($485) Movers From Madison to Milwaukee

Ryan Carrigan

Last Updated: Mar 1, 2025 • 5 min read

Fact Checked by: Hilary Snow

Quick answer: The average cost to move 79 miles from Madison to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ranges from $80 to $3,108. Your exact costs will depend on the size, distance and date of your move, as well as whether you hire pro movers or take a DIY approach.

Hiring the best Wisconsin movers will cost more than renting a truck or using a moving container. While those DIY options will certainly save you some money, keep in mind they will also require you to do a lot more of the work

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from Milwaukee to Madison guide.

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The best Madison to Milwaukee moving companies

Moving between two of Wisconsin's major cities requires expert hands. Madison to Milwaukee moves have unique challenges due to the distance and urban logistics.

Here are the best moving companies who can get the job done right:

Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
International Van Lines: 4.45 out of 5 stars

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.85 / 5

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(855) 650-0657

At A Glance

GPS tracking en route
Veteran-owned
Dedicated move coordinator
Flat-rate pricing
Donates a portion of moves to charity

read our full review

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(855) 650-0657

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.9 / 5

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(980) 217-6841

At A Glance

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

read our full review

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(980) 217-6841

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.5 / 5

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(866) 835-2392

At A Glance

Experienced & fully trained moving crews
Specializes in moving art & antiques
Competitive pricing
Can handle last-minute moves
Climate-controlled storage

read our full review

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(866) 835-2392

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.8 / 5

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At A Glance

30 days storage included
Local and long distance moving options
Unlimited loading/unloading time
Store on property or at a facility

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Licensed

Insured

Price

4.45 / 5

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(855) 929-4120

At A Glance

10% discount for veterans and seniors
Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
Services local, long-distance, and international moves
Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
24/7 customer service

read our full review

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(855) 929-4120

Best local Madison-to-Milwaukee movers

If you prefer to work with local companies, we've compiled the best Madison movers and the best Milwaukee movers.

Above Average Moving LLC: 4.9 out of 5 stars
Armstrong relocation: 4.52 out of 5 stars
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.52 out of 5 stars

Above Average Moving LLC

1416 Parkside Drive, Madison, WI 53704 US

Customer Praise

Efficient service (38%)
Professional and polite staff (35%)
Good communication (32%)

Customer Complaints

Damage to items (29%)
Delayed arrival or delivery (25%)
Lack of communication (22%)

Review Analysis

Above Average Moving LLC has 225 customer reviews, with 84% being positive. Customers praise the company's efficiency, friendly staff, and careful handling of belongings. Many noted the reasonable pricing compared to competitors. However, some feedback pointed to issues with communication, unexpected charges, and damage to items during the move. Overall, Above Average Moving stands out for its strong service but has room for improvement in customer interaction and transparency.

Get a Quote (608) 556-7980

Company Info

State license #: 26753

Years in Business: 9

DOT #: 2595339

Alternate Names: Above Average Moving LLC

Above Average Moving LLC, a reputable local moving company based in Madison, WI, has been providing top-notch residential moving services since 2017. With high average ratings on Yelp (4.4) and Google My Business (4.8), alongside an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, clients consistently praise their reliability and professionalism. Unlike many nearby competitors, they offer a comprehensive range of services, including packing, unpacking, and office moving, and they stand out by not requiring a deposit and accepting credit cards. If you're looking for a trusted and efficient mover in Madison, Above Average Moving LLC is a dependable choice.

Services Offered

Local moves
Packing
Unpacking
Offices
Pianos
Crating
Storage
Pay by credit card

Armstrong relocation

4505 Helgesen Dr, Madison, WI 53718 US

Customer Praise

Professional and polite staff (32%)
Careful handling (30%)
Good communication (30%)

Customer Complaints

Damage to items (32%)
Delayed arrival or delivery (30%)
Lack of communication (30%)

Review Analysis

Armstrong Relocation has 57 customer reviews, 68% of which are positive. Many customers praised the company for its friendly and efficient service, noting that the staff handled belongings with care. Positive feedback highlighted good communication and organized packing. On the downside, some customers reported significant damage to items during the move, delays in service, and poor customer support when addressing complaints. This contrast shows that while many enjoyed their experience, others faced serious issues that impacted their satisfaction.

