Quick answer: The cost to move from Des Moines to Columbus ranges from $802 to $7,010 and the journey will take approximately two to seven days. Key factors influencing these estimates include your moving volume, chosen moving date, and whether you opt for professional movers or handle the 994-mile move on your own.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from Columbus to Des Moines guide.
Our track record
Best movers by type
Choosing an interstate mover from Des Moines, IA, to Columbus, GA, isn’t as simple as picking the first name you find. In Des Moines, there are 9 companies that can handle that route, each with their own approach, pricing, and service style.
Our team took a close look at every interstate mover in Des Moines, examining service options, costs, and what customers are actually saying in reviews. The result is a carefully curated list of the best long-distance movers in Des Moines you can trust with your Des Moines to Columbus relocation.
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Labor only
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Best professional movers from Des Moines to Columbus
When you’d rather skip the packing tape, heavy lifting, and scheduling hassles for your interstate move from Des Moines to Columbus, full-service movers are the answer. They manage every step so you can keep your attention on the big decisions and the excitement of the move.
Here are our picks for the most reliable full-service movers ready to take you from Des Moines to Columbus without the headaches.
Safeway Moving
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American Van Lines
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Allied Van Lines
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Mayzlin Relocation
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North American Van Lines
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What moving services are available in Des Moines?
How we chose the best moving companies for your IA to GA move
Find trusted moving companies for your Des Moines to Columbus journey
Organizing a move from Des Moines to Columbus can be daunting, particularly when trying to identify a reliable mover that offers long-distance services. The choices are vast, but which ones stand out?
We've done the groundwork for you, evaluating local movers in Des Moines known for their long-distance moving capabilities, assessing them on pricing, customer experiences, and reliability.
Here are the top local moving companies to ensure a smooth transition from Des Moines to Columbus.
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- All Mighty Movers LLC: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- Adamantine Spine Moving: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- Select Van & Storage Co.: 4.34 out of 5 stars
- Lint Van Lines: 4.2 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
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
Company Info
Years in Business: 79
DOT #: 1098759
Alternate Names: Mayflower
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
Company Info
Years in Business: 65
DOT #: 543541
Alternate Names: Lint Van Lines
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
How much does it cost to move from Des Moines to Columbus?
Des Moines movers charge $142 per hour on average. Here are average prices for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck:
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,411 - $5,383 | $944 - $2,324 | $734 - $1,337 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,911 - $7,010 | $1,662 - $3,501 | $802 - $1,672 |
4+ bedrooms | $4,652 - $9,423 | $2,171 - $4,297 | $1,006 - $2,034 |
Cost to hire movers from Iowa to Georgia
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from Iowa to Georgia will cost between $1,411 and $5,383. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from IA to GA will range from $2,911 to $7,010, and a large move from Iowa to Georgia will cost from $4,652 to $9,423.
Cost of moving containers from Iowa to Georgia
Moving containers from Iowa to Georgia will cost you $944 to $2,324 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,662 to $3,501. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $2,171 to $4,297. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of Iowa.
Cost of moving truck rentals from Iowa to Georgia
Renting a moving truck is usually your cheapest option, but keep in mind you'll be handling all the loading, unloading, and driving yourself.
If you're moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment with a rental truck, expect to spend between $734 and $1,337. For two to three bedrooms, rates typically fall between $802 and $1,672. Relocating a four-bedroom (or bigger) home? You're likely looking at anywhere from $1,006 up to $2,034 for your rental truck.
These quotes include estimated fuel costs.
Key factors that impact the cost of your Des Moines to Columbus move
What to know before moving from Des Moines to Columbus
Looking to trim monthly costs? Columbus usually runs cheaper than Des Moines — about 8% for singles and 12% for families.
Singles average $2,041 in Columbus vs. $1,891 in Des Moines; families see $3,834 vs. $4,380.
The breakdown below shows where those savings appear:
- Rent prices in Columbus are 4% lower than in Des Moines, which means you'll have more money in your pocket each month.
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In terms of homeownership, you'll be able to get more for your money in Columbus.
Home prices in Columbus are 17.9% lower than in Des Moines. - Income in Columbus is 13.6% lower than in Des Moines, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Columbus — including Aflac, TSYS, and Synovus — may pay more.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Columbus, since the cost of living for a single person in Columbus is 7.9% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- A move to Columbus can help cut down on a family's routine expenses, including utilities, transportation, and groceries. The cost of living for a family of four is 12.5% less than what it costs in Des Moines.
- The unemployment rate in Columbus is 10.17% lower than in Des Moines.
- Shopping and dining out will likely be a little pricier in Columbus, since its sales taxes are 28.57% higher than what you are paying in Des Moines.
- State income taxes in Columbus are 24.77% higher than in Des Moines.
