($738+) Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA Movers
Moving from Mobile, AL, to Philadelphia, PA, runs anywhere from $738 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,212 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,104 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,210, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $8,212 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,217 - $4,215, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $738 - $1,917.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Mobile, AL, to Philadelphia, PA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,681 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA
Moving options from Mobile to Philadelphia fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $2,681 - $6,229 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 43% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 71% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,104 miles and typically takes 2 to 8 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,104-mile route from Mobile to Philadelphia, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,210 - $4,873 with full-service movers, $1,217 - $2,249 with a container, $738 - $1,271 with a rental truck, or $1,084 - $1,965 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,681 - $6,229 full-service, $1,536 - $3,193 by container, $783 - $1,574 by rental truck, or $1,216 - $2,431 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $4,700 - $8,212 full-service, $2,034 - $4,215 by container, $994 - $1,917 by rental truck, or $1,611 - $3,081 by freight.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA
Hiring full-service movers from Mobile, Alabama, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, costs between $2,210 and $8,212. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,104-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $276 - $1,840, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Mobile and Philadelphia. For a rough baseline, movers based in Mobile tend to start around $367 plus $150/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Mobile to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,210 - $4,873
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,681 - $6,229
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,700 - $8,212
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Mobile to Philadelphia.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA
Specialty needs vary by market: 57% of Mobile movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Philadelphia, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing70% of local movers | $460 - $4,600 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready57% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $184 - $1,104/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $276 - $2,208 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage7% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs33% of local movers | $920 - $2,760 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,300 - $9,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $689 - $1,309 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items13% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Motivated Movers, Inc. | $920 - $2,300 |
| Piano | Any piano type22% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Motivated Movers, Inc. | $736 - $3,220 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $276 - $1,380 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect7% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Motivated Movers, Inc. | $598 - $1,840 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $276 - $13,800+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $276 - $3,220+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Mobile to Philadelphia?
Look for Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Pennsylvania beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Mobile, AL, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA
Moving containers from Mobile, Alabama, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $1,217 and $4,215. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Mobile costs roughly $80/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Mobile to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,217 - $2,249
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,536 - $3,193
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,034 - $4,215
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $644 in Mobile, AL. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $69 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $138 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Philadelphia, PA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Alabama to Pennsylvania move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,217. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,536 - $3,193.
What are the best moving containers Mobile to Philadelphia?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Mobile to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Mobile:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 2 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.7/5), 23 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA
A rental truck for this 1,104-mile move from Mobile, Alabama, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, costs between $738 and $1,917. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $323 - $369
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- Mobile daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.89
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Mobile to Philadelphia based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $738 - $1,271
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $783 - $1,574
- 4+ bedrooms: $994 - $1,917
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $738 - $1,917 when pricing out a rental truck from Mobile to Philadelphia. Fuel alone runs $323 - $369, and overnight lodging ($138/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $138 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $60 and $299 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $323 - $369 in fuel for the 1,104-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $644 in Mobile, Alabama, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Mobile to Philadelphia?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Mobile, Alabama, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,216 and $2,431.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Mobile to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,084 - $1,965
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,216 - $2,431
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,611 - $3,081
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $69 and $138.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Mobile, Alabama, for roughly five hours typically average $644.
What are the best freight companies from Mobile to Philadelphia?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Mobile, AL vs Philadelphia, PA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Philadelphia, side by side with Mobile on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Mobile, AL | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 104 |
| Average rent | $1,300/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $168,803 | $231,098 |
| Average income | $51,090/yr | $60,698/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.0% | Up to 3.07% |
| Walkability score | 32/100 | 75/100 |
| Safety index | 35.05/100 | 33.91/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Philadelphia, PA to Mobile, AL guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Alabama to Pennsylvania in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 142 movers based in Alabama, handy for sizing up options on this 1,104-mile route.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,104-mile route from Mobile, AL, to Philadelphia, PA, run $2,210 - $8,212 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,217 - $4,215, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $738 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,681, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Amtak and Comcast.
FAQs: Moving from Mobile, AL, to Philadelphia, PA
How long does a move from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 8 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What is the best time of year to move from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Mobile, AL to Philadelphia, PA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
Is Philadelphia a safe place to live?
Philadelphia has a safety index of 33.91 out of 100 and a crime index of 66.09, compared to 35.05 and 64.95 in Mobile. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a walkability score of 75 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 67, compared to 32 and 34 in Mobile. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Mobile movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 22% of movers in Mobile handle piano moves, and 13% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.