Relocation guide · Iowa
Moving to Iowa: Costs, Cities and Planning
Moving a 3-bedroom home to Iowa (priced to Des Moines, IA) models from $3,150–$4,250 from Chicago, IL, the cheapest of 10 major origin cities, up to $6,600–$8,800 from Los Angeles, CA, the most expensive. Transit runs 1 to 8 days.
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Moving to Iowa at a glance
Cost to move to Iowa from major cities
| From | Miles | Transit | 2 bedroom | 3 bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 1,185 | 4 to 8 days | $3,750–$5,050 | $5,500–$7,350 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1,665 | 4 to 8 days | $4,500–$6,000 | $6,600–$8,800 |
| Chicago, IL | 370 | 1 to 3 days | $2,200–$2,950 | $3,150–$4,250 |
| Houston, TX | 955 | 2 to 5 days | $3,100–$4,150 | $4,550–$6,050 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,340 | 4 to 8 days | $3,750–$5,000 | $5,450–$7,250 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,125 | 4 to 8 days | $3,600–$4,750 | $5,200–$6,950 |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,025 | 4 to 8 days | $3,300–$4,350 | $4,750–$6,350 |
| San Diego, CA | 1,655 | 4 to 8 days | $4,450–$5,950 | $6,550–$8,750 |
| Dallas, TX | 755 | 2 to 5 days | $2,900–$3,900 | $4,250–$5,650 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,190 | 4 to 8 days | $3,650–$4,900 | $5,350–$7,150 |
Local movers in Iowa's main cities
| City | 2 bedroom local | Crew rate / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $1,325–$1,825 | $165 |
| Cedar Rapids | $1,325–$1,825 | $165 |
| Davenport | $1,325–$1,825 | $165 |
When moving to Iowa is cheapest
For example, on a move from New York, NY to Des Moines, a 3-bedroom models at $5,500–$7,350 October through April, $5,800–$7,700 in May or September and $6,150–$8,200 June through August. A container on that same example move models at $3,500–$4,700 against $5,500–$7,350 with full-service movers.
Planning a move to Iowa
- Book interstate movers six to eight weeks ahead, earlier for summer dates.
- Get at least three written estimates from movers with a USDOT number.
- Decide what to sell or donate before the survey; you pay by weight.
- Update your address, transfer utilities and plan the vehicle registration and driver license change.
- Move medical, school and financial records yourself, not in the truck.
- Plan the first week: keys, parking for the truck and an essentials box.
Moving to Iowa: common questions
How much does it cost to move to Iowa?
Moving a 3-bedroom home to Iowa (priced to Des Moines, IA) models from $3,150–$4,250 from Chicago, IL, the cheapest of 10 major origin cities, up to $6,600–$8,800 from Los Angeles, CA, the most expensive. Transit runs 1 to 8 days.
What does a 2-bedroom move to Iowa cost?
To Des Moines, a 2-bedroom models at $2,200–$2,950 from Chicago and $4,500–$6,000 from Los Angeles.
When is the cheapest time of year for moving to Iowa?
For example, a move from New York: a 3-bedroom models at $5,500–$7,350 October through April, $5,800–$7,700 in May or September and $6,150–$8,200 June through August.
Is a moving container cheaper than movers for moving to Iowa?
For example, on a move from New York to Des Moines, a 3-bedroom models at $5,500–$7,350 with full-service movers and $3,500–$4,700 by container, before your own loading labor.
What do local movers cost in Des Moines?
A 2-bedroom local move in Des Moines models at $1,325–$1,825, with a 3-person crew at $165 per hour.
Iowa state-to-state corridors
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How these numbers are made
Costs use the same weight × distance model as our route pages, priced to Des Moines, IA at its labor index of 0.91. We do not publish population, housing, tax or job statistics.
Moving Cost Editorial Team · Pricing model pricing-v1.0 · Estimates last recalculated