The breakdown below shows how typical living costs and monthly expenses line up when comparing Des Moines with Columbus.
Des Moines | Columbus | |
---|---|---|
Basic utilities | $144.82 | $211.4 |
Cell phone plan | $51.25 | $40.33 |
Dozen eggs | $3.61 | $2.24 |
Loaf of bread | $2.5 | $3.52 |
Fast-food/casual eatery (one meal) | $16 | $18 |
Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) | $77.5 | $50 |
Gym membership | $66.67 | $10 |
- Basic utilities cost less in Des Moines than in Columbus, helping trim your monthly bills.
- Cell phone plans typically cost more in Des Moines than in Columbus.
- Eggs cost more in Des Moines than in Columbus.
- Bread costs less in Des Moines than in Columbus.
- A quick meal is cheaper in Des Moines than in Columbus.
- A mid-range dinner for two is pricier in Des Moines than in Columbus.
- Gym memberships cost more in Des Moines than in Columbus.
How life is different in Des Moines vs. Columbus
Columbus | Des Moines | |
---|---|---|
Population | 206,922 | 699,292 |
Transportation Score | 2 | 5 |
Walkability score | 25 | 45 |
Bike friendliness score | 31 | 39 |
Crime Index | 72.18 | 5.0 |
Safety Index | 27.82 | 57.8 |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
- Columbus might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 70% less than Des Moines.
- Getting around Columbus without a car might be more difficult than in Des Moines. Columbus has a public transportation score of 2 out of 10, whereas Des Moines is ranked 5. Ratings are based on a city's transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
- Columbus neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Des Moines. Based on its score of 25 out of 100, Columbus isn't as walkable as Des Moines, which has a score of 45 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
- You probably won't see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Columbus, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Des Moines. While Des Moines has a bike-friendliness score of 39 out of 100, Columbus earned a 31. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
- The crime rate in Columbus is higher than in Des Moines, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 72.18 in Columbus, it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city's crime levels.
- You may want to exercise more caution as you're getting used to your new surroundings in Columbus. With a crime index of 27.82, Columbus ranks lower in overall safety than Des Moines, whose index is 57.8. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
- The air quality in Columbus and Des Moines is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.
Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. Columbus move
- Weather: Columbus has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters.
- 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: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
- Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
- State licensing: Moving companies in Georgia are regulated by the the Georgia Department of Public Safety (GDPS). Regulations include insurance requirements and the handling of consumer complaints. Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
- State regulator: You can verify a Georgia moving company's license by visiting the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: You won't need a moving permit in Georgia, though it's smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly to Columbus Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations. Opt for Released Value Protection for its cost-effectiveness, offered by movers at no extra charge. However, it provides minimal coverage, with the mover's responsibility limited to 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage matching the full value of your items, explore other options with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
- Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Where to live in Columbus
Now that you've decided to make the move to Lowell of the South[, these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Columbus.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- MidTown
- Uptown
- Downtown Columbus
- Overlook
- Lakebottom
Best neighborhoods for families
- North Columbus
- Brookstone
- Green Island Hills
- MidTown
- Ivy Park
Things to do in Columbus
Now that you've made the move to Georgia it's the perfect time to explore Columbus From local hotspots to hidden gems, there's something to enjoy for every lifestyle:
- Arts and culture: Columbus is home to museums and cultural arts centers like the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, National Civil War Naval Museum, Columbus Museum, Coca-Cola Space Science Center, and The Lunch Box Museum.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Flat Rock Park — among other sites — are great places to hike, ride bikes, or just enjoy nature.
- Sports: Catch a live game and cheer on the home team at an Columbus Lions (NAL), Columbus River Dragons (FPHL), Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots (SBL), or Columbus Rapids (NISL) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Des Moines to Columbus?
The most budget-friendly and comfortable times to move from Des Moines to Columbus are in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and moving rates in Des Moines. are lower.
When is the cheapest time to move from Des Moines to Columbus?
Because most people are moving from Des Moines to Columbus in the spring or fall, you can often catch discounts by moving in the winter. Read our guide on moving discounts to learn more.
How long does a move from Des Moines to Columbus take?
Moving from Des Moines, IA to Columbus, GA covers 994 miles and usually takes two to seven days Need to move faster? Some Des Moines movers offer expedited options. If you're not ready to receive your items, look into storage solutions in Columbus.
Are piano and antique moving services available in Des Moines?
Not all movers have the resources to handle high-value or delicate items. In Des Moines, 10 movers can manage piano relocations. 6 movers are equipped for antique transport. By comparison, Iowa has 22 piano movers and 14 antique movers, while nationwide there are 2174 and 1400 respectively.
Always confirm the mover’s experience and packing methods for fragile or specialty items before booking.