Top local movers for Des Moines to Huntsville moves
Searching for a dependable local mover in Des Moines that also provides long-distance services to Huntsville can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in — we’ve analyzed 13 local movers in Des Moines who specialize in long-distance relocations, factoring in cost, services, and customer feedback.
These are the best local moving companies for getting from Des Moines to Huntsville.
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.48 out of 5 stars
- All Mighty Movers LLC: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- Black Belt Movers: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- Adamantine Spine Moving: 4.36 out of 5 stars
Company Info
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 2527384
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
Pricing: $130/hr
Years in Business: 10
DOT #: 2468266
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
Years in Business: 7
DOT #: 2378173
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
Pricing: $150/hr
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 3527158
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
Pricing: $100/hr
Years in Business: 25
DOT #: 1471037
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
How much does it cost to move from Des Moines to Huntsville?
Movers in Iowa generally charge an average of $128 per hour. Check out these typical costs for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck rental:
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,111 – $4,072 | $767 – $1,877 | $537 – $980 |
| 2 – 3 bedrooms | $2,371 – $5,600 | $1,407 – $2,580 | $551 – $1,211 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,764 – $7,497 | $1,815 – $3,565 | $726 – $1,483 |
Cost to hire movers from Des Moines to Huntsville
Moving a studio or one-bedroom home from Des Moines to Huntsville typically costs between $1,111 and $4,072. For a two- or three-bedroom home, expect prices to fall between $2,371 and $5,600 when moving from Des Moines to Huntsville. If you’re tackling a large move (think four or five bedrooms) from Des Moines to Huntsville, you’re looking at costs ranging from $3,764 up to $7,497.
Cost of moving containers from Des Moines to Huntsville
If you’re relocating from Des Moines to Huntsville, you’ll typically spend between $767 and $1,877 for a small move. Have a two or three-bedroom home? Plan for costs to range from $1,407 up to $2,580. If you’re moving a larger home — four bedrooms or more — expect to pay anywhere between $1,815 and $3,565. For a full breakdown, check out our complete PODS cost guide.
Explore our top budget-friendly moving container companies for your move from Iowa.
Cost of moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Huntsville
Renting a moving truck is typically the most budget-friendly choice for a Des Moines to Huntsville move, but remember, you’ll be responsible for all the heavy lifting, packing, and driving on your own.
If you’re moving from a studio or one-bedroom place with a rental truck, expect to pay between $537 and $980. For a two- or three-bedroom move, costs usually range from $551 to $1,211. If you’re tackling a four-bedroom or bigger move, your rental truck will likely run between $726 and $1,483.
Estimated fuel costs are already factored into these quotes.
Major factors affecting moving costs from Des Moines to Huntsville

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Huntsville
Expect a bump in monthly expenses after the move – Huntsville runs about 66% higher for singles and -5% higher for families than Des Moines.
Singles spend around $3,133 in Des Moines versus $1,891 in Des Moines; families pay $4,140 compared with $4,380.
Dig into the side-by-side details here:
| Des Moines | Huntsville | |
|---|---|---|
| Average 1 BR rent | $1,229 | $1,358 |
| Average 3 BR rent | $1,763 | $2,400 |
| Average home value | $192,347 | $266,736 |
| Average income (per capita) | $58,492 | $60,959 |
| Cost of living (single) | $1,891 | $3,133 |
| Cost of living (family of four) | $4,380 | $4,140 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 3.1% |
| Sales tax | 7.0% | 9.0% |
| State income tax | 4.4% | 5.0% |
- Consider this before moving: Rent can be about 23% higher in Huntsville than in Des Moines, which may impact your monthly finances.
- A larger mortgage budget will be necessary since home prices are about 39% higher in Huntsville than in Des Moines.
- Luckily, the average income is within about 5% of the same in Huntsville and Des Moines, so no need to worry about big financial changes.
- Anticipate increased living expenses in Huntsville, as the cost of living for a single person in Huntsville is 66% greater than in Des Moines. This covers typical expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transport.
- The cost of living for a family remains roughly the same between Huntsville and Des Moines, varying by only about 5%, so you likely won’t notice a significant change in expenses.
- With an unemployment rate approximately 47% lower than Des Moines, Huntsville boasts a favorable employment scene and thriving economic conditions, ideal for new arrivals.
- Sales taxes in Huntsville exceed those in Des Moines by 29%, which can mean paying extra for usual purchases like clothes and electronics.
