How Much Does It Cost to Move House in Australia? (2026)
In short: a local move within an Australian capital costs about $400–$2,400 all-in, depending on home size. An interstate move is priced by volume and route — roughly $3,200 for a 2-bedroom Sydney–Melbourne, $6,800 for a 3-bedroom Melbourne–Brisbane, up to $9,800+ for a 3-bedroom Sydney–Perth.
These figures are based on MOVA's real quote engine and route-benchmark data across Australian capital cities. Your exact price depends on how much you move (cubic metres), property access (stairs, lifts, parking), the date, and — for interstate — the specific corridor. Below is what to expect, and what drives the number.
Scan your home and get an instant price →Local moving cost by home size
Local moves (within a city) are priced by time — a 2-mover crew at roughly $130–$160/hr plus a call-out fee. You pay for the hours actually worked, so the main driver is how much you own and how hard the access is at each end.
| Home size | Typical time | All-in cost |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 2–4 hrs | $400 – $800 |
| 2 bedroom | 4–6 hrs | $650 – $1,100 |
| 3 bedroom house | 6–9 hrs | $1,000 – $1,700 |
| 4+ bedroom house | 8–12 hrs | $1,400 – $2,400 |
Capital-city averages, 2-mover crew, all-in (labour + truck + GST). Stairs, no-lift high floors, pianos and long carries add time.
Interstate moving cost by route
Interstate moves are priced by cubic metres × a route rate, not a flat per-kilometre fee. Busy corridors are cheaper per m³ because trucks run them constantly; remote and return-empty routes cost more. A 2-bedroom load is ~24 m³ and a 3-bedroom home ~35 m³.
| Route | Per m³ | 2-bed (~24m³) | 3-bed (~35m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney ↔ Melbourne | $135 | $3,200 | $4,700 |
| Sydney ↔ Brisbane | $130 | $3,100 | $4,550 |
| Melbourne ↔ Brisbane | $185–195 | $4,500 | $6,800 |
| Melbourne ↔ Adelaide | $150 | $3,600 | $5,300 |
| Sydney ↔ Adelaide | $192 | $4,600 | $6,700 |
| Sydney ↔ Canberra | $117 | $2,800 | $4,100 |
| Adelaide ↔ Perth | $254 | $6,100 | $8,900 |
| Melbourne ↔ Perth | $210–260 | $5,600 | $8,500 |
| Sydney ↔ Perth | $280 | $6,700 | $9,800 |
| Melbourne ↔ Hobart (ferry) | $274 | $6,600 | $9,600 |
Source: MOVA route-benchmark data, 2026. Interstate moves on MOVA are free to post and bid-based — verified long-distance movers compete and you choose the best offer, so your final price can land below these benchmarks.
What drives your moving price
Volume (cubic metres)
The biggest factor for interstate, and a major one locally. More furniture and boxes = more truck space and loading time.
Property access
Stairs, no lift on a high floor, narrow doorways, and long carries from the truck all add labour time.
Distance & route
Local is round-trip transit; interstate is your m³ on a specific corridor. Popular corridors cost less per m³.
Date
Weekends, month-end lease turnover, and December–January peak season carry surcharges. Mid-week mid-month is cheapest.
Special items
Pianos, pool tables, safes and fragile/antique pieces need extra handling and may add a surcharge.
Crew & truck size
Bigger homes need a 3–4 person crew and a larger truck, which changes the hourly rate and time.
How MOVA estimates your cost
Instead of a phone guess, you scan your rooms with your phone. MOVA's AI detects your furniture and boxes, estimates the cubic metres and loading time, and prices it the same way the industry actually works — hourly for local, per-m³ by corridor for interstate. For interstate, your job is posted free and verified long-distance movers bid for it, so you compare real offers rather than accept one inflated quote.
Moving cost FAQs
How much does it cost to move house in Australia?
A local move within an Australian capital city typically costs $400–$2,400 all-in, depending on home size: roughly $400–$800 for a studio or 1-bedroom, $650–$1,100 for a 2-bedroom, $1,000–$1,700 for a 3-bedroom house, and $1,400–$2,400 for a 4+ bedroom home. Interstate moves are priced by volume and route and range from about $2,000 for a small load on a short corridor to $10,000+ for a large home on a long route such as Sydney to Perth.
How much does an interstate move cost in Australia?
Interstate moving cost is driven by how many cubic metres you move and the route. As a guide, a 3-bedroom home (about 35 m³) costs roughly $4,700 Sydney–Melbourne, $6,800 Melbourne–Brisbane, and $9,800 Sydney–Perth. Busy corridors (Sydney–Melbourne–Brisbane) are cheaper per cubic metre because trucks run them constantly; remote or return-empty routes (to Perth, Darwin, or across the Bass Strait to Hobart) cost more per cubic metre.
How much does a 2-bedroom move cost?
A local 2-bedroom move in an Australian capital usually costs $650–$1,100 all-in for a 2-mover crew over 4–6 hours. The same 2-bedroom load moving interstate is priced by volume (~24 m³): about $3,200 Sydney–Melbourne, $4,500 Melbourne–Brisbane, or $6,700 Sydney–Perth.
What is the cheapest day to move house?
Mid-week (Tuesday to Thursday) and mid-month are the cheapest times to move in Australia. Weekends, the first and last few days of the month (lease turnover), and peak summer (December–January) carry higher demand and surcharges. Booking a weekday mid-month can save 10–20% versus a Saturday at month-end.
Why do interstate moving quotes vary so much between companies?
Two reasons. First, scope: a real all-in price (labour + truck + transit + insurance + GST) is very different from a "from $X" teaser. Second, backloading: most interstate moves share truck space on a route the mover already runs, so the price reflects your cubic metres on that specific corridor — not a flat per-kilometre charge. A move that fills a popular corridor cheaply can cost far less per cubic metre than a small load on a remote route.
Are there hidden fees when moving with MOVA?
No. MOVA quotes are all-in and itemised. Local moves take a single $30 refundable deposit to post the job (refunded if no mover accepts); interstate moves are free to post. You only pay your move price after the job is confirmed complete via the dual-PIN system, and funds are held in escrow until then.