Moving from Buffalo, NY to Rochester, NY
At about 78 miles, Buffalo to Rochester is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. At 78 miles the drive is on the clock too — about an hour each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Buffalo, NY to Rochester, NY covers about 78 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 1,783 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 78 miles, crews cover Buffalo to Rochester in a single day — about an hour on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- about an hour
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Buffalo to Rochester
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Buffalo to Rochester
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $44–$55 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $515 to $845. The 78 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Buffalo to Rochester
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,783 people a year (±356) moved from Erie County, NY, home to Buffalo, to Monroe County, NY, home to Rochester. Going the other way: about 1,397 people a year (±273). Movers from Erie County make up 5.8% of the 30,746 people a year who moved into Monroe County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Niagara County, NY | 3,776 ±695 |
| Monroe County, NY | 1,783 ±356 |
| Cattaraugus County, NY | 774 ±178 |
| Albany County, NY | 750 ±490 |
| Kings County, NY | 640 ±192 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Erie County, NY | 1,783 ±356 |
| Onondaga County, NY | 1,478 ±388 |
| Kings County, NY | 1,435 ±304 |
| Livingston County, NY | 1,361 ±458 |
| Ontario County, NY | 1,246 ±270 |
Licensed movers at each end
62 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Buffalo. 22 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 8.8% of their 57 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher Bus ServiceUSDOT 746677 | Hamburg · 12 mi | 100 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 3356419 | Cheektowaga · 7 mi | 32 trucks | 21 | 7.1% of 14 |
| Wayfinder Moving Services IncUSDOT 3104397 | Buffalo · 4 mi | 10 trucks | 15 | 0.0% of 9 |
| Lincoln Moving & Storage of Buffalo IncUSDOT 26424 | Buffalo · 5 mi | 9 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Big Apple Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 382368 | Grand Island · 10 mi | 9 trucks | 16 | 0.0% of 10 |
| All Star MoversUSDOT 2077131 | Buffalo · 2 mi | 5 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 2 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Rochester end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Rochester: Sheridan Brothers Moving Inc (Rochester, 19 trucks), Clark Moving & Storage Inc (Rochester, 11 trucks), Dumbo Moving & Storage Inc (Rochester, 9 trucks), Champion Moving & Storage (Brockport, 8 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in New York, so New York rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which New York licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside New York, so your protection on this 78-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Buffalo to Rochester
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $44 to $55 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Rochester
A local move inside Rochester later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Rochester are Buffalo (about 78 mi), Syracuse (about 87 mi), Utica (about 140 mi).
Other routes from Buffalo
All routes from Buffalo, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo to Erie, PA | ~94 mi | $515 – $845 |
| Buffalo to Syracuse, NY | ~161 mi | $725 – $966 |
| Buffalo to Cleveland, OH | ~202 mi | $909 – $1,212 |
| Buffalo to Pittsburgh, PA | ~208 mi | $936 – $1,248 |
| Buffalo to Utica, NY | ~215 mi | $968 – $1,290 |
| Buffalo to Detroit, MI | ~251 mi | $1,130 – $1,506 |
| Buffalo to Albany, NY | ~304 mi | $1,368 – $1,824 |
| Buffalo to Philadelphia, PA | ~326 mi | $1,467 – $1,956 |
Also moving to Rochester: from Syracuse, NY, from Utica, NY, from Schenectady, NY, from Albany, NY.
Buffalo to Rochester moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Buffalo to Rochester, NY?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $515 – $845; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $867 – $1,560. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 78 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Buffalo to Rochester, NY take?
One day. The drive is about an hour, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Buffalo to Rochester, NY?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 78 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Buffalo to Rochester, NY an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in New York, so the move is regulated by New York rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever New York requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Buffalo to Rochester, NY each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,783 people a year (margin of error ±356) moved from Erie County, which contains Buffalo, to Monroe County, which contains Rochester.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.