Moving from San Antonio, TX to McAllen, 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 San Antonio, TX to McAllen, 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 1,418 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 San Antonio to McAllen
| 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, San Antonio to McAllen
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 San Antonio to McAllen
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,418 people a year (±476) moved from Bexar County, TX, home to San Antonio, to Hidalgo County, TX, home to McAllen. Going the other way: about 2,105 people a year (±631). Movers from Bexar County make up 8.4% of the 16,815 people a year who moved into Hidalgo County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 4,773 ±970 |
| Travis County, TX | 3,813 ±659 |
| Comal County, TX | 3,072 ±787 |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 2,733 ±643 |
| Tarrant County, TX | 2,198 ±620 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 2,052 ±713 |
| Cameron County, TX | 1,623 ±457 |
| Bexar County, TX | 1,418 ±476 |
| Starr County, TX | 1,106 ±539 |
| Dallas County, TX | 589 ±295 |
Licensed movers at each end
176 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of San Antonio. 9 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 13.3% of their 75 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scobey Moving & Storage LtdUSDOT 1274056 | San Antonio · 9 mi | 123 trucks | 47 | 12.1% of 33 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of San Antonio LLCUSDOT 917162 | San Antonio · 12 mi | 20 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 2965894 | San Antonio · 8 mi | 17 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Jackson Movers LLCUSDOT 3138126 | San Antonio · 8 mi | 16 trucks | 15 | 0.0% of 7 |
| Lone Star Relocation Services LtdUSDOT 2027837 | San Antonio · 8 mi | 16 trucks | 0 | — |
| Pmi Pipe Steel & SuppliesUSDOT 1183152 | San Antonio · 6 mi | 15 trucks | 21 | 23.8% of 21 |
How these figures are calculated
At the McAllen end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of McAllen: Chapa's Moving Express LLC (McAllen, 6 trucks), Lui Lui Moving Service LLC (Edimburg, 6 trucks), Lone Star Moving Service (McAllen, 4 trucks), Cantu Moving Service (Edinburg, 3 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 San Antonio to McAllen
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 McAllen
A local move inside McAllen 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 McAllen are Corpus Christi (about 138 mi), Laredo (about 140 mi), San Antonio (about 258 mi).
Other routes from San Antonio
All routes from San Antonio, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio to Austin, TX | ~86 mi | $445 – $733 |
| San Antonio to Corpus Christi, TX | ~155 mi | $698 – $930 |
| San Antonio to Laredo, TX | ~166 mi | $747 – $996 |
| San Antonio to Houston, TX | 197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| San Antonio to Arlington, TX | ~283 mi | $1,274 – $1,698 |
| San Antonio to Dallas, TX | 293 mi | $1,319 – $1,758 |
| San Antonio to Plano, TX | ~316 mi | $1,422 – $1,896 |
| San Antonio to Lubbock, TX | ~407 mi | $1,832 – $2,442 |
Also moving to McAllen: from Corpus Christi, TX, from Laredo, TX, from Austin, TX, from Houston, TX.
San Antonio to McAllen moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Antonio to McAllen?
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 San Antonio to McAllen 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 San Antonio to McAllen?
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 San Antonio to McAllen 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 San Antonio to McAllen each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,418 people a year (margin of error ±476) moved from Bexar County, which contains San Antonio, to Hidalgo County, which contains McAllen.
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.