Canada Moving Cost Calculator

Canada Movers Cost Calculator

Canada Moving Cost Calculator

Whether you’re looking for a fresh start, relocating for your career, or need a change of scenery, Canada may be the move for you. As stereotypes often suggest, and what actually turns out to be true, is that the country comes with breathtaking landscapes, lovely people, and maple syrup. Of course, these aren’t the only benefits associated with moving to Canada from the United States.

However, we’re here to serve as your very own moving cost calculator, outlining all of the various prices you can expect to encounter during your relocation. We’ll help shed some light on estimated shipping costs, transportation charges, and some general tips and information on the cost of living in Canada.

Rates Of Shipping

Examining the total moving cost to move abroad is enough to put anyone off from the entire experience. However, moving to Canada isn’t as expensive as you might assume. We’ve gathered estimated average international moving costs, in addition to the duration of travel for the most popular US to Canada routes – including both the west and east coasts of America.

International relocation cost estimator for homes moving

Keep in mind that these rates are just estimates, and are based on port-to-port transportation of household goods in a 20ft container. In order to obtain the most accurate price for shipping your belongings from US to Canada, it’s highly recommended to speak with a professional moving company.

These estimates also exclude additional services such as door-to-door delivery, professional packing/unpacking services, and insurance coverage. As a result, these prices should only be used as an indication. For example, you need to know how much interprovincial movers in Canada charge so you can add the cost of door-to-door delivery as well.

Air Freight Expense

Generally speaking, sea shipping and air shipping are the two main options you have to get your belongings transported overseas to Canada. Although Canada isn’t far from the United States, shipping via air freight can cost up to seven times more than container shipping overseas. Of course, if you’re crunched on time, this may be the ideal option for your move.

Understanding the specifics of shipment protection

To put things into perspective, the following are air freight shipping estimates:

Unfortunately, there are no cargo flights that service Los Angeles. Therefore, if you live on the west coast of the United States, you’ll have to ship your belongings via sea.

If you’re trying to decide between air freight or container shipping overseas, you need to consider what is the best option for your particular situation. If you’re on a time crunch, air shipping is your best bet. However, if you’re not in a rush, shipping via sea freight will save you a considerable amount of money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Not to mention, if you’re only planning on moving a couple of items, you may be able to opt for Less than Container Load (LCL) on that basis. This means that you don’t have enough belongings to fill an entire container and will, therefore, be sharing one with others. Choosing LCL instead of Full Container Load (FCL) can help significantly cut down on your international moving costs to Canada.

Living Expenses In The Country

Although getting to Canada can be quite pricey, living costs are also going to make a big impact while you’re settling down in your new home. Before you move abroad, regardless of how near or far the new country is to your current one, it’s always helpful to understand the street pricing on various everyday items. This can help you plan, budget accordingly, and give you a good sense of what your life will be like in Canada – from a financial standpoint.

With that said, let’s take a look at a comparison list of some of the most essential expenses that will likely arise in your new home:

Overall, the cost of living in Canada tends to be a bit higher than what the average American may be used to – which might be a little bit of a culture shock initially. With that said, all of the prices listed above are just estimates, and they may differ slightly based on where you currently live and where you intend to settle in Canada. For example, if you’re moving from New York to Toronto, you can enjoy a 30% decrease in living costs.

Moving expenses calculation and estimating the country

When it comes to utilities in the area, the country has essentially nationalized them. This leads to slightly lower costs than those found in the United States. However, both electricity and natural gas tend to be more expensive. Ultimately, the differences in utility costs between the United States and Canada can be described as negligible. Where you live and your lifestyle choices are going to have a major impact on some costs.

Factors That Impact Delivery Rates

Whether you’re moving from the United States to Canada, or across the Great White North, there are a number of factors that will influence moving costs. Here are the major factors that will impact your Canada relocation:

The Size Of Your Haul

Generally speaking, the larger the move, the more expensive it’s going to be. This factor is determined by both weight and volume, especially when it comes to overseas transport. Also, specialty moves can attract additional costs. Handling priced possessions and heavy appliances like a grandfather clock, pool table, piano, etc may require the use of special packing supplies and a crating job to prevent damage. That's something that may increase the fees charged.

