The Best Moving Companies in New York City

Gather important info up front to keep the process as easy as possible. First, talk to your building’s owner (or co-op or condo association) to find out what rules they have about moving. Are there limited days or hours when you can move in or out? Do movers need to use the freight elevator? What about moving insurance in case the movers accidentally dent a hallway wall while moving that heavy bookcase? Find out the rules—for the building you’re leaving and the one you’re moving into—and share any critical information with your moving company.

If you’re moving in New York City, there are a few strategies for finding a parking spot for your moving truck. Where’s the closest fire hydrant? That empty space on the street is a great spot for movers to park their van while loading or unloading your things. If that’s not an option, consider how wide your street is. If your moving truck has to double park, can traffic still get around the truck? If not, what’s the closest cross street? That may be the closest your moving truck can park.

If you’re moving out of New York City, your total moving cost will be somewhere between $2,000 and $12,000.¹ It all depends on your moving services, home size, moving distance, and the time of year you book your move (moving will cost you more between April and September).

If you’re on a tight budget, consider a DIY move (renting a moving truck and loading and driving it yourself) for the cheapest option. Professional movers save you the time and effort of loading and driving—which are worth the higher costs if you can afford it. If you need a Goldilocks option for cost and effort, moving containers might be the right choice. You load up the container with your boxes and furniture, and then the moving company transports it to your new home for you.

Local moves in New York City range from $400 to $3,500.² It all depends on your home size, how much furniture you’ve moving, and how hard your apartment is to access (a six-story walkup is going to cost more than a second-floor apartment with a building elevator). Move.org recommends getting quotes from at least three moving companies to find a competitive rate. But remember—if a quote sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

On average, you’ll pay $2,217 a month to live in New York City—but of course the numbers can skew higher or lower depending on where you live and how big your home is. In 2021, New York City had the 12th most expensive cost of living.³