How much does it cost to move abroad?
The real one-time cost of moving abroad in 2026: flights, visa fees, deposits, shipping, insurance, and the buffer most people forget. Budget your move on Jonzy.
Monthly cost of living gets all the attention, but the move itself is a separate bill — and skipping the maths is how relocations stall three weeks in. Most single movers spend $3,000–$10,000 before their first normal month; families and container shippers spend multiples of that.
The six one-time costs
Flights (one-way plus a contingency return), visa and permit fees ($50 for simple entries to $2,000+ for lawyer-assisted residency), housing move-in (commonly two to three months of rent up front between deposit and first month), shipping or excess baggage, health insurance for the visa period, and document costs — apostilles, certified translations, and notarised copies add up fast.
Shipping: the biggest fork in the budget
Two suitcases and a laptop is nearly free. A few boxed shipments run hundreds. A container move runs $2,000–$8,000+ depending on route and volume, plus weeks of transit. Many movers sell furniture and re-buy locally, the maths often beats shipping for anything short of a full household.
The buffer everyone forgets
Budget one to two months of destination living costs as pure buffer: paperwork slips, apartments fall through, and first-month spending always runs high while you learn local prices. Landing with the flight money but not the buffer is the most common way a move gets stressful.
Budget it per city, not in the abstract
Jonzy's relocation budget tool estimates the one-time move — flights, visa fees, deposit, first month's rent, health cover, and shipping — for a specific destination, using the same catalog that prices monthly living costs across 356 cities.
Frequently asked questions
How much money should I save before moving abroad?
A workable floor for a single person moving light: one-time move costs (often $3,000–$10,000 including deposits) plus one to two months of destination living costs as buffer. Visa savings requirements can set a higher legal floor — many programs ask for proof of funds on top.
Is it cheaper to ship belongings or re-buy abroad?
For anything less than a full household, selling and re-buying usually wins once you price container shipping, insurance, customs, and weeks without your things. Sentimental items and professional equipment are the usual exceptions.
Can Jonzy estimate my moving costs?
Yes — the free relocation budget calculator itemises flights, visa fees, deposits, first month's rent, insurance, and shipping for your destination city, and the app tracks the same budget through your actual move.