How much money do you need to move out?
By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.
First month's rent by apartment size
| Size | US median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,365 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,362 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,563 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,760 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,153 |
Your moving budget checklist
- Movers or truck rental
- Packing supplies
- Travel to the new city
- First month's rent
- Security deposit
- Application and move-in fees
- Utility deposits and hookups
- Storage
- Cleaning the old place
- New car registration and driver's license
- Furniture and household setup
- Time off work
Hiring movers without surprises
Moving out of state checklist · Moving to another state on a budget · Free 12-page moving guide
Moving budget: questions people ask
How much money do I need to move out?
Add up first month's rent, any security deposit and fees, the move itself and setting up the new place. At the US median, first month's rent alone is $1,362 for a 1-bedroom and $1,563 for a 2-bedroom (Census ACS, 2025). For a long-distance move of a 2 to 3 bedroom home, HireAHelper's 2026 estimates run from $533 to $728 for a truck you load yourself to $2,910 to $4,569 for full-service movers.
How much should I save before moving out?
Enough to cover every one-time cost on the list below, plus your first full month of bills. Security deposit limits and move-in fees vary by state and landlord, so get the exact figures from the listing before you sign.
How do I budget for moving out?
List the one-time costs (move, deposits, first month, setup), then build a monthly budget for the new place with the 50/30/20 split. Our free budget template has a tab for each.
How do I keep moving costs down?
Get three written estimates for the same inventory, move outside the peak summer months if you can, sell or donate what you will not use, and compare a truck you load yourself with full-service movers.
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Notes on the numbers
- 1Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B25031, median gross rent by number of bedrooms (rent plus utilities the renter pays), 2025. US medians; new leases often cost more. Census table
- 2Moving costs: HireAHelper's 2026 long-distance estimates for a 2 to 3 bedroom home, before distance pushes the price up. HireAHelper
- 3Interstate movers: federal rules cap what a mover can demand at delivery at 110% of a non-binding estimate (FMCSA).