2-bedroom home / large apartment, local move.
$800-$1,700 typical cost. Family-sized load.
The shape of the move.
5-8 hours, 2-3 mover crew, $800-$1,700. Family-sized load with full kitchen, two bedrooms, living room, possibly office. Often requires a larger truck (26-foot vs 20-foot) and 3 movers for efficiency.
What you're actually paying for.
Hourly labour dominates: 3-mover crew at $130-$250/hr × 6 hours = $780-$1,500. Packing materials $100-$300. Truck rental $200-$400 if separate. Tip $60-$180 typical.
What competitors won't tell you upfront.
Furniture disassembly / reassembly ($25-$75 per piece) — beds, dining tables, large bookcases. Specialty item fees: piano ($150-$400 extra in same-floor move; $300-$800 if stairs). Appliance disconnect / reconnect fees if applicable. Stairs / long-carry as before.
Anti-pattern detection.
Reasonable: in-home survey, written estimate, transparent fees. Suspicious: deposit over $400, refusal to itemise piano / appliance fees, vague timeline ('we'll be there in the morning' with no window).