($1,096+) McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA Movers
Moving from McAllen, TX, to Philadelphia, PA, runs anywhere from $1,096 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,322 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,894 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 5 to 16 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 $2,270, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $10,322 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,557 - $5,667, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,096 - $3,166.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from McAllen, TX, to Philadelphia, PA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,225 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 McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA
Moving options from McAllen to Philadelphia fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $3,225 - $7,299 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 65% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,894 miles and typically takes 5 to 16 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,894-mile route from McAllen 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 $2,270 - $5,095 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,557 - $3,006), rental truck ($1,096 - $2,194), or freight trailer ($1,360 - $2,522). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $3,225 - $7,299 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $10,322.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA
Full-service movers for the 1,894-mile relocation from McAllen, Texas, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $2,270 and $10,322. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $262 - $1,744, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in McAllen typically charge a base rate around $160 plus $80 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from McAllen to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,270 - $5,095
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,225 - $7,299
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,030 - $10,322
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 McAllen to Philadelphia.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA
Specialty needs vary by market: 63% of McAllen movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Philadelphia, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing38% of local movers | $436 - $4,360 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready63% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: PODS Moving & Storage | $174 - $1,046/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $262 - $2,093 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs13% of local movers | $872 - $2,616 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,180 - $8,720 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $653 - $1,241 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items13% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: A Better Tripp Moving & Storage (TX) | $872 - $2,180 |
| Piano | Any piano type25% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: Gulf Moving Systems | $698 - $3,052 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling13% of local movers | $262 - $1,308 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% nationally | $567 - $1,744 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $262 - $13,080+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $262 - $3,052+ |
What are the best full-service movers from McAllen to Philadelphia?
Look for Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Pennsylvania beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in McAllen, TX. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA
Moving containers from McAllen, Texas, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $1,557 and $5,667. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in McAllen typically runs around $55/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from McAllen to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,557 - $3,006
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,913 - $4,087
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,699 - $5,667
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $610 in McAllen, TX. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $65 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $131 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Philadelphia, PA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Texas 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 $1,557. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,913 - $4,087.
What are the best moving containers McAllen 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 McAllen 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 McAllen:
- PODS Moving & Storage (3.7/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA
Renting a moving truck for the 1,894-mile move from McAllen, Texas, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, costs between $1,096 and $3,166, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $525 - $601
- Daily insurance: $26/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
- McAllen daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.69
| 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 McAllen to Philadelphia based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,096 - $2,194
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,139 - $2,435
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,510 - $3,166
Pro tip: A rental truck from McAllen to Philadelphia looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,096 - $3,166. But once you factor in fuel ($525 - $601), overnight lodging ($131/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $131 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in McAllen, Texas, usually costs about $610 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 1,894-mile drive falls between $525 and $601, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $44 and $262 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from McAllen 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 McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA
For larger DIY moves from McAllen, Texas, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,641 and $3,368.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from McAllen to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,360 - $2,522
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,641 - $3,368
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,137 - $4,579
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $65 and $131.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in McAllen, Texas, for roughly five hours typically average $610.
What are the best freight companies from McAllen to Philadelphia?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: McAllen, TX 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 McAllen on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | McAllen, TX | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 76 | 104 |
| Average rent | $1,350/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $173,919 | $231,098 |
| Average income | $60,165/yr | $60,698/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 3.07% |
| Walkability score | 41/100 | 75/100 |
| Safety index | 63.74/100 | 33.91/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | 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 McAllen, TX guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Texas to Pennsylvania, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 803 movers in Texas, so you have real options to compare for this 1,894-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from McAllen, TX, to Philadelphia, PA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,270 - $10,322 on the 1,894-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,557 - $5,667 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,096 - $3,166 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,225 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Amtak and Comcast.
FAQs: Moving from McAllen, TX, to Philadelphia, PA
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 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What is the best time of year to move from McAllen, TX to Philadelphia, PA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($525 - $601), daily insurance ($26/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $17) on top. Overnight stops can add another $131/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a walkability score of 75 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 67, compared to 41 and 46 in McAllen. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of McAllen movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 25% of movers in McAllen handle piano moves, and 13% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.