international moving shipping costs, but you will have to organize (and pay for) the transportation of your items from your old home to the origin port and from the destination port to your new address;
• Door-to-Door Moves – With door-to-door moving, your hired international movers take care of your relocation from start to finish – they’re responsible for picking up your goods at your home, getting them to the port, shipping them to your new country, handling customs clearance, and delivering your shipment to your new address. Door-to-door international moving services take away the stress of an overseas move and provide an easy and convenient relocation solution to people moving abroad. The moving costs, however, are considerably higher.

5) The relocation distance and the relocation route

International house moving costs increase in proportion to the distance between the origin country and the destination country – the further away you’re moving, the more expensive your relocation will be.

In addition to the distance, the specific relocation route also affects the cost to move to another country – some destinations are quite common and others are really rare. Common routes (USA to Canada, USA to UK, etc.) will be cheaper due to competition and established routines, while “exotic” routes (USA to Argentina, USA to Taiwan, etc.) will be costlier.

The destination port should also be considered, as customs duties vary from country to country.

6) The time of your move

Just like all other types of moves, international moving has peak periods – usually in late summer (between August and September) and in the beginning of the year (between January and February). International moving services are in high demand during these busy periods, so the prices are higher and the choice of available movers is more limited.

If you’re looking for lower international moving companies’ prices, try to schedule your relocation for a less busy time of the year.

See also: Things to consider when deciding on a moving date

7) The international moving company you choose

All international movers meet essentially the same standards and offer practically the same services, yet their quoted prices for the same relocation can vary considerably. There can be many reasons for the price difference – different quality of service, current level of busyness, ongoing promotions, need to fill up a groupage shipment, etc.

To be able to secure the best possible service at the best possible price for your forthcoming international relocation, you’re advised to:

• Check international moving companies’ reviews and ratings;
• Get international moving quotes from several reputable overseas movers;
• Request in-home estimates of your moving costs.
• Compare the quotations – not only in terms of the estimated international moving costs, but also with regard to the included services and special conditions;
• Carefully research the movers you consider hiring for your relocation – verify their license with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), research the company’s complaint history, ask for referrals, etc.

Choose the overseas moving professionals that best suit your international relocation needs and international moving budget and book their services as early as possible.

See also: How to find good international movers

How Much Does It Cost to Move to Another Country?

The only way to learn the exact cost of your international relocation is to request an estimate from a reputable overseas mover, but you can easily get an idea of your approximate international moving costs:

• Use our international moving costs estimator to find out how much you can expect to pay for shipping your belongings overseas;
• Take a closer look at the average cost to move overseas (see below).

Here are the average international shipping rates for some of our most popular relocation routes from the United States:

How much does it cost to move from USA to Canada?

Based on the port-to-port cargo rates for a 20ft container (enough to hold the contents of a typical two-bedroom home), the cost of moving from USA to Canada is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Montreal	$500-$700	5-7 days
New York to Vancouver	$2,100-$2,800	3 weeks
San Francisco to Montreal	$2,500-$3,000	3 weeks
San Francisco to Vancouver	$500-$650	4-5 days

