How much does it cost to hire movers in Canada?

Local movers (within the same city) cost $400–$2,000 depending on home size. Two movers with a truck cost $120–$180/hour (minimum 3–4 hours). Long-distance moves (interprovincial) cost $2,000–$8,000+ based on distance and weight. A 3-bedroom home move from Toronto to Vancouver costs approximately $5,000–$10,000.

How much does it cost to move provinces in Canada?

Interprovincial moves cost $2,000–$10,000+ depending on distance and volume. Toronto to Montreal: $2,000–$4,000. Toronto to Calgary: $4,000–$8,000. Toronto to Vancouver: $5,000–$10,000. Additional costs include vehicle transport ($1,000–$2,500), temporary housing ($1,500–$4,000/month), and utility setup fees ($200–$500).

Is it cheaper to hire movers or move yourself in Canada?

DIY is 30–60% cheaper for local moves and 20–40% cheaper for long-distance. A U-Haul or similar truck rental for a local move costs $50–$250/day vs $500–$2,000 for professional movers. For long-distance, a portable container (PODS, BigSteelBox) costs $2,000–$5,000 vs $3,000–$10,000 for full-service movers. However, DIY takes more time and risk of damage.

How Much Does It Cost to Move in Canada in 2026?

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)
Eligible expenses	—	Movers, truck rental, packing, storage, travel, meals (flat rate), temp lodging
NOT eligible	—	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