How Much Does it Cost to Move in NYC?

New York City (NYC) is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. With eight million people living in an area of just over 300 square miles, relocating to the “Big Apple” is a task that is not only challenging but also costly. There are plenty of variables that you need to consider when moving from one place to another. This includes the number of boxes you need, how many items you’re bringing with you, and how much time it will take to get from your old place to your new abode.

If you have finally decided to move, experts consistently recommend hiring a professional moving company rather than going the DIY route. You may save a few bucks by overseeing the move yourself, but there is so much more to moving in New York City than just the physical labor of transporting your belongings. There is also the chore of driving a cumbersome truck in the city’s notorious traffic. And finally, most buildings in New York City need insurance related to potential moving-related damages, which is something that nearly all reputable moving companies have.

Now, let’s take a look at several factors that you need to consider when creating a budget for your move in New York City:

1) Time

If you’re working with a moving company, the quote you will get will depend on the number of items you’ll be asking them to move. Moving companies typically charge by the amount of time they’ll spend moving all these items. NYC moving companies usually charge between $99-$150 per hour. The best way for them to give an accurate estimate is by taking stock of all your belongings and determining how much time they will need to move all of them.

2) Moving Supplies

Your items cannot be moved in their current state. You must pack them to avoid damage. You need packing supplies like boxes and some tape to get this job done. However, for more fragile items, you might need other packing materials such as packing paper, bubble wrap, and some heavy-duty boxes.

3) Packing Services

If you wish to divest yourself of all the hassles of packing your stuff, you can ask a professional moving company about their full-service packing service. With this, movers can come with their packing materials and pack all your belongings, disassemble your furniture and load all of these up to the truck. This is a nifty service that has plenty of benefits. For one, professional movers have extensive experience packing bulky and fragile items so you can rest assured that your items would be handled in the best way possible.

Some professional movers also offer partial packing service, wherein the movers will deal with large and fragile stuff while you can pack the rest of the belongings yourself. Make sure to inquire about all of the services your professional mover offers to see which one will best suit your needs and budget.

4) Travel Time

Another primary consideration is the amount of time that it will take to move your items from your old place to your new abode. While raw distance plays a huge role, other crucial factors are traffic and accessibility. New York City is just not an easy place to traverse with a huge moving truck so you can expect a trip of just a few miles to take longer than expected.

5) Stairs

New York City may be known as a modern and progressive city, but you can still expect to find a lot of old apartments dotting the metropolis. These apartments have “walk-ups” or stairs, which can be mildly annoying for everyday living and downright awful to use on moving day. Professional movers can maneuver up and down the stairs with items without too much trouble but you can expect the process to take longer, which means you likely have to pay more. Some movers even charge a set fee per set of stairs.

6) Moving Date

Picking the right date to move can net you a sweet deal. However, this can be a tricky exercise as most times, you won’t be able to move when you want to. Families typically don’t want to take their children out of school, so they usually move during the summer, making this period more expensive for moving. In New York City, most people rent apartments and leases usually end on either the last day or the first day of the month, making these dates particularly busy for movers. If you have the option, try to move on either a weekday or during the winter off-season.