More than 30 million Americans moved between 2018 and 2019, according to the U.S. Census bureau. People move for various reasons, but the most common are related to work or family.
No matter the reason, moving is an expensive undertaking — especially for those relocating to certain cities.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Move, Inc., a relocation planning resource, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 35 most expensive cities to move to or within. Cities were ranked based on the average estimated cost of professional mover fees to move household goods, in addition to median monthly rent and a security deposit — equal to a month’s rent — for a three bedroom apartment.
It is important to note that we did not include transportation costs, such as fuel, as these can vary considerably, depending on where new residents are coming from and how far they are moving. We did not include packing fees in our calculation.
Not surprisingly, many of the most expensive places to move to are in general expensive places to live. Among the cities on this list, goods and services can cost as much as 30% more than their cost on average nationwide. In fact, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, is the only metro area on this list with a lower than average overall cost of living. Here is a complete list of the most expensive city in each state.
Despite the high costs associated with moving to metro areas on this list, the vast majority of these cities are bringing in new residents relatively rapidly. Between 2010 and 2018, all but nine metro areas on this list reported a net population increase due to migration alone (this figure excludes population change due to birth or death.) In 20 of these places, the increase was greater than the comparable 2.5% national population growth attributable to net-migration. Here is a list of America’s fastest growing cities.
Click here to see the 25 most expensive places to move
Click here to read our methodology
Source: jmoor17 / Getty Images
35. Bremerton-Silverdale, WA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,707
> 1st month’s rent: $1,498
> Median household income: $76,945
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.4%
[in-text-ad]
Source: Valeri Zwick / Wikimedia Commons
34. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,736
> 1st month’s rent: $1,536
> Median household income: $73,206
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +7.6%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
33. Corvallis, OR metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,746
> 1st month’s rent: $1,503
> Median household income: $63,773
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +5.9%
Source: Aneese / Getty Images
32. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,751
> 1st month’s rent: $1,497
> Median household income: $61,212
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -4.7%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
31. Midland, TX metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,797
> 1st month’s rent: $1,606
> Median household income: $80,747
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +15.7%
Source: PhilAugustavo / Getty Images
30. Olympia-Tumwater, WA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,803
> 1st month’s rent: $1,546
> Median household income: $72,703
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +10.2%
[in-text-ad]
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
29. Trenton, NJ metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,809
> 1st month’s rent: $1,416
> Median household income: $80,632
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -2.3%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: peeterv / Getty Images
28. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,831
> 1st month’s rent: $1,568
> Median household income: $80,469
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +0.5%
Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
27. Austin-Round Rock, TX metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,833
> 1st month’s rent: $1,601
> Median household income: $76,925
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +18.1%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images
26. Fort Collins, CO metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,954
> 1st month’s rent: $1,632
> Median household income: $71,091
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +13.2%
Source: slobo / Getty Images
25. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,972
> 1st month’s rent: $1,647
> Median household income: $73,142
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +5.1%
[in-text-ad]
Source: realz / Flickr
24. Barnstable Town, MA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $5,976
> 1st month’s rent: $1,645
> Median household income: $68,902
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.0%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: photosvit / Getty Images
23. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,068
> 1st month’s rent: $1,700
> Median household income: $56,328
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +8.5%
Source: thyegn / Getty Images
22. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,084
> 1st month’s rent: $1,672
> Median household income: $75,599
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +7.3%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: beklaus / Getty Images
21. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,271
> 1st month’s rent: $1,786
> Median household income: $79,478
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +9.3%
Source: JohnnyH5 / Getty Images
20. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,288
> 1st month’s rent: $1,761
> Median household income: $88,711
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.3%
[in-text-ad]
Source: andykazie / Getty Images
19. Anchorage, AK metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,305
> 1st month’s rent: $1,674
> Median household income: $81,037
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -3.6%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: rightdx / Getty Images
18. Salinas, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,421
> 1st month’s rent: $1,854
> Median household income: $70,681
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -3.0%
Source: bauhaus1000 / Getty Images
17. Boulder, CO metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,432
> 1st month’s rent: $1,871
> Median household income: $83,755
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +7.4%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: oksanaphoto / Getty Images
16. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,448
> 1st month’s rent: $1,862
> Median household income: $87,910
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +9.2%
Source: ghostrider / Flickr
15. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,479
> 1st month’s rent: $1,751
> Median household income: $91,079
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -0.1%
[in-text-ad]
Source: benedek / Getty Images
14. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,544
> 1st month’s rent: $1,904
> Median household income: $102,180
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.0%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images
13. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,554
> 1st month’s rent: $1,698
> Median household income: $78,478
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -2.3%
Source: bpperry / Getty Images
12. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,561
> 1st month’s rent: $1,898
> Median household income: $77,472
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +0.3%
[in-text-ad-2]
11. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,643
> 1st month’s rent: $1,939
> Median household income: $71,148
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.5%
Source: jmoor17 / Getty Images
10. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,652
> 1st month’s rent: $1,946
> Median household income: $84,395
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.1%
[in-text-ad]
Source: helt2 / Getty Images
9. Fairbanks, AK metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,669
> 1st month’s rent: $1,856
> Median household income: $75,448
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -9.0%
Source: peeterv / Getty Images
8. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,808
> 1st month’s rent: $2,023
> Median household income: $72,563
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -1.8%
Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
7. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,852
> 1st month’s rent: $2,046
> Median household income: $86,941
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +0.8%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: vgoodrich / Getty Images
5. Napa, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,968
> 1st month’s rent: $2,104
> Median household income: $87,025
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +0.8%
5. Santa Rosa, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $6,968
> 1st month’s rent: $2,104
> Median household income: $81,395
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +1.7%
[in-text-ad]
Source: benedek / Getty Images
4. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $7,068
> 1st month’s rent: $2,136
> Median household income: $79,079
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +2.1%
Source: benedek / Getty Images
3. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $7,089
> 1st month’s rent: $2,162
> Median household income: $84,566
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): -1.3%
Source: ibsky / Getty Images
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $7,513
> 1st month’s rent: $2,374
> Median household income: $107,898
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +4.9%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: alacatr / Getty Images
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area
> Avg. total moving cost: $8,402
> 1st month’s rent: $2,821
> Median household income: $124,696
> Population change from migration (2010-2018): +2.7%
Methodology
To determine the 35 most expensive cities to move, 24/7 Wall St. calculated the total cost of moving, one month’s rent, and a security deposit for all U.S. metropolitan statistical areas. Data on estimated moving cost with two-week’s’ notice for a three-bedroom housing unit as of Jan. 30, 2020, came from HomeFair, a part of Move, Inc., a relocation planning resource, and is for the most populous zip code in the most populous principal city of each metro area. Packing costs were not included in the estimate. Data on the median price of rent for a three-bedroom housing unit, which was used as a proxy for both the cost of one month’s rent and security deposit, came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey and is at the MSA level. Data on median annual household income and population change due to net migration from 2010 to 2018 also came from the Census Bureau. No moving data was available for Hawaii MSAs.
Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
