An estimated 7.5 million people relocated across state lines in 2023, continuing a long-standing trend driven by housing affordability, job opportunities and lifestyle preferences. While local moves have slowed — from 11.9% of the population in 2014 to 9.1% in 2023 — long-distance relocations remain steady. In fact, interstate moves have consistently involved over 2.3% of the U.S. population each year for most of the past decade, peaking at 2.5% during the pandemic.

However, cross-country moving costs are significant — and for some, cost is a major factor that discourages relocation. Fuel prices, labor costs and inflation have all driven up transportation expenses, often catching movers off guard when it’s time to hit the road.

Since moving plays a key role in self storage demand, we wanted to help people better understand the financial side of state-to-state relocations as they plan and budget for their next chapter. To do that, we partnered with North American Van Lines, a company that has been moving Americans for over 90 years.

We analyzed North American Van Lines data to rank the 50 most popular interstate moving routes based on expenses. We also explored key economic factors — such as income levels, home values and unemployment rates — to understand the forces driving migration.

How much does a move really cost in 2025? From $2K for NY-to-NJ to nearly $10K for CA-to-TN

A long-distance move can cost anywhere from $2,200 to $10,500 or more, with distance and the total weight of belongings being the biggest cost factors. Local moves tend to be more budget-friendly, typically ranging from $800 to $2,500.

Zooming in on cross-country moving costs, what’s considered “expensive” can vary depending on the route. While some relocations remain relatively affordable, others come with a hefty price tag due to factors like distance, demand and regional moving expenses.

The least expensive interstate move in the country is from New York to New Jersey, with an average cost of $2,162. Many New Yorkers move to New Jersey for lower taxes and more spacious suburban housing while staying within commuting distance of New York City’s job market.

Similarly, relocating from New York to Connecticut costs around $3,136, with families and professionals drawn to Connecticut’s suburban communities while maintaining access to NYC’s economic opportunities.

The second-least-expensive state-to-state move is from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, averaging $2,834. Many Pennsylvanians make the move for better-paying jobs despite higher home prices in New Jersey, as the relocation provides easy access to NYC’s job market.

Jersey City, New Jersey

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Americans are making the switch from New York and New Jersey to Pennsylvania, with both routes averaging just under $3,500. With lower home prices and a strong job market, Pennsylvania continues to attract residents from its neighboring states.

New York to Florida, one of the most heavily traveled moving routes, saw over 72,000 movers make the switch in a single year. The average moving cost stands at $4,592, still relatively affordable considering the mileage. Many New Yorkers, particularly retirees and remote workers, are drawn to Florida’s lower taxes, warmer climate and more affordable housing. With a median home value of $387K, Florida offers a $93K savings compared to New York, making homeownership a more attainable goal.

In the Mid-Atlantic region, moving between Maryland and Virginia is also among the most common and least expensive relocations, averaging $3,076. Many professionals in government and military roles frequently shift between these two states, particularly in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Moving from Florida to Georgia — a route taken by over 56,000 movers annually — comes with an average price tag of $4,000. While the mileage is relatively modest, high demand and relocation volume are pushing this move toward the middle price range. Many movers are drawn by job opportunities, family connections and Georgia’s lower cost of living. With a median home value of $326K, Georgia remains a more affordable alternative to Florida, making this transition a financially practical choice for many.

Six of the nation’s most expensive cross-country moving routes start in California

The most expensive moving routes tend to involve high-cost states, where residents are willing to pay a premium for long-haul transport in search of lower living expenses, tax benefits or better housing affordability.

The most expensive cross-country move in the U.S. is from California to Tennessee, with an average cost of $9,175. This reflects a broader trend of Californians relocating to lower-cost states, where housing and taxes are more affordable. While California’s median home value sits at $773K, Tennessee’s is significantly lower at $316K, making the transition financially appealing despite the high moving costs.

