Quick answer
The most popular moves in 2026 are to Austin, Nashville, Dallas, Phoenix, and Tampa — all combine job growth, no state income tax, and rents 40–60% below NYC or SF. Budget 3–4 months of expenses before moving.
Moving Guides · 2026
Moving to a New City (2026)
City-by-city moving guides covering rent budgets, neighborhoods, first-month costs, and the honest trade-offs that most relocation guides skip. 49 cities, no filler.
Last updated: June 14, 2026
Popular Migration Routes
Where people are actually moving — based on IRS migration data and U-Haul one-way rates.
Leaving California? Popular destinations:
Leaving New York? Popular destinations:
Leaving Chicago? Popular destinations:
All 98 City Moving Guides
Moving to Wichita
$900
Moving to Oklahoma City
$920
Moving to Baton Rouge
$950
Moving to Memphis
$980
Moving to Mobile
$1,000
Moving to Little Rock
$1,000
Moving to Indianapolis
$1,050
Moving to Detroit
$1,050
Moving to Cleveland
$1,050
Moving to Omaha
$1,050
Moving to Albuquerque
$1,050
Moving to Rochester
$1,050
Moving to El Paso
$1,050
Moving to Fayetteville
$1,050
Moving to Louisville
$1,080
Moving to Tucson
$1,080
Moving to Kansas City
$1,100
Moving to St. Louis
$1,100
Moving to Cincinnati
$1,100
Moving to Buffalo
$1,100
Moving to Spokane
$1,100
Moving to Lexington
$1,100
Moving to Provo
$1,100
Moving to Winston-Salem
$1,100
Moving to Pensacola
$1,100
Moving to Milwaukee
$1,150
Moving to Birmingham
$1,150
Moving to Des Moines
$1,150
Moving to Sioux Falls
$1,150
Moving to Overland Park
$1,150
Moving to Columbus
$1,180
Moving to San Antonio
$1,180
Moving to Knoxville
$1,200
Moving to Tallahassee
$1,200
Moving to Anchorage
$1,200
Moving to Grand Rapids
$1,200
Moving to Chattanooga
$1,250
Moving to Ann Arbor
$1,250
Moving to Huntsville
$1,250
Moving to Greenville
$1,250
Moving to Houston
$1,280
Moving to Pittsburgh
$1,280
Moving to New Orleans
$1,280
Moving to Fort Worth
$1,280
Moving to Jacksonville
$1,280
Moving to Richmond
$1,320
Moving to Las Vegas
$1,350
Moving to Durham
$1,350
Moving to Phoenix
$1,380
Moving to Minneapolis
$1,380
Moving to Boise
$1,380
Moving to Madison
$1,380
Moving to Virginia Beach
$1,400
Moving to Fresno
$1,400
Moving to Eugene
$1,400
Moving to Plano
$1,400
Moving to Santa Fe
$1,400
Moving to Charlotte
$1,420
Moving to Dallas
$1,450
Moving to Salt Lake City
$1,450
Moving to Reno
$1,450
Moving to Savannah
$1,450
Moving to Colorado Springs
$1,450
Moving to Henderson
$1,450
Moving to Tempe
$1,450
Moving to Raleigh
$1,480
Moving to Nashville
$1,520
Moving to Baltimore
$1,550
Moving to Asheville
$1,550
Moving to Hartford
$1,550
Moving to Scottsdale
$1,550
Moving to Cape Coral
$1,550
Moving to Orlando
$1,580
Moving to Sacramento
$1,580
Moving to Portland
$1,590
Moving to Austin
$1,650
Moving to Atlanta
$1,650
Moving to Providence
$1,650
Moving to Tampa
$1,680
Moving to St. Petersburg
$1,700
Moving to Denver
$1,740
Moving to Charleston
$1,750
Moving to Philadelphia
$1,800
Moving to Chicago
$1,850
Moving to Boulder
$1,850
Moving to Long Beach
$2,050
Moving to Seattle
$2,100
Moving to Honolulu
$2,100
Moving to Jersey City
$2,100
Moving to Miami
$2,200
Moving to Oakland
$2,200
Moving to San Diego
$2,250
Moving to Fort Lauderdale
$2,250
Moving to Los Angeles
$2,400
Moving to Washington, DC
$2,400
Moving to Boston
$2,600
Moving to San Francisco
$2,800
Moving to New York
$3,200
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US cities are best for remote workers moving in 2026?
The best cities for remote workers combine low rent, no state income tax, and good quality of life. Top picks: Austin TX ($1,650/mo 1BR, 0% state tax), Nashville TN ($1,450/mo, 0%), Tampa FL ($1,500/mo, 0%), and Raleigh NC ($1,450/mo, 0%). All four have growing tech communities, good food scenes, and significantly lower costs than coastal metros.
How much money should I save before moving to a new city?
A safe moving budget is 3–4 months of total monthly expenses: first and last month's rent plus security deposit (up to 3x rent), moving costs ($1,000–4,000 depending on distance and volume), 1 month of living expenses as buffer, and setup costs for a new place ($500–2,000 for basics). For a city with $1,600/mo rent, budget $8,000–12,000 before moving.
What are the cheapest US cities to move to in 2026?
The most affordable major US cities for renters are Memphis TN ($900/mo 1BR), Detroit MI ($950/mo), Cleveland OH ($950/mo), Louisville KY ($1,050/mo), and Pittsburgh PA ($1,100/mo). All have under $200K median home prices and reasonable job markets. The tradeoff is lower salary ceilings in most fields compared to coastal or Sun Belt metros.
Is it worth moving to a cheaper city for a remote job?
Usually yes, if you can maintain your salary. Moving from NYC ($3,200/mo 1BR) to Nashville ($1,450/mo) on the same remote salary saves $1,750/month in rent alone — $21,000/year. Add no state income tax vs NY's 6.85% and a $120K earner saves $30,000+ annually. The math overwhelmingly favors moving if you have location flexibility and income security.
Which cities are people moving to most in 2025-2026?
The most common destination cities for domestic migration are Austin TX, Nashville TN, Dallas TX, Phoenix AZ, Tampa FL, Charlotte NC, and Raleigh NC. All combine job growth, reasonable rents compared to coastal metros, and no or low state income tax. Florida and Texas continue to be the dominant destinations for people leaving California, New York, and Illinois.
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