- Income taxes are 14% higher in Alabama than in Iowa. This means a larger portion of your earnings will go to state taxes, potentially reducing your take-home pay.
Take a detailed look at how everyday expenses stack up between Des Moines and Huntsville, from monthly bills to routine purchases:
| Living Expense | Des Moines | Huntsville |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities | $144.82 | $180.00 |
| Cell phone plan | $51.25 | $50.56 |
| Dozen eggs | $3.61 | $4.26 |
| Loaf of bread | $2.50 | $3.33 |
| Fast-food/casual eatery (one meal) | $16.00 | $16.50 |
| Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) | $77.50 | $62.50 |
| Gym membership | $66.67 | $44.00 |
- Basic utilities cost less in Des Moines than in Huntsville, helping trim your monthly bills.
- Cell phone plans typically cost more in Des Moines than in Huntsville.
- Eggs are less expensive in Des Moines than in Huntsville.
- Bread costs less in Des Moines than in Huntsville.
- A quick meal is cheaper in Des Moines than in Huntsville.
- A mid-range dinner for two is pricier in Des Moines than in Huntsville.
- Gym memberships cost more in Des Moines than in Huntsville.
How life is different in Des Moines vs. Huntsville
| Des Moines | Huntsville | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 699,292 | 241,114 |
| Transportation score | 5 | 2 |
| Walkability score | 45 | 24 |
| Bike friendliness score | 39 | 40 |
| Crime index | 5.0 | 42.55 |
| Safety index | 57.8 | 57.45 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
- Huntsville’s population is about 66% less than Des Moines.
- Huntsville’s public transportation score of 2 out of 10 is lower than Des Moines’s score of 5.
- Huntsville is less walkable than Des Moines with a score of 24 out of 100 vs Des Moines’s 45 out of 100.
- Both Huntsville and Des Moines have similar bike-friendliness scores (39 vs 40), meaning Huntsville is about as safe for cyclists as Des Moines. Typically, cities with scores of 20 or higher are seen as reasonably safe, though higher scores mean better cycling accessibility.
- Huntsville’s crime rate is higher than Des Moines with a score of 42.55 compared to Des Moines’s 5.0. This means that Huntsville neighborhoods are safer than 42.55% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Des Moines neighborhoods are safer than 5.0%.
- Huntsville and Des Moines have a similar safety level, with scores of 57.45 and 57.8.
- Air quality in Huntsville is Good, and in Des Moines it’s Good.
Other things to consider for your Des Moines to Huntsville move
- HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you’re familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
- Elevator reservation: If there is an elevator in your building, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
- Truck parking permits: Research parking requirements in your destination city to ensure your truck won’t run into restrictions.
- State licensing: To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can check the status of a Alabama moving license through the state’s public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: You won’t need a moving permit in Alabama, though it’s smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to Huntsville without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: State laws differ on mover insurance. Moving companies typically take responsibility for your belongings at a rate of 60 cents per pound (or even less) per item. This means that for a lightweight item weighing five pounds and valued at $500, the reimbursement would be only $3 in the event of loss or damage. To enhance your coverage, certain movers provide additional valuation options, such as declared value or lump sum value protection, which offer better protection compared to the basic released value protection. To better understand and explore these options, consider discussing them with your chosen moving company.
- Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you’ve got everything covered.
Where to live in Huntsville
Ready to relocate to The Rocket City? Here are some of the top neighborhoods to consider in Huntsville.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Five Points
- Downtown Huntsville
- Hampton Cove
- Whitesburg
- Research Park
Best neighborhoods for families
- Blossomwood
- Hampton Cove
- Jones Valley
- Madison
- South Huntsville
Things to do in Huntsville
Now that you’ve made the move to Alabama, it’s the perfect time to explore Huntsville. From local hotspots to hidden gems, there’s something to enjoy for every lifestyle:
- Arts and culture: Cultural attractions in Huntsville include museums and art centers like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum, Huntsville Museum of Art, and Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment.
- Outdoor recreation: Outdoor lovers will appreciate Big Spring Park, Dog Spot dog park, Bicentennial Park, and California Street Park, along with many other spots perfect for walking, cycling, and fresh air adventures.
- Sports: Catch a live game and cheer on the home team at an Huntsville Havoc (SPHL)North Alabama SC Gravity (WPSL)Rocket City Roller Derby (WFTDA)Rocket City Trash Pandas (AA Minow League) game.
FAQ
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