A relocation package is the support a company gives you when you need to move for work. At its simplest, it’s money to help cover the move. At its best, it’s someone handling the entire thing for you — movers, a place to stay when you land, flights, visa help, the works. In 2026, most companies spend $15,000 to $75,000 on a domestic move and upwards of $100,000 for an international one.
We’ve helped hundreds of people and companies navigate this. Here’s how relocation packages actually work.
Why companies offer them
The best person for a role usually doesn’t live in the right city. That’s it. Companies that help people move see 25% higher offer acceptance rates than those that don’t. And 72% of companies say they’ve lost a top candidate in the past year because the moving support wasn’t good enough.
When someone has to figure out a cross-country or international move on their own, everything slows down — their start date, their first few weeks, their ability to focus. A good package removes all of that friction.
What’s usually included
Every package is different, but most include some mix of these:
Movers
Someone to pack up your stuff and ship it to your new city. For moves within the US, this usually costs $3,000 to $15,000. International shipping is more — anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000+ if you’re moving a full household overseas.
A place to stay when you arrive
Most packages include 1 to 3 months of furnished housing so you’re not scrambling to sign a lease in a city you don’t know yet. In a 2025 survey, 68% of people who relocated said this was the single most valuable part of their package.
Trips to check out the new city
One or two paid trips to find a place to live — flights, hotel, maybe a rental car. Some companies also cover a real estate agent or apartment search service.
Help with your current lease or home
If you’re renting, the company might cover the penalty for breaking your lease early (usually 1 to 3 months’ rent). If you own your home, some companies help you sell it or even guarantee a buyout so you’re not stuck.
Flights and travel
Getting you and your family to the new city. For international moves, this often means business class on long flights and sometimes shipping your car.
Salary adjustment for expensive cities
If you’re moving somewhere significantly more expensive — say, from Austin to San Francisco — some companies bump your pay by 15% to 25% so your standard of living doesn’t take a hit.
Support for your partner
This one is hugely underrated. When your partner gives up their job and social network to move with you, that’s a big sacrifice. Research shows partner unhappiness is the #1 reason relocations fail — it accounts for nearly half of all failed moves. Career coaching or job search help for a partner costs relatively little and makes a massive difference.
Tax coverage
Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: in the US, your relocation benefits get taxed as income. So a $15,000 moving bonus might only put $9,000 to $10,000 in your pocket after taxes. The better companies cover the tax for you, so you actually receive the full amount.
Cash bonus vs. full support
Most relocation packages fall into one of two categories:
Just the money. The company gives you a check — usually $5,000 to $25,000 — and you figure out the rest. It’s simple and flexible, but you’re on your own for finding movers, housing, visas, everything. And you’ll lose 30-40% of it to taxes.
Full support. The company (or a relocation platform like Gullie) handles the move for you — booking movers, setting up temporary housing, coordinating visa paperwork, the whole thing. You focus on your new job instead of being on hold with moving companies.
Companies that provide full support see 34% faster onboarding compared to just handing someone a check. The cost is higher upfront, but the outcomes are dramatically better.
What packages look like at different levels
Early career
- $5,000 to $15,000 toward moving costs
- About a month of temporary housing
- Help covering your current lease if needed
Mid-career
- $10,000 to $30,000 in moving support, or movers booked for you
- Two months of temporary housing
- A trip to explore the new city
- Tax coverage on benefits
- Career help for your partner
Senior and executive
- Full move handled end-to-end (packing, shipping, unpacking)
- Three months of temporary housing
- Multiple trips to the new city
- Help selling your home
- Salary adjustment for cost of living
- Partner and family support
Moving internationally
International moves are a whole different thing. On top of everything above, they usually include:
- Visa and work permit help: legal fees alone can cost $5,000 to $20,000+. For US work visas, fees have gotten even steeper — $100,000+ for some employer categories after recent fee increases.
- Making sure you don’t get double-taxed: when you move between countries, the tax situation gets complicated fast. Most companies cover this so you’re not paying taxes in two places.
- Help settling in: language classes, cultural orientation, and practical stuff like setting up a bank account or getting a local phone.
- Flights home: one or two trips a year back to see family, usually for you and your whole household.
- School for your kids: international school fees can run $15,000 to $50,000 per child per year in major cities. Most international packages cover this.
Do you have to pay taxes on it?
In the US, yes. Since 2018, all employer-paid relocation benefits are taxed as regular income. That means a $20,000 package could lose 30% to 40% of its value to taxes unless the company covers the tax for you.
It’s different in other countries. In the UK, for example, up to £8,000 in relocation expenses is tax-free. If you’re moving internationally, the tax picture depends on both countries involved.
What if you leave the company early?
Most packages come with a commitment — if you leave within 12 to 24 months, you have to pay some or all of the benefit back. 83% of companies include this kind of agreement.
The fairest version is a sliding scale: leave after 18 months of a 24-month commitment and you repay 25%, not the full amount. More companies are also adding an exception for layoffs — if the company lets you go, you shouldn’t owe anything.
How to tell if your package is good
- Price out your actual move — get quotes from movers, look at apartments in the new city, add up what breaking your lease or selling your home would cost
- Compare that to what you’re being offered — if there’s a gap bigger than $5,000, it’s worth having a conversation
- Look for the gaps — are taxes covered? How long is the temporary housing? Is there anything for your partner or family?
- Read the fine print — how long do you need to stay? What happens if you get laid off?
- Think about cost of living — a $15K package with no pay adjustment for a move to SF might leave you worse off
What’s changing in 2026
- Technology is making good support more affordable. AI-powered platforms are bringing down the cost of full-service relocations, so it’s no longer just a benefit for executives. 46% of companies are increasing their investment in relocation technology this year.
- More people are moving for work again. Return-to-office mandates are driving a 12% to 15% increase in domestic relocations, reversing years of decline.
- Packages are getting more personal. Instead of rigid tiers, the best companies are designing support around the individual — their family size, where they’re going, what they actually need.
- International moves are getting more complicated. Visa fees are up, processing times are longer, and regulations keep shifting. Getting immigration right matters more than ever.
The bottom line
A relocation package is one of the most valuable things a company can offer and one of the most impactful things you can negotiate. The best ones aren’t always the most expensive — they’re the ones designed around what you actually need to land somewhere new, settle in, and start doing great work.
Whether you’re putting together a relocation program or navigating a move yourself, Gullie helps make it simple — visas, housing, movers, all in one place.