Get a Quote (608) 838-5940

Company Info

Years in Business: 39

DOT #: 1170867

Alternate Names: Armstrong Transfer & Storage Co., Inc., Armstrong Relocation & Commercial Services, The Armstrong Company

Armstrong Relocation, serving Madison, WI, has been a trusted local residential moving company since 1987. While other nearby movers may also offer long-distance and office moving services, Armstrong distinguishes itself with specialized services like packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items such as pianos, art, and antiques. Renowned for their reliability, they boast a Better Business Bureau rating of A+ and strong consumer reviews, with a 4.2 average rating on Google. Although their Yelp reviews are more mixed, Armstrong remains a solid choice for those seeking expert local moving services with the added convenience of no required deposit and credit card acceptance.

Services Offered

Local moves
Interstate moves
International moves
Packing
Unpacking
Offices
Pianos
Art
Antiques
Storage
Fragile-only packing
Pay by credit card

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

3817 Kipp Street, Madison, WI 53718 US

Customer Praise

Professional and polite staff (32%)
Efficient service (29%)
Careful handling (25%)

Customer Complaints

Damage to items (28%)
Unexpected charges (25%)
Delayed arrival or delivery (20%)

Review Analysis

Two Men and a Truck has 275 online customer reviews, with 78% of them being positive. Many customers praised the company for its professional and polite staff, efficient service, and careful handling of belongings. However, some customers reported issues with damaged items, unexpected charges, and delays during their moves. Despite these complaints, the majority of feedback highlights the company's commitment to customer satisfaction and quality service, making them a reliable choice for moving needs compared to other companies.

Get a Quote (608) 340-1557

Company Info

Years in Business: 31

DOT #: 2527384

Alternate Names: Lightner & Lightner, Inc.

Two Men and a Truck has been providing local residential moving services in and around Madison, WI since 1994, establishing a solid reputation for reliability. Unlike some nearby competitors, they offer a comprehensive suite of services including packing, unpacking, and labor-only options, catering to diverse moving needs. They accept credit cards and require no deposit, ensuring a hassle-free payment experience. Consumer reviews vary, with an impressive 4.6 average rating on Google My Business from 553 reviews and a stellar A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, although Yelp reviews are more mixed.

Services Offered

Local moves
Interstate moves
Packing
Unpacking
Pianos
Storage
Safes
Pay by credit card

How we chose the best moving companies in Wisconsin

moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 29 Wisconsin movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.

Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.

Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.

Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.

Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.

Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.

Here is our full moving company rating methodology.

How much does it cost to move from Madison to Milwaukee?

Even though you're staying inside of Wisconsin, this is still considered a long-distance move by many moving companies. Here are average prices to hire a moving company, rent a moving container, or rent a moving truck:

Move Size	Moving Company	Moving Container	Rental Truck
Studio / 1 Bedroom	$485 - $2,254	$383 - $846	$68 - $107
2 - 3 bedrooms	$971 - $3,108	$732 - $1,403	$80 - $140
4+ bedrooms	$1,429 - $3,779	$889 - $1,529	$96 - $149

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*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 79 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect the final cost of your move.

Considerations when moving from Madison to Milwaukee

Cost of living: Madison vs. Milwaukee

	Madison	Milwaukee
Average rent cost	$1,600	$1,250
Average home value	$367,934	$200,685
Average income (per capita)	$62,919	$49,733
Cost of living (single person)	$2,292	$2,022
Cost of living (family of 4)	$5,457	$4,963
Unemployment rate	3.3%	7.4%

source: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo

Rent prices in Milwaukee are 22% lower than in Madison.
Home prices in Milwaukee are 45.5% lower than in Madison.
Income in Milwaukee is 21.0% lower than in Madison.
The cost of living for a single person in Milwaukee is 11.8% lower than in Madison.
The cost of living for a family in Milwaukee is 9.1% lower than in Madison.
The unemployment rate in Milwaukee is 124.24% higher than in Madison.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,646.60 in Milwaukee to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Madison.

