What's The Cheapest Way to Move a One-Bedroom Apartment Cross Country?

Moving a small apartment across the country

You might think the cheapest way to move a small apartment to another state is with a rental truck and some elbow grease — think again. Those low rental prices you see advertised are typically reserved for local moves. Adding damage coverage and fuel means you’re looking at a much higher cost.

Fortunately, there’s U-Pack: a DIY solution where you can still save on moving labor and get budget-friendly shipping rates for cross-country moves of all sizes. No bulky rental trucks needed! Keep reading to see how our prices compare to two popular rental truck companies.

How much to move a one-bedroom apartment cross country

Check out these quotes from Budget® and U-Haul® to see how their prices stack up against U-Pack. We looked at rates to move a one-bedroom apartment from Spokane, WA, to Salem, MA, in March 2025.

Prices were accurate at the time of posting, and the equipment options recommended by each company were used. Actual moving costs will vary based on date, home size, origin, destination and equipment availability.

• Budget: $3,797.50 (Price included $2,696.69 for 12’ truck rental, fees, taxes and the Complete Protection Package plus $1,100.81* in estimated fuel costs for up to 2,850 miles at 8 MPG.) 

• U-Haul: $3,865.25 (Price included $3,131.27 for 10’ truck rental, fees, taxes and Safemove Plus® damage coverage plus $733.88* in estimated fuel costs for up to 2,850 miles at 12 MPG.) 

• U-Pack: $2,922 — $2,954, depending on the equipment used. (Prices include delivery, transportation, taxes and standard liability coverage.)
  Here were the available options:

  • $2,954 for one ReloCube® moving container

  • $2,922 for 5 linear feet of space in a moving trailer

As you can see, U-Pack prices are lower for the example move. Get a quote to see how much you can save on your move!

*Fuel costs were estimated using the MPG listed on each company’s website for the truck and AAA’s average gas prices at the time of posting.

Save even more on the cost of apartment moves with U-Pack

We’ve already illustrated that U-Pack is the cheapest way to move across country, but did you know it’s possible to save even more? If you’re willing to put in a little extra work, service center delivery can save you hundreds of dollars when moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment. Just let us know if you’d like to explore the option.

Check your cross-country apartment moving rate

Call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant or use our free online quote form for your personalized moving quote.

Next, check out our apartment moving guide and let us know in the comments if you have any questions!

Budget® is a registered trademark of Budget Truck Rental, LLC. U-Haul® is a registered trademark of U-Haul International, Inc. Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third party.