($928+) Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX Movers
Moving from Arlington, VA, to San Antonio, TX, runs anywhere from $928 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,416 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,599 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 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 $2,073, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $9,416 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,412 - $4,762, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $928 - $2,563.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Arlington, VA, to San Antonio, TX. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,821 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 Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX
There are 3 main ways to move from Arlington to San Antonio: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,821 - $6,616. Moving containers run about 37% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 62% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 4 to 15 days for this 1,599-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,599-mile route from Arlington to San Antonio, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,073 for a studio up to $9,416 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,412 - $4,762 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $928 - $2,563, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,334 - $3,770, billed by the space you actually use.
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 Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,599-mile move from Arlington, Virginia, to San Antonio, Texas, with costs ranging from $2,073 - $9,416. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $404 - $2,696. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Arlington and San Antonio. Local movers in Arlington typically start around $200 as a base rate plus $110/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Arlington to San Antonio:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,073 - $4,572
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,821 - $6,616
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,051 - $9,416
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 Arlington to San Antonio.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX
Specialty needs vary by market: 70% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In San Antonio, 72% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing80% of local movers | $674 - $6,740 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready70% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc | $270 - $1,618/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $404 - $3,235 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs54% of local movers | $1,348 - $4,044 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,370 - $13,480 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,010 - $1,918 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items34% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc | $1,348 - $3,370 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc | $1,078 - $4,718 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $404 - $2,022 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect8% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $876 - $2,696 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $404 - $20,220+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $404 - $4,718+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Arlington to San Antonio?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Southwest Movers Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Arlington, VA. 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 Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX
Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to San Antonio, Texas, cost between $1,412 and $4,762. 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 Arlington typically costs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Arlington to San Antonio:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,412 - $2,653
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,768 - $3,597
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,360 - $4,762
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $101 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $202 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in San Antonio, TX, 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 $944 in Arlington, VA. 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 Virginia to Texas 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 $1,412. 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 $1,768 - $3,597.
What are the best moving containers Arlington to San Antonio?
- 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 Arlington 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 Arlington:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 0 years in business
- BoxStar Movers (5.0/5), 5 years in business
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 11 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX
A rental truck for this 1,599-mile move from Arlington, Virginia, to San Antonio, Texas, costs between $928 and $2,563. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $686 - $784
- Daily insurance: $40/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
- Arlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
| 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 Arlington to San Antonio based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $928 - $1,818
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,076 - $2,227
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,317 - $2,563
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $928 - $2,563 when pricing out a rental truck from Arlington to San Antonio. Fuel alone runs $686 - $784, and overnight lodging ($202/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $686 - $784 for the 1,599-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Arlington, Virginia, for about 5 hours typically costs around $944.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 1,599-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $202 per night, adding $404 - $607 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $67 and $404.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to San Antonio?
- 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 Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX
For larger DIY moves from Arlington, Virginia, 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 San Antonio, Texas.
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 $1,400 and $2,818.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Arlington to San Antonio:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,334 - $2,268
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,400 - $2,818
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,927 - $3,770
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $101 - $202 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Arlington, Virginia, for about five hours typically runs $944.
What are the best freight companies from Arlington to San Antonio?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Arlington to San Antonio. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Arlington, VA vs San Antonio, TX
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Antonio, side by side with Arlington on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Arlington, VA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 164 | 91 |
| Average rent | $2,718/mo | $1,496/mo |
| Median home value | $866,334 | $216,453 |
| Average income | $140,160/yr | $62,917/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.8% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.75% | None |
| Walkability score | 71/100 | 37/100 |
| Safety index | 79.15/100 | 51.94/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
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 San Antonio, TX to Arlington, VA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Virginia to Texas over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 262 movers in our Virginia network to compare for this 1,599-mile move.
Our take
For a move from Arlington, VA, to San Antonio, TX, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $2,073 for a studio to $9,416 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 1,599-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,412 - $4,762. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $928 - $2,563, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,821 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to San Antonio tend to point to diversity and sight-seeing, though abundant stray pets and brutal summers come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Joint Base San Antonio (Three Military Bases) and H-E-B.
FAQs: Moving from Arlington, VA, to San Antonio, TX
What are the best neighborhoods in San Antonio?
For families, Alamo Heights, Great Northwest, and Northwest Crossing are worth a look in San Antonio. If you're moving solo or without kids, Alamo Heights, Downtown, and Tobin Hill tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,076 - $2,227. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is San Antonio a safe place to live?
San Antonio has a safety index of 51.94 out of 100 and a crime index of 48.06, compared to 79.15 and 15.67 in Arlington. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
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 Arlington, VA to San Antonio, TX?
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. Texas also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What percentage of Arlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 42% of movers in Arlington handle piano moves, and 34% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.