How much does it cost to move from USA to Australia?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Australia is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Sydney (2-bedroom home)	$2,600-$3,000	6-8 weeks
New York to Sydney (3-bedroom home)	$3,000-$4,500	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to Sydney (2-bedroom home)	$1,600-$2,000	5-6 weeks
San Francisco to Sydney (3-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	5-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to New Zealand?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to New Zealand is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Auckland (2-bedroom home)	$1,800-$2,600	8-10 weeks
New York to Auckland (3-bedroom home)	$2,900-$4,000	8-10 weeks
San Francisco to Auckland (2-bedroom home)	$1,800-$2,500	6-9 weeks
San Francisco to Auckland (3-bedroom home)	$2,500-$3,500	6-9 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to UK?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to UK is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to London (2-bedroom home)	$1,200-$2,000	14-20 days
New York to London (3-bedroom home)	$1,800-$3,000	14-20 days
San Francisco to London (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,200	4-5 weeks
San Francisco to London (3-bedroom home)	$2,700-$3,800	4-5 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Ireland?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Ireland is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Ireland (2-bedroom home)	$1,300-$2,000	2-3 weeks
New York to Ireland (3-bedroom home)	$1,900-$2,700	2-3 weeks
San Francisco to Ireland (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$2,900	4-5 weeks
San Francisco to Ireland (3-bedroom home)	$2,900-$3,900	4-5 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Germany?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Germany is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Germany (2-bedroom home)	$1,200-$2,100	3-4 weeks
New York to Germany (3-bedroom home)	$1,700-$2,900	3-4 weeks
San Francisco to Germany (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	5-6 weeks
San Francisco to Germany (3-bedroom home)	$2,700-$4,000	5-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to France?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to France is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to France (2-bedroom home)	$1,300-$2,200	3-4 weeks
New York to France (3-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	3-4 weeks
San Francisco to France (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,200	5-6 weeks
San Francisco to France (3-bedroom home)	$3,000-$4,300	5-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Spain?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Spain is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Spain (2-bedroom home)	$1,400-$2,300	3-4 weeks
New York to Spain (3-bedroom home)	$1,900-$2,800	3-4 weeks
San Francisco to Spain (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,100	5-6 weeks
San Francisco to Spain (3-bedroom home)	$2,900-$4,100	5-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Italy?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Italy is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Italy (2-bedroom home)	$1,500-$2,200	4-5 weeks
New York to Italy (3-bedroom home)	$2,100-$3,000	4-5 weeks
San Francisco to Italy (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	6-7 weeks
San Francisco to Italy (3-bedroom home)	$3,000-$4,000	6-7 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to the Netherlands?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to the Netherlands is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to the Netherlands (2-bedroom home)	$1,200-$2,100	3-4 weeks
New York to the Netherlands (3-bedroom home)	$1,800-$2,700	3-4 weeks
San Francisco to the Netherlands (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	5-6 weeks
San Francisco to the Netherlands (3-bedroom home)	$2,800-$4,000	5-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Sweden?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Sweden is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Sweden (2-bedroom home)	$1,500-$2,200	4-5 weeks
New York to Sweden (3-bedroom home)	$2,300-$3,000	4-5 weeks
San Francisco to Sweden (2-bedroom home)	$2,200-$3,000	6-7 weeks
San Francisco to Sweden (3-bedroom home)	$3,100-$4,000	6-7 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Japan?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Japan is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Japan (2-bedroom home)	$1,500-$2,500	6-8 weeks
New York to Japan (3-bedroom home)	$2,500-$3,500	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to Japan (2-bedroom home)	$1,000-$2,000	4-6 weeks
San Francisco to Japan (3-bedroom home)	$1,400-$3,000	4-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to China?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to China is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to China(2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	6-8 weeks
New York to China (3-bedroom home)	$2,500-$4,400	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to China (2-bedroom home)	$1,300-$3,000	4-6 weeks
San Francisco to China (3-bedroom home)	$2,000-$4,000	4-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Singapore?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Singapore is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Singapore (2-bedroom home)	$1,200-$2,200	6-8 weeks
New York to Singapore (3-bedroom home)	$1,900-$3,100	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to Singapore (2-bedroom home)	$900-$1,900	4-6 weeks
San Francisco to Singapore (3-bedroom home)	$1,400-$2,700	4-6 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to India?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to India is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to India (2-bedroom home)	$1,800-$2,600	6-8 weeks
New York to India (3-bedroom home)	$2,500-$3,400	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to India (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,000	8-10 weeks
San Francisco to India (3-bedroom home)	$2,800-$4,300	8-10 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Israel?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Israel is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Israel (2-bedroom home)	$1,600-$2,700	6-8 weeks
New York to Israel (3-bedroom home)	$2,600-$3,500	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to Israel (2-bedroom home)	$2,100-$3,000	8-10 weeks
San Francisco to Israel (3-bedroom home)	$3,200-$4,200	8-10 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Mexico?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Mexico is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Mexico (2-bedroom home)	$1,000-$2,100	about 5 weeks
New York to Mexico (3-bedroom home)	$1,500-$2,800	about 5 weeks
San Francisco to Mexico (2-bedroom home)	$800-$1,900	about 5 weeks
San Francisco to Mexico (3-bedroom home)	$1,200-$2,900	about 5 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Costa Rica?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Costa Rica is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Costa Rica(2-bedroom home)	$1,000-$2,000	about 5 weeks
New York to Costa Rica (3-bedroom home)	$1,400-$2,600	about 5 weeks
San Francisco to Costa Rica (2-bedroom home)	$1,600-$2,700	about 5 weeks
San Francisco to Costa Rica (3-bedroom home)	$2,200-$3,300	about 5 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to Brazil?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to Brazil is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to Brazil (2-bedroom home)	$1,500-$2,500	6-8 weeks
New York to Brazil (3-bedroom home)	$2,200-$3,400	6-8 weeks
San Francisco to Brazil (2-bedroom home)	$2,000-$3,100	7-9 weeks
San Francisco to Brazil (3-bedroom home)	$3,000-$4,000	7-9 weeks

How much does it cost to move from USA to South Africa?

Based on the size of the move, the cost of moving from USA to South Africa is:

Route	Cost	Duration
New York to South Africa (2-bedroom home)	$1,800-$2,500	4-5 weeks
New York to South Africa (3-bedroom home)	$2,500-$3,800	4-5 weeks
San Francisco to South Africa (2-bedroom home)	$2,100-$3,000	6-7 weeks
San Francisco to South Africa (3-bedroom home)	$3,400-$4,200	6-7 weeks

Keep in mind that all the above prices pertain to sea freight, port-to-port transportation ONLY – they do not include professional packing and unpacking, insurance, storage, door-to-door delivery, or any other additional moving services. Therefore, when all relevant moving expenses are taken into account, the actual cost to move to another country will likely be much higher.

When you work with top-rated international movers, though, you have nothing to worry about – the pros will give you an accurate price estimate of your international moving costs (so you can plan your finances well in advance) and will ensure your smooth relocation (so you can enjoy your new beginning in your new world).

May the tailwind be with you in your international relocation adventure!