5 Hidden Moving Costs That Catch First-Time Renters Off Guard — Budget for These Before You Move In
Congratulations on signing your first lease. You’re likely excited about picking out decor for your new place and planning a housewarming, and that’s great. But before you splurge on celebratory champagne, have you fully planned your moving costs?
If you’ve never moved before, you might not know exactly what to expect as a first-time renter, other than covering the cost of a moving truck or the pizza you’ll offer the friends who help you. However, there are some sneakier moving-related costs that can creep up on you and take a bite out of your finances. Watch out for these hidden expenses before you finish packing.
Learn About: 4 Little-Known 401(k) Rules That Could Save You Thousands
Try Them: 9 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)
1. Equipment and Moving Supplies
You might think that getting a moving truck alone is enough to start your move. According to Bellhop Movers, you’d be thinking wrong. On its blog, the moving company shared other essential supplies that moving trucks alone don’t come with, such as:
Furniture pads
Mattress covers
Dollies
Tie-down straps
Packing materials
That’s not even factoring in items like boxes, tape, bubble wrap and wardrobe boxes. The company said that, depending on the size of your move, you could be looking at anywhere from an additional $150 to $500 or more in expenses.
2. Tips for Movers
There’s a lot of fair critique of tipping culture these days. But when your movers are working hard and doing a good job, they deserve a tip — and it’s still common to offer them tips as service professionals. How much should you budget?
When writer Joe Supan explored the topic for CNET, he found that there’s no hard-and-fast rule. However, the general expectation is between 10% and 20% of the final bill for local and long-distance moves.
“If your move costs $2,500 and you want to tip 20% for excellent service, be prepared to pay $500 total in tips,” Supan wrote.
Learn More: Enter for a Chance To Win $500 in MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See Official Rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
3. Hotel Fees
If you’re moving to a new state or town, you might need to stay overnight in a hotel or motel on your journey to your new home. Even if you’re only moving locally, your move-in date might not line up perfectly with when you need to leave your current living situation, which could mean spending a few days in a hotel room.
If you’re in this position, you can expect to add at least a few hundred dollars to your moving budget — and that’s not even counting factors like pet fees, room service or meals out.
4. Utility Activation Fees
After going through the hassle of loading up the moving van and traveling to your new home, you don’t want to be sitting in the dark.
Utilities don’t just turn off and on magically (sadly). You’ve got to contact your various service providers — including gas and electricity, internet and cable, as well as water and sewer providers — to switch off your old utilities and get them running at your new place. When you do this, you might encounter a transfer fee or even a charge for new services or setups, especially if you’re setting up utilities in your name for the first time.
Look into this before you zip up your suitcase. You don’t want to be on the hook for utility bills at your old place while also struggling to get the lights on at your new one.
5. Reserved Parking Fees
If you’re moving to a big city where street parking is at a premium, you might not be able to simply roll up with your moving truck and start unloading. You may need to pay for a permit to park on the street near your home during certain hours of the day. You might also have to get a temporary moving permit for your truck.
Check with your new city’s Department of Motor Vehicles or relevant agency to determine whether you need a permit and how much you’ll need to spend.
The Bottom Line
Moving can be incredibly exciting. But you don’t want your fresh start to come with the lingering stress of unexpected expenses. Do your research and prepare for these potential costs now.
Summer spending adds up fast. Enter MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway for a chance to win $500 — and give your budget a break. (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See Official Rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: