Want cheaper prices on your international move?
You don’t need to spend every dime you own to move internationally.
In fact, with over 25.87 million Americans moving internationally in 2024, many ended up spending far too much money during their move.
Why?
Because they simply didn’t know how to save money.
The average international move can cost anywhere from $6,300 all the way up to $15,900+. Yikes!
But don’t freak out just yet…
There are tons of ways to save big on your international move. I’ll show you exactly how to move overseas without spending every last dollar you have.
Let’s get started!
What you’ll learn:
- Why International Moves Are So Pricey
- Cheap Ways To Move House Internationally
- How To Choose The Right Shipping Method
- Additional Fees To Expect
Why International Moves Are So Expensive
If you want to save money on your move, you first have to understand how movers spend your money.
International moves aren’t like moving across town. There are customs to clear, oceans to cross, more insurance, and so much more paperwork than you can imagine.
When you hire professional international moving services, you’re paying for that peace of mind.
Plus they make this whole process far easier on you.
But that doesn’t mean you have to take whatever they charge you.
Your belongings will be traveling halfway across the world
They’ll be packed into a container, survive a boat ride of several weeks, then be unpacked on the other side.
If something is damaged during your move, you want the company you hired to have a strong insurance policy that will refund you the value of the lost items.
Here are the biggest factors that go into costing out your move:
- Shipping method – Air vs sea freight
- Size of your household goods
- Distance
- Value of your items
- Additional services
Want to know what’s driving up prices on moves? It’s demanding.
Recent industry data projects that international relocation is expected to grow 5.37% annually through 2030.
Translation: Unless you know how to cut costs and shop smart, you’re going to pay more money to move.
Cheap Ways To Move House Internationally
Ready to learn how to cut thousands of dollars from your move?
Here are three of the best tips to save big on your international relocation.
Declutter Before You Move
You read that right.
Decluttering your home is by far the easiest way to save money on your move.
It’s also the cheapest
The more cubic feet you have to move, the more money you’ll pay to move it.
Go through your entire house and get rid of anything you don’t use on a daily basis. Half your clothes? Garbage. Old furniture you don’t like? Sell it or donate it.
If you don’t use it daily, get rid of it.
Ask yourself if you’ve used the item in question within the past year. If the answer is no, then you probably don’t need it.
Always Choose Sea Freight Over Air Freight
Did you know that shipping by sea can cost 4-6X less than shipping by air?
If you can be patient, sea freight will save you thousands of dollars.
Air freight has to fly at over 30,000 feet
That means your items are getting rushed from Point A to Point B.
With sea freight, there’s no rush. Your items will be loaded onto a container ship and travel at the speed of ocean currents.
Sea freight will save you the most money
Pack Like A Pro (On The Cheap)
Professional packing services are nice…
But did you know they cost hundreds (if not thousands) more than packing yourself?
If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and pack yourself, you can save yourself a pretty penny.
Opt to pack yourself and leave the fragile items to the professionals.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Pack clothing, linens, and books.
- Professionals pack all electronics and fragile items.
- Use free boxes from liquor stores, grocery stores, etc.
- Save money on bubble wrap by using towels and linens to wrap items.
Packing yourself doesn’t mean stressing over each item. Have pros take care of the valuable items while you pack everything else.
How To Choose The Right Shipping Method
Not all shipping containers are created equally.
You have two options when looking at container shipping methods:
- Full Container Load (FCL)
- Less Than Container Load (LCL)
Let’s break down the differences between each option:
Full Container Load (FCL)
Renting out an entire shipping container for you and your family alone.
If you’re moving to a 3 bedroom house or more, it makes sense to rent out an entire container.
Since you have the container all to yourself, your items will be loaded and unloaded faster. They’ll also be handled less which = less chance for damages.
You pay for the entire container.
Less Than Container Load (LCL)
Sharing a container with someone else’s items.
Great for smaller households. If you’re moving to a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment, opting for LCL will save you money.
Your items will be handled more since they have to be sorted with other people’s items.
If you have a bigger home, go FCL. If not, save money with LCL.
Time Your Move Right
This one’s simple.
Move during the offseason and you’ll automatically pay less.
Summer months and the last few days of the month are the busiest times to move.
If you have flexibility with your move date, move during the winter months or mid-month.
Fewer people moving = more moving companies trying to please you.
They’ll be negotiating on price to win your business.
Additional Fees To Expect
These aren’t expenses you think about when moving, but they end up hitting you in the wallet.
Customs & Duties
Every country has different policies when it comes to importing personal belongings.
You may be required to pay duties on certain items. Some things will be duty free, while others won’t.
Do your research beforehand and know exactly what you’ll be expected to pay once your items arrive.
Shipping Insurance
Not all moving insurance is created equal.
Many movers offer cheap insurance that only covers about $0.60 per pound of your items.
If your 50lb TV were to break, you’re only covered for $30.
Get full value protection. It costs more, yes. But if something happens, you’ll thank me later.
Storage Costs
If your items make it to your new destination before you do, you’ll be charged storage fees.
Alternatively, your new place might not be ready when your items arrive.
Storage fees can cost you an additional $100 – $300 per month.
Ship Your Vehicle
Thinking about shipping your car over too? Say goodbye to another $1,000 – $5,000.
In most cases, it’s actually cheaper to sell your car and buy one once you arrive.
Getting Quotes
Save yourself the headache and always get multiple quotes.
We cannot stress this enough.
NEVER accept the first price you’re given.
Go online and get quotes from at least 3-5 international movers. For the same service, you could be quoted prices that vary greatly.
Compare apples to apples when looking at pricing.
Some movers lowball you with a cheap price just to add on fees as your move progresses.
How To Save On Your International Move: Quick Recap
Moving internationally is costly…
But it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think.
Follow these tips to save hundreds, if not thousands, on your next move:
- Declutter before moving
- Sea freight > Air freight
- Pack yourself and save money
- Book your move during the offseason
- Get multiple quotes from reputable movers
- Account for additional fees
Plan ahead and you’ll thank yourself later when you’re spending your move budget on fun things instead of your relocation.