Out of State Guide · Free relocation planning tools

12-Month Moving Budget Calculator

Compare the monthly change after moving with upfront expenses, deposits and the first year’s cash flow.

Updated September 29, 2026 · All moving tools

Use your own estimates or written quotes. “Load example” uses invented numbers to explain the calculation, not market averages or verified tax bills.

Build your scenario

Current state

Destination state

Normal monthly take-home income

Current monthly take-home income ($)

Destination monthly take-home income ($)

Monthly spending on each side

Use after-tax income above. Include taxes or insurance here only if they are not already deducted from income or included in housing. Blank optional costs count as zero.

Current: Housing (rent or total mortgage payment) ($)

Destination: Housing (rent or total mortgage payment) ($)

Current: Utilities and communications ($)

Destination: Utilities and communications ($)

Current: Food and household purchases ($)

Destination: Food and household purchases ($)

Current: Transport and commuting ($)

Destination: Transport and commuting ($)

Current: Insurance not already included elsewhere ($)

Destination: Insurance not already included elsewhere ($)

Current: Childcare, education and care ($)

Destination: Childcare, education and care ($)

Current: Debt payments and other recurring costs ($)

Destination: Debt payments and other recurring costs ($)

One-time expenses

Moving, packing, travel and temporary storage ($)

Closing costs / lease exit / setup fees ($)

Exclude down payment, refundable deposits, and prepaid amounts already counted in monthly costs.

Lost take-home income during the move ($)

Other nonrefundable moving expenses ($)

Cash tied up and returned

New refundable deposits paid upfront ($)

Home down payment ($, cash converted to equity)

Old deposit refund expected within 12 months ($)

Month the old deposit refund arrives

Inputs are saved in this browser after calculation. They do not sync across devices. No email or account number is requested.

Methodology, sources and limits

Monthly improvement = (new take-home income − new monthly spending) − (current take-home income − current monthly spending). First-year benefit is 12 monthly improvements minus one-time expenses. First-year cash also subtracts new refundable deposits and the down payment, and adds the old deposit refund you expect within the year.

The table starts with all upfront costs at month zero. It assumes the monthly change is constant from month one. Lost income is entered once, refunds arrive in the month selected, and housing equity is not sold during the year. Expense payback is one-time expense divided by positive monthly improvement; it is not a promised return.

Example: an invented $500 monthly improvement and $6,000 of moving expense leaves $0 of first-year benefit. Adding a $2,000 refundable deposit makes first-year cash change −$2,000 until it is recovered.

Use the moving budget calculator to itemize upfront costs and the CFPB closing disclosure guide to separate closing costs from cash to close.

Model version 1.0 · Reviewed September 29, 2026. Your entries are planning assumptions. The calculation does not submit them to a quote provider; normal website analytics are separate.

Common questions

Are refundable deposits expenses?

They require cash but are separate from nonrefundable expense. Enter an expected old deposit refund only when you reasonably expect to receive it.

Does a positive result mean I can afford the move?

No. It shows a difference from staying, not your total bank balance. Check the upfront cash requirement, emergency reserve and actual timing of income and bills.

What if I miss a month of work?

Enter the lost take-home income once in the one-time section, while keeping normal full-month income in the ongoing comparison.

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Planning information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the relevant agency or provider before acting. Report a correction