Durham, NC to Wilmington, DE Movers (NEW 2026 Costs)
Quick answer: Moving from Durham to Wilmington typically costs $1,800–$5,300 with full-service movers for a 2–3 bedroom home (about 367 miles). Use our moving cost calculator below to get an instant estimate.
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Cost to move from Durham to Wilmington
Moving from Durham, NC to Wilmington, DE typically costs $1,800–$5,300 with full-service movers for a 2–3 bedroom home.
The price ranges below are estimates for a 367-mile move from Durham to Wilmington, based on moveBuddha pricing data as of Mar 16, 2026. Pricing is updated monthly to reflect seasonality and market changes.
Studio / 1 bedroom
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2-3 bedrooms
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4+ bedrooms
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Recent moving quotes for similar moves
- Allied Van Lines recently quoted $2,338 for a 1 bedroom (large) using professional movers.
- Mayflower Transit recently quoted $4,224 for a 5+ bedroom using professional movers.
- PODS recently quoted $1,557 for a studio apartment using a moving container.
1 Bedroom (large)
Feb 13, 2026
5+ Bedrooms
Feb 06, 2026
Studio apartment
Feb 03, 2026
1 Bedroom (large)
Feb 01, 2026
1 Bedroom (small)
Jan 30, 2026
1 Bedroom (small)
Jan 16, 2026
1 Bedroom (large)
Jan 07, 2026
5+ Bedrooms
Dec 21, 2025
2 Bedrooms
Dec 12, 2025
Studio apartment
Dec 06, 2025
Key factors that influence moving costs from Durham to Wilmington
Your total cost will depend on:
- The size of your home: Smaller moves (like one-bedrooms) cost less, sometimes just $1,100, while larger moves (four-bedrooms) can hit $7,200.
- Time of year: Summer is peak moving season in Durham, which means higher prices.
- The type of mover you choose: Renting a truck ($400–$1,000) saves money but adds work compared to hiring pros.
Moving the opposite route? We got you covered with our moving from Wilmington, DE to Durham, NC guide.
Best Durham to Wilmington movers by type
Professional
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Local
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Container
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Rental Truck
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Labor Only
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Best professional movers from Durham to Wilmington
If you want to simplify your interstate move from Durham to Wilmington, consider hiring a full-service mover. These professionals will take care of everything, so you can prioritize settling into your new environment without the extra hassle.
Want a deeper breakdown of the top long-distance movers? See our best interstate movers guide.
- Safeway Moving: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.2 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Best overall value
How we chose the best NC→DE movers
At moveBuddha, our specialists conducted a thorough evaluation of 115 North Carolina moving companies, identifying the leading ones by examining client satisfaction, reviews, and value.
- Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Errors happen in moving. The best companies acknowledge them quickly and take real steps to resolve any problems for their customers.
- Industry reputation (15%): Within the moving field, the company has earned respect and regularly engages in conferences and trade groups.
- Online reputation (15%): The organization ensures its website is reliable and actively addresses online customer inquiries in a professional manner.
- Service options (10%): Top movers provide versatile offerings including packing, storage, special-item handling, and the option for faster delivery when needed.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
What to know before moving from Durham to Wilmington
Expect a bump in monthly expenses after the move - Wilmington runs about 26% higher for singles and -27% higher for families than Durham.
Singles spend around $3,533 in Wilmington versus $2,803 in Durham; families pay $4,350 compared with $5,945.
Dig into the side-by-side details here:
| Durham | Wilmington | |
|---|---|---|
| Average 1 BR rent | $1,875 | $1,933 |
| Average 3 BR rent | $2,573 | $3,200 |
| Average home value | $391,719 | $307,799 |
| Average income (per capita) | $69,117 | $49,354 |
| Cost of living (single) | $2,803 | $3,533 |
| Cost of living (family of four) | $5,945 | $4,350 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 10.3% |
| Sales tax | 7.5% | 0.0% |
| State income tax | 4.5% | 6.6% |
- Rent is estimated to be 7% higher in Wilmington compared to Durham; it's essential to account for this in your budget planning.
- Your budget can breathe easier with home prices being close to 21% less in Wilmington than in Durham.
- Consider checking your finances before the transition. The average income is approximately 29% lower in Wilmington compared to Durham.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Wilmington, since the cost of living for a single person in Wilmington is 26% higher than in Durham. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- Choosing to move to Wilmington can significantly lower your family's regular expenses, such as utilities, transport, and groceries. The cost of living for a family of four is 27% less than in Durham.
- In Wilmington, the unemployment rate is approximately 151% higher than in Durham, indicating a larger group of job seekers. This can lead to increased competition for positions.
- Wilmington has no sales tax, so you’ll save money on every taxable purchase compared to Durham. This can be especially helpful if you make frequent or larger purchases.
- Income taxes are 47% higher in Delaware than in North Carolina, meaning that a larger fraction of your income will be spent on state taxes, potentially reducing your savings.