The Nature Of Your Home

If your home is such that movers can easily park in your driveway and load items from your apartment, then that makes things easier and faster. However, if the haulers need to park a distance from your home or they will have to climb several stairs while moving your items, that may increase the cost of move.

Distance Of Your Shift

The further your household goods need to be transported to reach their final destination, the more expensive the move.

Transit Route

While some destinations are relatively common, there are a few rare moving routes. Fortunately, international moves between the United States are common, as are those that occur across Canada. However, if either your start or end location is in a rural area, you may have to pay more. On the other hand, you can expect common routes to be cheaper due to competition.

Season Of The Year

When you schedule your move at the time of the year when demand is high, you should expect to pay more. The best thing is to target the low seasons or at best be in the middle.

Transportation Method

As previously outlined above, the transport method that you choose has a major impact on your final moving costs. Shipping via sea is the most cost-effective, while air freight transport is the most expensive method. Regardless of this method, moving trucks will likely have to still be employed to perform the first and last leg of every move.

Because sea freight is the cheaper of the two options, many opt to book directions with an international shipping company. However, this can prove challenging as they are generally not equipped to handle residential moves. This is exactly why you need to hire a professional moving company who specializes in performing all types of moves, both residential and commercial.

How To Find Affordable Dispatching Firms

Moving cross country or making an international move can take a lot of money but when you find affordable movers, you can reduce cost and save money. Here are a few things to note when looking for a low-cost moving company for a hassle-free move to Canada.

Relocation calculator for moving household items to a nearby province in Canada

Hire Removalists With License And Insurance Coverage

Before thinking about fees, first think about the credibility of the company you want to deal with. Because there are many rogue and inexperienced movers, you want to ensure that you are only dealing with professionals. So when talking to a company, ask for their USDOT number, then look them up on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) website for their safety records, insurance coverage, and history of customer complaints. This is because most international movers also support cross-country moves and they often use intermediary companies for ocean freights.

You may also want to check whether the company's intermediaries are registered with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and are published on the FMC's Ocean Transporters Intermediaries (OTIs) list.

Accept Only Evaluation Based Quotes

Don't work with movers who provide quotes online without visiting your home to take an inventory. FMCSA requires movers to provide a free moving evaluation. They are also required to provide explanations and details on the estimates they are giving so you know exactly what the actual costs might be. If you are requiring extra moving services such as packing service and packing materials like moving boxes, that should be also factored in during the evaluation.

You also need to ask what type of estimate the mover is giving you, is it a nonbinding estimate, binding estimate or binding not-to-exceed estimate? To ensure that you are not unduly taken advantage of, you can request a binding not-to-exceed estimate.

Work With A Transport Provider That Delivers Door-To-Door

Working with only one company for the entire move process can save you a lot of stress and money as well. That is why you should work with international movers who are also long-distance haulers. Such companies have the equipment and staff for ground moves in addition to ocean freight. So they pick up from your current location, ship across the sea, and move from port to your doorstep in Canada. With that, you won't have to spend additional Canadian dollars on local haulers.

Relevant Statistics

• The average cost of hiring professional haulers in Canada is $2,500 for a local move.
• Approximately 65% of Canadians use a moving rates calculator to estimate their expenses.
• On average, packing supplies and materials account for 15% of the total moving costs in Canada.
• The average cost of renting a transit truck for a long-distance move within the area is $1,300.
• Around 80% of Canadians who used a moving rate calculator reported that it helped them budget more accurately.

General Facts

• A moving rate calculator is a tool that helps estimate the expenses associated with relocating to a new place in Canada.
• The calculator takes into account factors such as distance, size of the move, and additional services required.
• It provides an approximate cost breakdown including packing materials, transportation fees, insurance, and any other relevant fees.
• The calculator can be used for both local and long-distance moves within Canada.
• It is a helpful resource for individuals and families planning to move, allowing them to budget and prepare for their relocation more effectively.

Affordable Transit: Work With Us

If you landed here in search of a “relocation cost calculator in Canada,” you’ve come to the right place. Three Movers is an experienced local, long-distance, cross-country, and international relocation company with a presence around the globe. Give us a call today at (888) 202-0036 and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have about relocation expenses, whether you’re relocating within the country or moving there from the United States. We’ll also provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate so you can budget accordingly for your upcoming transition!