Relocating internationally requires a significant budget, especially in a global climate of rising costs. Moreover, disruptions in various transport routes sometimes add to the complexity. Recent attacks in the Red Sea, for example, significantly slowed traffic in the area and increased the costs of sea transport, which had to be rerouted. Therefore, it's best to plan your move well in advance and clearly understand the costs involved.
Soaring prices around the world
In France, the latest survey from the National Road Committee (NRC) is clear: moving companies are experiencing significant inflation in their costs between 2019 and 2024. All expense items are affected, from staff wages and vehicle maintenance to fuel. The cost of moving operations for individuals has increased by 22.4% over four years.
The same trend is observed in international transport, especially for maritime routes where container freight rates have soared. These rates significantly increased in the first half of 2024, reaching the highest levels since 2022. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has already highlighted this significant cost increase on almost all trade routes since 2021. This is due to capacity constraints on supply, and container and labor shortages. Rising fuel costs also play a role. Specifically in the moving sector, the increase in the cost of packing supplies, labor, and equipment also has an impact.
How do you budget for an international move?
The budget will largely depend on the distance to the target destination and the volume of items to be moved. For an international move, expect to spend between 1,500 and 10,000 euros. This range can be refined by considering these two previously mentioned factors.
Moving within Europe
Costs are generally lower if you are relocating within Europe, where road transport is preferred for moves. You should be prepared to spend an average of 3,000 to 5,000 euros for a volume of 50 cubic meters by truck. The estimate needs to be refined depending on your exact destination. As an indication, 20 cubic meters roughly equate to the contents of a two-room apartment. It all depends on your tendency to accumulate belongings or not.
Moving outside of Europe
Most moves outside of Europe occur via sea transport. Estimate about 200 euros per cubic meter, which comes out to approximately 10,000 euros for 50 cubic meters. For example, the transport and global freight rate comparison company Freightos estimates a move of 33 cubic meters from Shanghai to Los Angeles at $6,152, which is about 186 dollars per cubic meter.
The exact price will obviously depend on the specific destination, the carrier, the services you opt for, as well as customs duties and other port taxes.
How to optimize costs for an international move
Sorting
The first step should be sorting, which is vital as space tends to fill up regardless of our intentions. Eventually, many give up in front of the miscellaneous items that accumulate over the years. Sorting should be planned well before a move and, ideally, should be a part of our daily habits. If you don't want to waste or throw away items, consider the many flea markets that are regularly organized, charities that collect bulky items, or online sales and donation sites. Some are probably targeted by neighborhoods, encouraging people to travel more easily.
Estimate the volume of your belongings yourself
Anticipate the likely volume of your move. This is a way to gauge the amount of sorting to be done. Online calculators can give you a preliminary idea on this matter. Another standard but more hands-on tip is to roughly divide the area of your home by two. If your home is 100 square meters, expect about 50 cubic meters of volume to move. Then, it depends on the number of furniture pieces and your tendency to accumulate items. Adjust about 10% depending on whether you tend to collect items or keep things minimal.
Compare quotes
It's prudent to get at least two to three quotes from different moving companies. Make sure you are comparing the same services, guarantees, and timelines. Also, check if the quote includes additional port or airport fees, customs duties, and insurance.
Consider group moving solutions and rail transport
To save on costs, don't overlook the possibility of group moving. Similar to carpooling, this involves combining several moves in one container. Not surprisingly, this method can save on transport costs. Whether by road or sea, you can expect to save 30 to 50% on average compared to an individual move. However, you must be prepared to accept less flexibility and longer delivery times. These group moving options are only suitable for smaller volumes, generally less than 20 cubic meters.
For moves that don't require air or sea transport, check with the chosen company if there's a possibility of doing it by train. Rail transport can save an average of 25 to 30% of your costs, provided you are willing to accept slightly longer delivery times.