Here’s a closer snapshot of how common everyday costs and monthly bills compare between Durham and Wilmington:
| Living Expense | Durham | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities | $148.21 | $126.92 |
| Cell phone plan | $51.67 | $44.10 |
| Dozen eggs | $4.53 | $3.05 |
| Loaf of bread | $3.66 | $3.56 |
| Fast-food/casual eatery (one meal) | $15.00 | $16.00 |
| Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) | $70.00 | $72.50 |
| Gym membership | $40.00 | $33.50 |
- Basic utilities tend to be more expensive in Durham than in Wilmington.
- Cell phone plans typically cost more in Durham than in Wilmington.
- Eggs cost more in Durham than in Wilmington.
- Bread is more expensive in Durham than in Wilmington.
- A quick meal is cheaper in Durham than in Wilmington.
- A mid-range dinner for two costs less in Durham than in Wilmington.
- Gym memberships cost more in Durham than in Wilmington.
How life is different in Durham vs. Wilmington
| Durham | Wilmington | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 283,506 | 70,898 |
| Transportation score | 4 | 6 |
| Walkability score | 30 | 74 |
| Bike friendliness score | 38 | 52 |
| Crime index | 54.72 | 67.32 |
| Safety index | 45.28 | 32.68 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
- Wilmington's population is about 75% less than Durham.
- Wilmington's public transportation score of 6 out of 10 is higher than Durham's score of 4.
- Wilmington is more walkable than Durham with a score of 74 out of 100 vs Durham's 30 out of 100.
- With a score of 52 out of 100, Wilmington is more bike-friendly than Durham, which has a score of 38 out of 100. The higher a city's score, the more suited it is to safely accommodating cyclists.
- Wilmington's crime rate is higher than Durham with a score of 67.32 compared to Durham's 54.72. This means that Wilmington neighborhoods are safer than 67.32% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Durham neighborhoods are safer than 54.72%.
- Wilmington is considered to be less safe than Durham with a score of 32.68 vs Durham's 45.28.
- Air quality in Wilmington is Good, and in Durham it's Good.
Other things to consider for your Durham to Wilmington move
- HOA rules: Be sure to review your community or HOA guidelines before moving day to avoid any surprises or delays.
- Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
- Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
- State licensing: Movers headquartered in Delaware that offer local and intrastate moving services don’t need to be licensed. Still, they must comply with Delaware Department of Transportation (DDOT) regulations on insurance and commercial vehicle safety. Always verify licensing details before committing to a mover.
- State regulator: You can verify a Delaware moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: Delaware doesn't require moving permits, but it's still a good idea to check local parking rules before your move-in day.
- 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 Wilmington. Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. Selecting Released Value Protection is a cost-effective choice, provided at no extra charge by movers, even though it offers limited coverage. Within this option, the mover's responsibility is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. If you're concerned about the value of your possessions and require more extensive coverage, consider discussing alternative options with the moving company you've chosen or explore third-party insurance providers. Ensure comprehensive protection for your belongings during the move by exploring these additional coverage choices.
- Moving checklist: Follow our moving checklist to keep your move organized and stress-free.
Where to live in Wilmington
Now that you've decided to make the move to Chemical Capital of the World, these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Wilmington.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Trolley Square
- Happy Valley
- Midtown Brandywine
- Delaware Avenue
- Trinity Vicinity
Best neighborhoods for families
- Forty Acres
- Happy Valley
- Trolley Square
- Lower Highlands
- Wawaset Park/Wawaset Heghts
Things to do in Wilmington
Once you're settled into your new home in Delaware, it's time to get out and discover what Wilmington has to offer. No matter your interests, there's something for everyone here:
- Arts and culture: You'll find museums and cultural hubs throughout Wilmington, such as the Nemours Estate, Hagley Museum And Library, Delaware Children's Museum, and Delaware Art Museum.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Bellevue State Park, Brandywine Park, Rockford Park & Tower, and Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park — and more — offering great opportunities to hike, bike, or relax in nature.
- Sports: Sports fans can join the excitement by supporting local favorites at an Delaware Blue Coats (NBA G League)Wilmington Blue Rocks (MiLB)Delaware Black Foxes (USARL)Bearfight FC of Wilmington (USASA) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Durham to Wilmington?
The best time to move from Durham to Wilmington is during the spring or fall. These seasons offer milder weather and avoid higher moving costs during the peak moving season in Durham.
When is the cheapest time to move from Durham to Wilmington?
Since spring and fall are the most popular times to move from Durham to Wilmington, moving in the winter could help you save money. Check out our guide on moving discounts for more tips.
How long does a move from Durham to Wilmington take?
Moving from Durham, NC to Wilmington, DE covers 367 miles and usually takes one to four days. Need to move faster? Some Durham movers offer expedited options. If you're not ready to receive your items, look into storage solutions in Wilmington.
Who can move pianos or antiques in Durham?
Specialty items need extra care and the right equipment. 18 movers in Durham advertise piano moving expertise. 7 movers in Durham provide antique moving services. State totals show 77 piano movers and 37 antique movers, with nationwide availability at 2,296 and 1,463.
Book early if you need these services — demand can outpace supply during busy moving seasons.
