($1,296) Cost of Moving From Alabama to Iowa
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to move from Alabama to Iowa ranges from $648 to $6,247 and takes two–seven days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Iowa to Alabama guide.
Our track record
The best Alabama to Iowa full-service movers
Moving from Alabama to Iowa? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving Alabama for your Iowa relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- PODS: Best nationwide coverage
- North American Van Lines: Best customized plans
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
The best Alabama to Iowa moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in Alabama and drop it off at your new home in Iowa.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
- Combines affordability of DIY moving with convenience of a truck and driver
- Only pay for the truck space you use
- Offers vehicle shipping
The best Alabama to Iowa moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from Alabama to Iowa, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
The best Alabama to Iowa labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from Alabama to Iowa:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
How we chose the best moving companies for your AL to IA move
How much does it cost to move from Alabama to Iowa?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Alabama to Iowa for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,296 - $4,829 | $828 - $2,076 | $639 - $1,245 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,450 - $6,247 | $1,488 - $2,949 | $648 - $1,366 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,198 - $8,420 | $2,003 - $3,945 | $900 - $1,660 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 944 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Cost to hire movers from Alabama to Iowa
Cost of moving containers from Alabama to Iowa
Cost of moving truck rentals from Alabama to Iowa
Factors affecting the cost of moving from AL to IA
There are many factors that influence Alabama moving costs. The cost to move from Alabama to Iowa will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in Alabama is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
What to know before moving from AL to IA
If you’re moving to Iowa from Alabama, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: Alabama vs. Iowa
| Alabama | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $925 | $914 |
| Average home cost | $227,508 | $220,277 |
| Average income (per capita) | $59,609 | $70,571 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 89 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| Average Sales Tax | 9.22% | 6.94% |
| State Income Tax | 5.0% | 4.4% |
- Rent is about 1% less expensive in Iowa than in Alabama.
- Home prices are about 3% lower in Iowa than in Alabama.
- The average income is about 18% higher in Iowa than in Alabama.
- Cost of living is 1% lower in Iowa than in Alabama.
- Iowa has a higher unemployment rate than Alabama by about 3%.
- Sales taxes are 25% lower in Iowa than in Alabama.
- Income taxes are 12% lower in Iowa than in Alabama.
How life is different in Iowa vs. Alabama
| Iowa | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,207,004 | 5,108,468 |
| Political leaning | Republican 53-45 | Republican 65-35 |
| Summer high | 84ºF | 91ºF |
| Winter low | 10ºF | 33ºF |
| Annual rain | 35" | 56" |
| Annual snow | 30" | 1" |
| Crime index | 16.18 | 21.48 |
- The population of Iowa is approximately 37% lower than the population of Alabama.
- In the last presidential election, Iowa voted Republican and Alabama voted Republican.
- The average high in the summertime in Iowa is 84ºF and in Alabama, it’s 91ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Iowa reaches the temperature of 10ºF and Alabama gets down to 33ºF.
- You can expect about 35 inches of annual rainfall in Iowa versus 56 inches of rainfall in Alabama.
- In Iowa, it snows about 30 inches annually versus 1 inch of snow in Alabama.
- Iowa has a lower crime rate than Alabama with a crime index of 16.18 vs. 21.48.
Comparing the pros of Alabama vs. Iowa
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in Iowa compared to Alabama.
| Pros of living in Alabama | Pros of living in Iowa |
|---|---|
| Low cost of living | Low cost of living |
| Tasty southern comfort food | Ample economic opportunity |
| Bountiful recreational opportunities | High quality of education |
| Top-notch college football | No traffic |
| Rich history | Beautiful outdoors |
Comparing the cons of living in Alabama vs. Iowa
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving Alabama for Iowa.
| Cons of living in Alabama | Cons of living in Iowa |
|---|---|
| Poor quality of life | Severe weather conditions |
| Severe weather | Limited recreational opportunities |
| Restrictive alcohol laws | High taxes |
| Poor healthcare | High emphasis on politics |
| Cockroaches | Rustic food |
