1-bedroom apartment, local move (under 100 miles).
$550-$1,200 typical cost. Most common move size.
The shape of the move.
Most common move size in the cohort. 4-6 hours, 2-3 mover crew, $550-$1,200 typical cost. Single-truck move with room for packing materials. Typical scenario: tenant upgrade within metro, or first-home purchase in same city.
What you're actually paying for.
Hourly labour: $80-$200 crew rate × 5 hours = $400-$1,000. Heavier furniture (couch, queen bed, dresser) adds an extra mover for tight stairwells. Packing supplies $80-$200 if mover-provided; $50-$150 DIY. Truck rental and fuel $150-$300 if separate.
What competitors won't tell you upfront.
Same as studio plus: extra-mover charge if existing 2-person crew can't safely handle furniture (typically +$30-$50/hr). Long-carry fees more common because 1BR apartments are often in larger buildings with parking restrictions. Furniture disassembly fee ($25-$75 per piece) at some movers.
Anti-pattern detection.
Reasonable: in-home survey or detailed phone survey before quoting, hourly rate with crew size, clear stairs / long-carry policy. Suspicious: a flat-rate quote without seeing the apartment, refusal to give a Bill of Lading, deposit over $200.