Moving from McAllen, TX to San Antonio, TX
About 258 miles inside Texas. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Texas, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from McAllen, TX to San Antonio, TX covers about 258 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $1,161 – $1,548 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 2,105 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 258 miles, about 5 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,161 – $1,548. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from McAllen to San Antonio
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $871 – $1,161 | $627 – $836 | $418 – $557 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,045 – $1,393 | $752 – $1,003 | $502 – $669 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,161 – $1,548 | $836 – $1,115 | $557 – $743 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,335 – $1,780 | $961 – $1,282 | $641 – $854 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,509 – $2,012 | $1,087 – $1,449 | $724 – $966 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,742 – $2,322 | $1,254 – $1,672 | $836 – $1,115 |
Transport only, for an estimated 258 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, McAllen to San Antonio
258 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,290. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,161 to $1,548, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from McAllen to San Antonio
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 2,105 people a year (±631) moved from Hidalgo County, TX, home to McAllen, to Bexar County, TX, home to San Antonio. Going the other way: about 1,418 people a year (±476). Movers from Hidalgo County make up 2.3% of the 91,790 people a year who moved into Bexar County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Bexar County, TX | 2,105 ±631 |
| Harris County, TX | 1,515 ±558 |
| Nueces County, TX | 1,459 ±698 |
| Cameron County, TX | 1,219 ±964 |
| Lubbock County, TX | 840 ±673 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 3,658 ±811 |
| Travis County, TX | 3,130 ±757 |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 2,955 ±726 |
| Comal County, TX | 2,317 ±510 |
| Bell County, TX | 2,237 ±629 |
Licensed movers at each end
18 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of McAllen. 1 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 0.0% of their 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapa's Moving Express LLCUSDOT 2161288 | McAllen · 4 mi | 6 trucks | 0 | — |
| Lui Lui Moving Service LLCUSDOT 2018219 | Edimburg · 16 mi | 6 trucks | 0 | — |
| Lone Star Moving ServiceUSDOT 1943924 | McAllen · 4 mi | 4 trucks | 0 | — |
| Cantu Moving ServiceUSDOT 3616187 | Edinburg · 5 mi | 3 trucks | 0 | — |
| Rockstar Moving Company LLCUSDOT 2823206 | McAllen · 4 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| A 1 Macias Movers LLCUSDOT 3245721 | Donna · 12 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Antonio end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Antonio: Scobey Moving & Storage Ltd (San Antonio, 123 trucks), All My Sons Moving & Storage of San Antonio LLC (San Antonio, 20 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (San Antonio, 17 trucks), Jackson Movers LLC (San Antonio, 16 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Texas, so Texas rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Texas 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 Texas, so your protection on this 258-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book McAllen to San Antonio
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 258 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in San Antonio
A local move inside San Antonio later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Antonio are Austin (about 86 mi), Corpus Christi (about 155 mi), Laredo (about 166 mi).
Other routes from McAllen
All routes from McAllen, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| McAllen to Corpus Christi, TX | ~138 mi | $621 – $828 |
| McAllen to Laredo, TX | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| McAllen to Austin, TX | ~328 mi | $1,476 – $1,968 |
| McAllen to Houston, TX | ~351 mi | $1,580 – $2,106 |
| McAllen to Arlington, TX | ~531 mi | $2,390 – $3,186 |
| McAllen to Dallas, TX | ~537 mi | $2,417 – $3,222 |
| McAllen to Lubbock, TX | ~643 mi | $2,894 – $3,858 |
| McAllen to Phoenix, AZ | ~1,126 mi | $5,067 – $6,756 |
Also moving to San Antonio: from Austin, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX, from Laredo, TX, from Houston, TX.
McAllen to San Antonio moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from McAllen to San Antonio?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 258 miles cost about $871 – $1,161 for a studio, $1,161 – $1,548 for a two-bedroom home and $1,335 – $1,780 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from McAllen to San Antonio take?
The drive is about 5 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from McAllen to San Antonio?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $557 – $743 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,161 – $1,548 with full-service movers; a moving container is $836 – $1,115.
Is McAllen to San Antonio an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Texas, so the move is regulated by Texas rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Texas 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 McAllen to San Antonio each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 2,105 people a year (margin of error ±631) moved from Hidalgo County, which contains McAllen, to Bexar County, which contains San Antonio.
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.