What a move to Mexico actually costs.
Quotes for the same move can differ by thousands of dollars, and published ranges disagree even more. Below are the 2026 numbers we could verify, where they come from, and how to turn any quote into the one number that matters: the cost per cubic foot you're paying to keep each item.
Updated
- Full-service moves from the U.S. to Mexico are published at roughly USD 2,500–8,000 for a 1-bedroom and USD 3,300–17,000 for a 2–3-bedroom, depending on route, sea vs. road, and who's quoting.
- A shared container works out to about USD 4–9 per cubic foot of freight (USD 145–320 per cubic meter) before door-to-door services.
- Add a customs broker (published ranges ~USD 200–900), insurance (1–3.5% of declared value), and the menaje certificate (USD 146 / 195 in 2026).
Full-service, door-to-door
| Home size | Sea, East Coast → Mexico City | Sea, West Coast → Mexico City | Road, border states → interior |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,500–4,200 | $2,800–4,700 | $4,500–8,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,300–5,500 | $3,700–6,200 | $7,000–12,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,500–9,200 | $6,300–10,400 | $10,500–17,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,200–10,100 | $6,800–11,400 | — |
Sea columns: Sirelo (2026-06-02). Road column: Jordan River Moving (a mover quoting its own service, 2026-09-10) — the low end is border states, the high end Mexico City/Bajío, excluding duties, customs exams and storage. AB Group Shipping (2026-09-28) publishes $2,400–6,400 for 2–3 bedrooms door-to-door.
The spread is the point: the same 3-bedroom move appears at $5,500 in one source and $17,000 in another. Don't anchor on an average — get at least three written quotes on the same inventory.
Containers and shared freight
| Destination | 20 ft container (freight) | 40 ft container (freight) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | $2,500–3,500 | $4,500–6,500 |
| Guadalajara | $2,300–3,300 | $4,200–6,200 |
| Monterrey | $2,200–3,000 | $4,000–6,000 |
| Tijuana | $2,000–2,800 | $3,800–5,300 |
Full-service container moves (packing, loading, delivery) are published at $5,700–8,200 for a 20 ft and $7,400–10,700 for a 40 ft (Jordan River Moving).
- Shared container / groupage: $145–320 per cubic meter, often with a 3 m³ minimum (AB Group; Jordan River). That's about $4.10–9.10 per cubic foot.
- Cross-border LTL freight: $380–720 per pallet; full truckload $2,900–4,800 (AB Group — a single source, use as a cross-check).
- U-Haul: its trucks and trailers are not allowed to cross into Mexico; U-Box containers to Mexico are quoted by its international department.
The extras most quotes leave out
| Cost | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Customs broker (agente aduanal), per shipment | ≈ $200–900 | AB Group; Mexican broker calculators (MXN 3,500–6,000) |
| Menaje de casa certificate | $146 (Mexicans) · $195 (foreigners) | 2026 consular fee tables |
| Full-value insurance | 1–3.5% of declared value | International Van Lines; AB Group |
| U.S. storage, 10×10 unit | ≈ $75–124 / month | SpareFoot, Extra Space (2026) |
| Border crossing surcharges | $180–450 | AB Group |
Try it with one item
Pick an item and adjust the shipping rate under “Assumptions” to match your quote.
Bringing it costs less than selling and buying again.
35 cu ft · Send it with your mover or freight.
Bring it = shipping (volume × rate, + fragile premium) + insurance + duties. Sell & replace = Mexico replacement price − U.S. resale after fees. The cheaper net cost wins.
Duties default to 0%. Some movers may qualify for a household-goods (menaje de casa) exemption; eligibility and rules vary. Confirm with a Mexican consulate or licensed customs broker — MenajeFlow is not legal or customs advice.
How people lower the bill
- Ship less volume. Bulky, cheap items (budget furniture, big appliances) often cost more to ship than to replace — see furniture and appliances.
- Carry the dense, valuable stuff. Laptops, consoles, small tools and a stand mixer fit in luggage or your car and are pricier in Mexico — see electronics.
- Use a shared container if you're under ~1,000 cubic feet; you pay for the space you use.
- Time the menaje window so goods don't sit in paid storage — see the menaje de casa guide.
Tell us your route and rough volume; we'll connect you with movers who serve it. Then enter their quote to see what's worth shipping.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom home from the U.S. to Mexico?
Published 2026 ranges run from about $3,300–6,200 by sea to Mexico City (Sirelo) to $7,000–12,000 by road (Jordan River Moving). Actual quotes vary widely by route, volume and services, so compare several on the same inventory.
Is a shared container cheaper than a full container?
For smaller moves, usually. Shared containers are priced by volume — about $145–320 per cubic meter (roughly $4–9 per cubic foot) in the sources we found — while a 20 ft container costs $2,000–3,500 in freight alone.
Can I drive a U-Haul to Mexico?
No. U-Haul states its trucks and trailers are not permitted to cross the U.S.–Mexico border. U-Box containers to Mexico are available through its international department.
What does a customs broker cost for a household move?
Published figures range from about $200 to $900 per shipment, depending on the broker and services. Get it in writing before you book.
Sources
Every price and rule on this page comes from these sources, checked on the date shown. Prices change; tell us if you find a better one.
- 01Sirelo — Moving to Mexico costs (updated 2026-06-02) — checked 2026-10-01
- 02Sirelo — Shipping a container to Mexico (updated 2025-11-25) — checked 2026-10-01
- 03Jordan River Moving — Moving to Mexico (updated 2026-09-10) — checked 2026-10-01
- 04AB Group Shipping — Moving USA to Mexico 2026 (updated 2026-09-28) — checked 2026-10-01
- 05Cotizador Hipotecario — Calculadora de mudanza internacional (agente aduanal MXN 3,500–6,000) — checked 2026-10-01
- 06moveBuddha — Moving to Mexico from the US (2026-03-19) — checked 2026-10-01
- 07U-Haul — Can you take a U-Haul truck to Mexico? (2025-12-08) — checked 2026-10-01
- 08International Van Lines — International moving insurance guide — checked 2026-10-01
- 09Consulado de México en Atlanta — Tabla de Derechos Consulares 2026 — checked 2026-10-01
- 10SpareFoot — Storage unit cost data (Feb 2026) — checked 2026-10-01
- 11Extra Space Storage — How much do storage units cost (2026-09-17) — checked 2026-10-01
MenajeFlow gives planning estimates. It is not a moving company, customs broker or legal adviser — confirm customs requirements with your Mexican consulate and a licensed customs broker.