How life is different in Madison vs. Milwaukee

	Milwaukee	Madison
Population	577,222	269,840
Political leaning	Democratic 51-46	Democratic 76-23
Summer high	83ºF	82ºF
Winter low	14ºF	10ºF
Annual rain	35"	36"
Annual snow	45"	42"
Crime index	66.76	34.57

Madison sources: US Census Bureau, 270TOWIN, BestPlaces
Milwaukee sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow

The population of Milwaukee is approximately 114% greater than the population of Madison.
In the last presidential election, Milwaukee voted Democratic and Madison voted Democratic.
The average high in the summertime in Milwaukee is 83ºF and in Madison, it’s 82ºF.
During the coldest part of the year, Milwaukee reaches the temperature of 14ºF and Madison gets down to 10ºF.
You can expect about 35 inches of annual rainfall in Milwaukee vs 36 inches of rainfall in Madison.
In Milwaukee, it snows about 45 inches annually vs 42 inches of snow in Madison.
Milwaukee has a higher crime rate than Madison with a crime index of 66.76 vs 34.57.

Things to do in Milwaukee

Whether you prefer to be in the great outdoors, soak up some culture, or catch a live game, Milwaukee has plenty to offer:

Museums in Milwaukee

Harley-Davidson Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee Public Museum
Discovery World
Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear
Grohmann Museum
Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Lynden Sculpture Garden
Mitchell Gallery of Flight
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Jewish Museum Milwaukee
Haggerty Museum of Art
Brew City MKE Beer Museum and Beer Bar
Charles Allis Art Museum
Milwaukee Fire Museum

Parks in Milwaukee

Henry Maier Festival Park
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes)
Veteran's Park
Lake Park
The Swing Park
South Shore Park
Humboldt Park
Kosciuszko Park
O'Donnell Park
Pere Marquette Park
Kaszubes Park

Sports Teams in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)
Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)
Marquette Golden Eagles (NCAA)
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Universities in Milwaukee

Marquette University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Mount Mary University
Alverno College
Cardinal Stritch University
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a professional moving company from Madison to Milwaukee?

To ship furniture from Madison to Milwaukee with a mover will cost between $485 and $2,254. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home will range from $971–$3,108, and a four-bedroom move or bigger move from Madison to Milwaukee will cost from $1,429–$3,779.

How much are moving container companies from Madison to Milwaukee?

Moving containers from Madison to Milwaukee will cost you $383 to $846 for a studio or one-bedroom home. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $732 to $1,403. A larger home will cost $889 to $1,529.

How much is a moving truck from Madison to Milwaukee?

Renting a moving truck is usually the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor; these estimates include the estimated fuel cost:

Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around $68 to $107. A larger move will cost $80 to $140, and a four-bedroom or larger move from Madison to Milwaukee costs from $96 to $149.

How far in advance should I book Madison-to-Milwaukee movers?

Ideally, you should book your move from Madison to Milwaukee at least two months in advance. If you’re moving during the busy summer months, it’s best to book your movers at least three months ahead of your move. The sooner you reserve your Madison-to-Milwaukee movers, the better the chance you’ll get the most affordable rates and secure the exact moving date you need. Some movers even offer early-bird discounts for advance reservations.

What time of year is the cheapest to move to Milwaukee?

The cheapest time of year to move to Milwaukee is between early October and late April. This period of time is outside of the moving industry’s peak season (May–September), which means demand — and therefore pricing — will typically be lower. A majority of all U.S. moves happen between May and August, so staying outside the busy summer months will help you save money.