How much does it cost to move house?

The removal cost

Moving your furniture and boxes is usually the largest single expense. It is driven by job size, distance, access and timing: a compact apartment moving a few suburbs sits at the lower end, while a large family home moving across the city sits higher. For the detail, see our guide on how much removalists cost, or use the removalist cost calculator to see how a quote is built.

Costs beyond the truck

These are the expenses people most often forget when budgeting for a move. Not all will apply to you, but it is worth checking each one.

Common moving costs

End-of-lease or pre-sale cleaning, and carpet cleaning
Utility connection and disconnection fees (electricity, gas, internet)
Mail redirection through Australia Post
Boxes and packing materials
Rental bond and first period of rent, or settlement costs

Sometimes needed

Short-term storage between homes
Specialty moving for items over 120kg such as a piano or safe
Pet transport or boarding on the day
Time off work, and meals while the kitchen is packed
New address updates such as licence and registration

How to keep the total down

Declutter before you move so the removal is smaller and better value. Do your own packing, and collect free boxes where you can. Book the truck mid-week and mid-month to avoid peak pricing, and shop around for utility connection deals. Booking one supplier that includes fuel, tolls and insurance in a single fixed price, as PicUp does, also removes the guesswork.

Build a simple moving budget

List every item above that applies to you, get a fixed-price removal quote so the biggest number is certain, then add a small buffer for the unexpected. Working from the removal quote outward gives you a realistic total rather than a rough guess. Our moving house checklist helps you time each cost so nothing lands as a last-minute surprise.

Cost of moving house FAQs

What is the biggest cost when moving house?

For most people it is the removal itself, followed by cleaning and any rental bond or settlement costs. The removal is driven by job size, distance, access and timing.

Are there hidden costs when moving?

The commonly forgotten ones are cleaning, utility connection fees, mail redirection and packing materials. A fixed-price removal that includes fuel, tolls and insurance removes hidden costs from the largest part of the move.

Does the removal quote include packing?

Packing services and materials are usually separate. With PicUp, the fixed price covers the crew, vehicle, fuel, tolls, basic furniture protection and transit insurance; packing, boxes, storage and specialty items are quoted on top.

How can I estimate the total before I move?

Get a fixed-price removal quote first, since that is the largest single number, then add cleaning, connections, materials and any bond or settlement costs. A fixed removal price makes the whole budget far more predictable.