($742+) Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC Movers
Moving from Burlington, VT, to Charleston, SC, runs anywhere from $735 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,844 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,048 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 $2,499, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,844 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,292 - $4,238, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $735 - $1,921.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Burlington, VT, to Charleston, SC. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,855 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 Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC
There are 3 main ways to move from Burlington to Charleston: 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 $2,855 - $7,121. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 8 days for this 1,048-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 1,048-mile route from Burlington to Charleston, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,499 for a studio up to $9,844 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,292 - $4,238 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $735 - $1,921, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,064 - $3,257, 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 September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,048-mile move from Burlington, Vermont, to Charleston, South Carolina, with costs ranging from $2,499 - $9,844. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $336 - $2,240. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Burlington and Charleston. Local movers in Burlington typically start around $594 as a base rate plus $200/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Burlington to Charleston:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,499 - $5,737
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,855 - $7,121
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,802 - $9,844
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 Burlington to Charleston.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Vermont to South Carolina. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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 Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC
Specialty needs vary by market — 80% of Burlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Charleston, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing60% of local movers | $560 - $5,600 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready80% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Booska Movers | $224 - $1,344/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $336 - $2,688 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage80% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs | $1,120 - $3,360 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,800 - $11,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $839 - $1,594 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items40% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Vermont Moving & Storage | $1,120 - $2,800 |
| Piano | Any piano type100% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Booska Movers | $896 - $3,920 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling60% of local movers | $336 - $1,680 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect60% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Local Muscle Movers | $728 - $2,240 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $336 - $16,800+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $336 - $3,920+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Burlington to Charleston?
Movers licensed to operate in South Carolina are typically members of the South Carolina Trucking Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Burlington, VT. 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 Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC
Moving containers from Burlington, Vermont, to Charleston, South Carolina, cost between $1,292 and $4,238. 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 Burlington typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Burlington to Charleston:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,292 - $2,314
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,616 - $3,029
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,244 - $4,238
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $84 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $168 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $784 in Burlington, VT, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Charleston, SC, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
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 $1,292. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,616 - $3,029, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Burlington to Charleston?
- 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 Burlington 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 Burlington:
- Local Muscle Movers (4.9/5), 16 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC
Truck rentals from Burlington, Vermont, to Charleston, South Carolina, range from $735 - $1,921 for the 1,048-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $373 - $427
- Daily insurance: $34/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
- Burlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Burlington to Charleston based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $735 - $1,341
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $787 - $1,516
- 4+ bedrooms: $949 - $1,921
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Burlington to Charleston starts at $735 - $1,921, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($373 - $427) , overnight lodging ($168/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $84 and $392.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $168.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $373 and $427 for the 1,048-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $784 for 2 movers in Burlington, Vermont, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Burlington to Charleston?
- 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 Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Burlington, Vermont, to Charleston, South Carolina. 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 $1,008 and $2,574.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Burlington to Charleston:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,064 - $2,103
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,267 - $2,574
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,641 - $3,257
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?
- 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 $84 - $168 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Burlington, Vermont, for about five hours typically runs $784.
What are the best freight companies from Burlington to Charleston?
- 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.
- DFA Northeast Logistics, Inc. (4.5/5 stars): DFA Northeast Logistics, Inc. 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: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Charleston fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Burlington, VT vs Charleston, SC
Good news for your budget: Charleston isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Burlington. Cost of living index runs 112 there against 112 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 59/100 and 56.67/100 here versus 40/100 and 55.03/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Charleston, SC to Burlington, VT guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Vermont to South Carolina 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 5 movers in our Vermont network to compare for this 1,048-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Burlington, VT, to Charleston, SC, 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 $2,499 - $9,844 on the 1,048-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,292 - $4,238 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $735 - $1,921 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,855 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 Joint Base Charleston and Medical University of South Carolina.
FAQs: Moving from Burlington, VT, to Charleston, SC
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.
Is Charleston a safe place to live?
Charleston has a safety index of 55.03 out of 100 and a crime index of 44.97, compared to 56.67 and 43.33 in Burlington. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What is the cheapest way to move from Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC?
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 $787 - $1,516. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What are the best neighborhoods in Charleston?
For families, Mount Pleasant, Park Circle, and Stiles Point are worth a look in Charleston. If you're moving solo or without kids, Harleston Village, James Island, and North Charleston tend to be popular picks instead.
How long does a move from Burlington, VT to Charleston, SC take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What percentage of Burlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 100% of movers in Burlington handle piano moves, and 40% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
