A local move within the same city costs $400–$2,500 with professional movers (two movers and a truck at $120–$180/hour for three to six hours), while an interprovincial move from Toronto to Vancouver for a three-bedroom home runs $7,000–$12,000 all-in. DIY options cut costs by 30–60% for local moves and 20–40% for long-distance, but you’re taking on the physical labour and the risk of damage to furniture and floors.
The expenses that catch people off guard aren’t the movers themselves — they’re the surrounding costs. First-and-last-month deposits at the new place ($2,000–$5,000), temporary housing if there’s a gap between homes ($1,500–$4,000/month), Canada Post mail forwarding ($70–$100/year), and utility setup fees ($100–$300) can easily add $3,000–$8,000 to the headline moving quote. If you’re moving for a new job and the distance is 40+ km closer to your new workplace, most of these costs are tax-deductible on Form T1-M — keep every receipt.
Average Moving Costs
Move Type
Studio/1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR+
Local (same city, professional)
$400–$800
$800–$1,500
$1,200–$2,500
$1,800–$3,500
Local (DIY truck rental)
$50–$150
$100–$250
$150–$350
$200–$500
Long-distance (500 km)
$1,500–$2,500
$2,500–$4,000
$3,500–$5,500
$4,500–$7,000
Long-distance (2,000 km)
$2,500–$4,000
$4,000–$6,000
$5,000–$8,000
$7,000–$12,000
Cross-country (4,000+ km)
$3,000–$5,000
$5,000–$8,000
$7,000–$12,000
$10,000–$18,000
Interprovincial Move Cost Estimates
Route
Distance
2BR Cost
3BR Cost
Transit Time
Toronto → Montreal
540 km
$2,000–$3,500
$3,000–$5,000
1–2 days
Toronto → Ottawa
450 km
$1,800–$3,000
$2,500–$4,500
1–2 days
Toronto → Halifax
1,800 km
$3,500–$5,500
$4,500–$7,500
3–5 days
Toronto → Winnipeg
2,100 km
$3,500–$5,500
$5,000–$8,000
4–6 days
Toronto → Calgary
3,400 km
$4,500–$7,000
$6,000–$10,000
5–8 days
Toronto → Vancouver
4,400 km
$5,000–$8,000
$7,000–$12,000
7–10 days
Montreal → Vancouver
4,800 km
$5,500–$8,500
$7,500–$13,000
8–12 days
Calgary → Vancouver
1,050 km
$2,500–$4,000
$3,500–$6,000
2–3 days
Full Moving Budget Checklist
Expense
Estimated Cost
Notes
Professional movers OR truck rental
$500–$10,000
Biggest variable
Packing supplies (boxes, tape, wrap)
$50–$300
Free boxes from LCBO/grocery stores
Insurance (mover’s liability)
$50–$200
Basic coverage often included
Cleaning (old home)
$150–$400
Professional end-of-lease clean
Utility disconnection/reconnection
$100–$300
Hydro, gas, internet, water
Internet setup at new address
$50–$100
Installation fee
Address change (mail forwarding)
$70–$100/year
Canada Post mail forwarding
New driver’s licence/health card
$0–$90
Varies by province
Vehicle registration transfer
$0–$200
If moving provinces
Storage (if needed)
$100–$300/month
5x10 to 10x15 unit
Pet travel
$50–$500
Kennel, flight, or car travel
Temporary housing
$1,500–$4,000/month
If gap between homes
First/last month rent (renters)
$2,000–$5,000
Deposit at new place
Professional Movers: What to Expect
Service Level
Hourly Rate (2 movers)
Includes
Best For
Basic (labour only)
$100–$140/hr
Loading/unloading, no packing
DIY packers
Standard (most common)
$120–$180/hr
Loading, transport, unloading
Most moves
Full-service
$160–$250/hr
Packing, loading, transport, unpacking
Time-pressed, large homes
White-glove/specialty
$200–$350/hr
All above + furniture assembly, art
High-value/luxury moves
Add-On Service
Cost
Packing service
$30–$50/hr per packer
Furniture disassembly/reassembly
$50–$200
Piano moving
$200–$600
Stair charges (per flight)
$50–$100
Long carry (no elevator/far parking)
$75–$150
Appliance disconnection
$75–$150 each
Storage-in-transit
$100–$300/month
DIY Moving Options
Option
Cost
Pros
Cons
U-Haul truck
$50–$250/day + $0.69–$0.99/km
Cheapest, flexible
Physical labour, fuel costs
Home Depot truck
$20–$30/hour (local only)
Very cheap for small moves
75-minute minimum, local only
PODS container
$2,000–$5,000 (long-distance)
No driving, flexible timeline
Slower, limited sizes
BigSteelBox
$2,500–$6,000 (long-distance)
Weatherproof, flexible
Higher cost than truck rental
U-Pack
$1,500–$4,000 (long-distance)
Only pay for space used
Must load/unload yourself
Rent a trailer
$30–$100/day
Cheap for small loads
Need hitch, limited space
Tax Deductions for Moving
Deduction
Eligibility
What You Can Claim
Moving expenses (T1-M)
Moved 40+ km closer to new work/school
Transport, storage (up to 15 days), travel, temp housing (up to 15 days)
House hunting, mortgage penalties, loss on home sale, utility hookups
Income limitation
—
Can only deduct against income earned at new location
Carry forward
—
Unused deduction can be carried to next year
The Bottom Line
Get three written quotes from licensed movers, verify insurance coverage, and budget 15–25% above the quoted amount for the hidden costs (deposits, overlap rent, utilities, mail forwarding). If you’re moving for work or school and the new location is 40+ km closer, file Form T1-M to deduct moving expenses against income earned at the new location — the deduction often covers $2,000–$5,000+ that most people leave on the table.