California to Florida is the second most expensive route, averaging $7,605. Many movers on this route are retirees, remote workers and families seeking Florida’s lower cost of living and tax advantages. Despite the upfront moving expenses, the long-term savings in home prices and daily expenses often make the relocation worthwhile — California’s median home value is nearly double that of Florida’s.

Sarasota, Florida

California to New York is another high-cost cross-country moving route, with an average move costing $7,069. While both states are known for their high cost of living, this relocation is often made by professionals moving between business hubs, particularly in finance, tech and entertainment. The real estate gap between the two states is significant, with California’s market typically commanding much higher prices. Moves in the opposite direction, from New York to California, are slightly less pricey but still average a substantial $6,008, as many are willing to trade New York’s dense city life for California’s booming tech industry and warmer weather.

The most frequently traveled state-to-state moving route in 2023 was California to Texas, with nearly 98,000 movers making the transition. The move comes with an average cost of $6,995, placing it among the more expensive relocations despite its popularity. Many Californians are drawn to Texas’s lower cost of living, lack of state income tax and booming job market — particularly in cities like Austin, Dallas and Houston. The stark contrast in home prices — $773K in California versus $300K in Texas — also makes the move a financially strategic decision for many in the long run.

Surging migration fuels demand for self storage in top relocation states

As state-to-state migration surges, self storage has become an essential tool for long-distance movers navigating the challenges of relocation. Whether movers are downsizing, waiting for a permanent home, or managing overflow belongings, storage facilities offer a flexible and practical solution — particularly for cross-country relocations, where logistics can be complex.

This demand is especially pronounced in fast-growing states like Florida and Texas, which continue to attract large numbers of new residents. As migration into these states accelerates, so does the need for storage solutions. Developers and investors have responded by expanding self storage availability, ensuring incoming movers have access to secure, conveniently located units to ease their transition.

Texas leads the way with a self storage inventory of over 11 square feet per capita, keeping prices in check at around $117 per month for a unit. Florida follows with 9.4 square feet per capita, while the Carolinas — two other states experiencing high inbound migration — each offer more than 10 square feet per capita.

With migration trends reshaping the U.S. housing market, self storage remains a critical resource for state-to-state movers. As availability continues to expand in the nation’s top relocation hubs, storage operators are playing a key role in streamlining the moving process — helping new residents bridge the gap between transitions and settle in with greater ease.

Below, you can explore self storage costs and availability across all U.S. states:

Self Storage Costs and Availability Across all US States

Certain state-to-state moving routes consistently rank among the busiest in the U.S., driven by job opportunities, affordability and quality of life considerations. While these routes differ in distance and cost, they highlight a common theme: Americans are on the move in search of better economic prospects, lower living expenses and an improved lifestyle.

Many movers are drawn to states with booming job markets, lower taxes and more affordable housing, while others prioritize climate, proximity to family or access to outdoor recreation. These migration patterns not only reshape local economies and housing markets but also impact demand for services like moving companies and self storage.

Explore the moving costs for the 50 most popular relocation routes in the U.S., along with the key economic factors shaping these trends:

Methodology

This analysis was conducted by StorageCafe, an online platform providing nationwide storage unit listings.

To identify the 50 busiest state-to-state moving routes, we analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) PUMS.

Unemployment data was sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and reflects figures from November 2024.

Housing cost data was obtained from Zillow, corresponding to December 2024.

Moving price data was kindly provided by North American Van Lines, a company with over 90 years of experience in facilitating interstate relocations.

Self storage prices and availability came from Yardi Matrix, StorageCafe’s sister division and a business development and asset management tool for brokers, sponsors, banks and equity sources underwriting investments in the multifamily, office, industrial and self-storage sectors.

Fair use and distribution

This study serves as a resource for the general public on issues of common interest and should not be regarded as investment advice. The data is true to the best of our knowledge but may change if amendments to it are made. We agree to the distribution of this content, but we do require a mention in return for attribution purposes.