My Move from San Antonio to New York City with U-Pack: What It Actually Cost
As told to moveBuddha
- Janna G. moved from San Antonio, Texas, to New York, New York, in 2022 to resume her career as a Broadway musician, a 1,833-mile move requiring one ReloCube (2,500 lbs, 6′ x 7′ x 8′).
- After comparing four quotes, she hired U-Pack. The container cost $1,911, but NYC delivery restrictions pushed her final bill to $2,500.98.
- This is Janna’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on moveBuddha’s conversation with Janna G. about her move from Texas to New York. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I spent four years performing as a percussionist on Broadway before the pandemic closed theaters and changed everything. Once Broadway shut down, I moved to San Antonio, Texas, where the cost of living gave me room to figure out my next step. I’m also in the middle of composing a musical, and I needed somewhere to work on it.
When the opportunity came to go back to New York, I was ready. Moving back meant moving a lot of gear: guitars, bass, keyboard, synth, a full drum set, percussion instruments, a vibraphone, monitors, an audio interface, a preamp, microphones, and more.
Getting everything there safely was my biggest concern. I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes and find the right company for the job.
My U-Pack experience at a glance
- Responsive but not proactive: U-Pack answered my questions whenever I called, but they didn’t usually reach out to me first. I had to stay on top of communication myself throughout the process.
- Transparent pricing: After getting quotes from four moving companies, I chose U-Pack because they offered the clearest pricing and the lowest overall quote for what I needed.
- Check parking regulations before you book: New York City doesn’t allow moving containers on certain residential streets, which meant U-Pack couldn’t deliver directly to my apartment. I had to hire local movers to pick up my things from a storage facility in New Jersey, which added to my total cost.
- Minor delays on both ends: U-Pack arrived late on both pickup and delivery days. My items also reached the New Jersey storage facility several days past the scheduled date.
- Would I use U-Pack again? Yes, but I’d also consider PODS as an alternative, since they deliver directly to Manhattan addresses.
My move at a glance
| Moving From | San Antonio, Texas, 78209 |
|---|---|
| Moving to | New York, New York, 10031 |
| Distance | 1833 |
| Moving Company | U-Pack and TaskRabbit |
| Moving quote | $1911 for the U-Pack |
| Actual cost* | $2500.98 ($1911 for the U-Pack + $529.98 for the TaskRabbit movers + $60 tip) |
*Note that the additional cost is due to New York City regulations that don’t allow moving containers such as U-Pack’s to be delivered to residential neighborhoods. More on this later in the post.
rating
5 / 5
Why I chose U-Pack
I researched several container moving companies and got quotes from four of them. U-Pack was the most affordable option for what I needed, and I knew I could keep costs down by loading and unloading the container myself. PODS was my first call, and they quoted $2,500 for the same route. U-Pack came in at $1,911, which made the decision straightforward.
I also knew going in that I’d need to hire local movers in New York City. U-Pack can’t deliver to doorsteps in Manhattan, only to Brooklyn and Queens, so I’d have to hire someone to pick up my things from a New Jersey storage facility. Even with that extra cost factored in, U-Pack was still the better deal. One thing I found out afterward: PODS does deliver to Manhattan doorsteps, which would have simplified the logistics, though I’m not sure it would have been cheaper.
Communicating with U-Pack
U-Pack wasn’t the most proactive communicator, but they were easy to reach. I called several times in the days leading up to the move as questions kept coming up, and they answered clearly each time.
As moving day got closer, I got more anxious and wanted to confirm every detail. U-Pack handled each call without issue, even when I called multiple times in a short span.
rating
5 / 5
Pickup day
Before the container arrived, I packed and secured all of my belongings myself, including all the fragile instruments.
The U-Pack ReloCube was delivered as scheduled, and I loaded everything myself. It took about four hours to get it all packed in. Once I was done, the driver loaded the ReloCube into the truck in about 10 minutes.
Delivery day
My items were supposed to arrive between 8 a.m. and noon. By 12:15, nothing had shown up, so I called.
I had actually called a few times before the scheduled delivery date to check on my shipment and learned that U-Pack was waiting on other deliveries, which pushed my timeline back. Three days after the original delivery date, I got a text that my ReloCube had arrived at a storage facility in New Jersey. I then hired movers through TaskRabbit to pick up my things and bring them to my apartment in Harlem.
TaskRabbit movers spent about three hours total moving everything from the storage unit to my place. I have a two-story apartment, and there was no way I could have gotten my desk or bookshelf upstairs without professional help.
If you’re moving somewhere with strict street or parking regulations, check the local rules before you book your container. Some cities, including New York City, don’t allow moving containers in certain residential neighborhoods, which can mean added cost and logistics you didn’t plan for.
Final thoughts
The biggest thing I’d change is giving the movers a more accurate inventory of everything I had. When the TaskRabbit driver arrived at the New Jersey storage facility, he couldn’t fit everything in his van. U-Pack was about to charge me a weekend storage fee, and they were closing in about an hour. He managed to strap my bookshelf to the roof of the van and rearrange the rest to make it work, but it was a stressful hour.
Overall, I’d still use U-Pack again. The pricing was fair, the ReloCube held everything I needed to move, and my belongings arrived safely. The delays were frustrating, but they didn’t change my overall impression of the company. I’d also consider trying PODS next time since they deliver directly to Manhattan, which would cut out the whole New Jersey storage step, and they might be more reliable on timing.
Planning a long-distance move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from top-rated movers and find the right option for your budget.
More about U-Pack
- U-Pack: A Complete Review
- How Much Does U-Pack Cost?
- What Is a U-Pack ReloCube?
- PODS vs. U-Pack: Which Should You Choose?
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