The average relocation package in the US costs between $15,000 and $75,000 for a domestic move and $75,000 to $250,000+ for an international one. The actual number depends on where you’re going, how big your family is, your seniority, and how much of the move the company handles for you.
We’ve helped hundreds of companies and employees manage moves across 160+ countries. Here’s what relocation actually costs in 2026.
Moving within the US
The average domestic relocation costs companies about $26,000 when someone is coordinating it for them. But the range is wide depending on the situation.
Simple moves: $5,000 to $15,000
The company gives you a flat amount and you handle everything yourself. This is common for early-career hires, people who rent, and shorter moves. It works, but you’re doing all the legwork and you’ll lose 30-40% to taxes.
Standard moves: $15,000 to $40,000
This is where most relocations land — about 55% of all domestic packages. The company covers some combination of:
- Professional movers: $3,000 to $12,000
- A furnished apartment for 1-2 months: $3,000 to $8,000
- Covering your current lease penalty: $1,000 to $5,000
- A trip to check out the new city: $1,000 to $3,000
- Covering the taxes on your benefits: $3,000 to $8,000
- Travel, storage, and getting set up: $2,000 to $5,000
Premium moves: $40,000 to $75,000+
Everything handled for you. This is typical for senior hires, executives, and homeowners. Help selling your home is usually the biggest single cost. Only about 15% of domestic relocations reach this level.
- Full move handled end-to-end: $8,000 to $20,000
- Temporary housing for 2-3 months: $6,000 to $15,000
- Help selling your home: $10,000 to $30,000
- Multiple trips to the new city: $3,000 to $6,000
- Salary bump for cost of living: 10-25% of base pay
- Tax coverage: $5,000 to $15,000
- Career help for your partner: $2,000 to $5,000
Moving to another country
International moves are a different ballgame. The average international relocation costs 2.5 to 3 times the employee’s annual salary when you add everything up.
Shorter stays (under a year): $50,000 to $100,000
- Visa and work permit: $3,000 to $15,000
- Furnished housing: $15,000 to $40,000
- Flights for you and your family: $3,000 to $10,000
- Living allowance: $10,000 to $30,000
- Tax and compliance help: $5,000 to $15,000
Longer moves (1 to 3 years): $100,000 to $250,000+
- Visa and immigration (US work visas alone can cost $100K+): $5,000 to $100,000+
- International shipping: $10,000 to $40,000
- Temporary housing: $5,000 to $20,000
- Help finding a permanent place: $5,000 to $15,000
- Making sure you’re not double-taxed: $10,000 to $50,000+ per year
- School for your kids: $15,000 to $50,000 per child per year
- Flights home to visit family: $3,000 to $15,000 per year
- Language and cultural support: $2,000 to $8,000
- Work permit and career help for your partner: $3,000 to $10,000
- Help getting set up (bank account, phone, etc.): $2,000 to $5,000
Permanent international moves: $75,000 to $150,000
When someone is moving for good (not a temporary assignment), the ongoing costs drop — no annual tax adjustments or flights home. But the upfront investment is still significant. These moves are becoming more common as companies hire globally and bring people in permanently rather than sending them on short-term stints.
How much it costs by city
Where you’re going matters a lot. Here’s what companies typically spend for moves to the most common destinations:
Within the US
- San Francisco: $30,000 to $65,000 — sky-high housing drives up everything
- New York City: $28,000 to $60,000 — similar to SF, plus broker fees on apartments
- Austin: $18,000 to $35,000 — more affordable, keeps costs reasonable
- Miami: $20,000 to $40,000 — mid-range but climbing fast
- Seattle: $25,000 to $50,000 — expensive, but no state income tax helps
International
- London: $80,000 to $200,000 — housing and school fees make it one of the priciest destinations in the world
- Singapore: $70,000 to $180,000 — expensive to live, but the immigration process is smooth
- Berlin: $50,000 to $120,000 — more affordable than London, but tax and permit rules are complex
- Dubai: $60,000 to $150,000 — no income tax, but housing and school fees add up
- Sydney: $75,000 to $180,000 — expensive housing, strict visa process
- Toronto: $55,000 to $130,000 — moderate costs, straightforward immigration for skilled workers
The costs companies don’t see coming
The line items above are the obvious ones. But there are a few costs that regularly catch companies off guard, adding 20% to 35% to the total:
- Taxes on benefits. Everything you give an employee as part of their relocation is taxable income in the US. A $50,000 package actually costs the company $65,000 to $70,000 once you cover the taxes.
- One-off exceptions. Almost every relocation has something unexpected — a pet that needs special transport, a kid mid-school-year, a partner who needs a work permit. 62% of companies end up approving at least one extra cost per move, typically $3,000 to $10,000.
- When the move doesn’t work out. If someone leaves within the first year or asks to move back, the total cost — including finding their replacement — averages $150,000 to $250,000. This is why investing in a better experience upfront almost always saves money.
- Lost productivity. When employees manage their own move, they lose an estimated 10 to 15 workdays dealing with logistics. For senior hires, that’s easily $10,000+ in time that could have been spent on the job.
- Immigration mistakes. Filing errors, missed deadlines, and tax miscalculations can lead to visa denials, penalties, and delayed start dates. Getting this wrong costs far more than getting it right.
Cash bonus vs. full support: the real math
Handing someone a $15,000 check looks cheaper than spending $30,000 on a fully supported move. But the total picture is different:
| Cash bonus | Full support | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cost | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Tax coverage | $6,000 | $5,000 |
| Lost productivity | $8,000 | $2,000 |
| Risk of the move failing | Higher | Lower |
| Real total cost | $29,000+ | $37,000 |
The $8,000 gap buys you faster onboarding, higher retention, and a much better experience for the employee. When you consider that replacing a senior hire can cost $50,000+, the math usually favors full support.
How to spend less without making the move worse
- Use technology. AI-powered relocation platforms can cut administrative costs by 40% to 60% compared to traditional providers, and pass those savings through as lower fees.
- Negotiate rates in bulk. If you’re doing 10+ moves a year, you can get much better pricing from moving companies, housing providers, and immigration firms.
- Match the package to the person. A single renter moving 200 miles doesn’t need the same support as a family of four moving to another country. Design around the actual situation, not a rigid policy.
- Invest in the things that prevent failure. $3,000 on career support for a partner can prevent a $150,000+ failed move. The highest-value items are often the first ones companies cut.
The bottom line
Relocation is one of the biggest investments a company makes in a single person. Understanding what it actually costs — including the expenses that don’t show up on a spreadsheet — helps both sides make better decisions.
The companies getting the best results aren’t spending the most. They’re spending smarter: putting money toward the things that actually matter, using technology to cut overhead, and designing support around real people instead of policy templates.
Want a number for your specific route? Our free relocation cost estimator researches current market rates — housing, flights, immigration, taxes — and returns an itemized estimate with citations in a few minutes.
Whether you’re planning your company’s next move or figuring out what your package should look like, Gullie can help — cost estimates, logistics, visas, housing, all in one place.