($759+) Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA Movers
Moving from Kansas City, MO, to Philadelphia, PA, runs anywhere from $796 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,206 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,125 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 $2,173, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,206 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,212 - $4,388, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $796 - $2,091.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Kansas City, MO, to Philadelphia, PA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,811 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 Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA
There are 3 main ways to move from Kansas City to Philadelphia: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $2,811 - $6,648. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 1,125 miles, expect 2 to 8 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,125-mile route from Kansas City to Philadelphia, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $2,173 - $5,187 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,212 - $2,479), rental truck ($796 - $1,487), or freight trailer ($1,148 - $2,040). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,811 - $6,648 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $8,206.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA
For the 1,125-mile move from Kansas City, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, full-service movers cost between $2,173 and $8,206. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $283 - $1,888 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Kansas City generally start around $251 plus $113 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Kansas City to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,173 - $5,187
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,811 - $6,648
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,671 - $8,206
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 Kansas City to Philadelphia.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Pennsylvania. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA
Specialty needs vary by market — 72% of Kansas City movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Philadelphia, 90% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $472 - $4,720 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready72% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Bellhop Moving | $189 - $1,133/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $283 - $2,266 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage32% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs52% of local movers | $944 - $2,832 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,360 - $9,440 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $707 - $1,343 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items60% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Moving Proz | $944 - $2,360 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Moving Proz | $755 - $3,304 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling32% of local movers | $283 - $1,416 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Moving Proz | $614 - $1,888 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $283 - $14,160+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $283 - $3,304+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Kansas City to Philadelphia?
All three below meet the standards set by the Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates, the group most Pennsylvania movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Kansas City, MO. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA
Moving containers from Kansas City, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $1,212 and $4,388. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Kansas City typically costs about $75/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Kansas City to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,212 - $2,479
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,577 - $3,123
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,111 - $4,388
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $71 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $142 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Philadelphia, PA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $661 in Kansas City, MO. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Missouri 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 $1,212. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,577 - $3,123, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City:
- Moving Proz (4.9/5), 10 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.6/5), 15 years in business
- Metro Wide Movers, LLC (4.8/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA
Plan on $796 - $2,091 for a rental moving truck on the 1,125-mile route from Kansas City, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $338 - $386
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Kansas City daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Kansas City to Philadelphia based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $796 - $1,487
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $819 - $1,786
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,071 - $2,091
Pro tip: A rental truck from Kansas City to Philadelphia looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $796 - $2,091. But once you factor in fuel ($338 - $386) , overnight lodging ($142/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Kansas City, Missouri, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $661.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $338 - $386 for the 1,125-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $57 and $307, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $142 per night for hotel stops on the 1,125-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $283 - $425.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Kansas City 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 Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Kansas City, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $850 and $2,499.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Kansas City to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,148 - $2,040
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,275 - $2,499
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,724 - $3,406
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Kansas City, Missouri, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $661.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $71 - $142 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Kansas City to Philadelphia?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
- Material Transport Co (4.62/5 stars): Material Transport Co is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Kansas City to Philadelphia, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Kansas City, MO 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 Kansas City on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Kansas City, MO | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 88 | 104 |
| Average rent | $1,300/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $223,324 | $231,098 |
| Average income | $67,449/yr | $60,698/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.8% | Up to 3.07% |
| Walkability score | 35/100 | 75/100 |
| Safety index | 42.6/100 | 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 Kansas City, MO guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Pennsylvania, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 54 movers licensed in Missouri, useful context for sizing up this 1,125-mile move.
Our take
A move from Kansas City, MO, to Philadelphia, PA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $2,173 - $8,206 on the 1,125-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,212 - $4,388, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $796 - $2,091. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,811 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Amtak and Comcast.
FAQs: Moving from Kansas City, MO, to Philadelphia, PA
How much does it cost to move from Kansas City, MO to Philadelphia, PA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,173 to $8,206, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,173 and $8,206, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What do local movers charge in Kansas City?
Local movers based in Kansas City typically start around $251 as a base rate, plus $113/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Philadelphia run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires moving companies that transport household goods within the state to obtain a license from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). Licenses are renewed every 1 to 2 years.
What are the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia?
For families, Bella Vista, Bustleton, and Chestnut Hill are worth a look in Philadelphia. If you're moving solo or without kids, Cedar Park, Fishtown, and Manayunk tend to be popular picks instead.
What percentage of Kansas City movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 64% of movers in Kansas City handle piano moves, and 60% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
