The home price gap is what drives this move
The median home in Austin is worth $512,700. In Dallas it is $295,300, which is 42% lower. If you own in Austin, settle that gap before you book anyone. Selling an Austin house and buying in Dallas can leave a lot of room, and some owners use it to buy a bigger place, some to shrink the mortgage, and some to do both.
Housing is where the saving is. On the federal price index for 2024 (U.S. = 100), the Dallas-Fort Worth area sits at 103 and the Austin area at 98, so everyday prices outside housing run slightly higher in Dallas. Texas has no state income tax, so that part of your budget does not change when you cross from one city to the other.
Both cities are in Texas, which makes this an in-state move. The federal interstate rules do not apply. Texas rules do, and the regulator is the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV).
Incomes, rent and the two dates you will need
Household income runs $91,461 in Austin and $67,760 in Dallas. Incomes are lower in Dallas, but homes cost far less, so for a buyer the trade is not one-for-one. If your job comes with you, the gap works in your favor. If you are changing jobs, compare the offer against Dallas pay, not Austin pay.
Renters see a smaller gap than owners. The median rent in Dallas is $1,403 a month, against $1,655 in Austin, which is 15% lower. Over a year that adds up, but it will not change your life the way a house price might.
More than half of households rent in both cities: 58% in Dallas and 56% in Austin. You will not be short of rental listings, and if you rent you can ask for a lease that starts on a date that suits your move day.
Whether you rent or own, the mover has to fit between fixed dates. Owners who sell high and buy low often have a closing date on each end. Tell every mover both dates when you ask for a proposal, and line up the delivery day with your closing so your furniture is not waiting in a truck.
Apartment towers and houses on both sides
The housing mix is close to a mirror image. In Dallas, 47% of homes are in buildings of five or more units, against 42% in Austin. Detached houses are 42% in Dallas and 44% in Austin. Whatever you leave in Austin, you have a fair chance of landing in something similar.
Even so, some moves switch building types: out of an Austin apartment and into a Dallas house, or the other way. Tell your mover which it is. An apartment move brings elevator reservations, loading dock windows and parking for a truck. A house move brings driveways, stairs and how close a truck can get to the door. A mover who asks about both ends usually quotes more accurately than one who does not.
Where to look in Dallas
Dallas has 1,299,553 residents and Austin has 967,862, so you are moving to a larger place. Dallas also has a lower rate of turnover: 16% of its residents moved in the past year, against 21% in Austin. Start looking weeks before the truck is booked, and fix your housing date before you commit to a mover's date.
Dallas is spread out, and its neighborhoods differ a lot:
- Uptown and Oak Lawn. Walkable by Dallas standards, dense with restaurants and nightlife, and home to many young professionals.
- Bishop Arts District and North Oak Cliff. A creative pocket with independent shops, murals and a strong local food scene.
- Lakewood and East Dallas. Established streets with older craftsman homes, mature trees and a quieter residential feel.
- Deep Ellum. The live-music and arts district, grittier and denser than the others.
- Plano, Frisco and Allen. Northern suburbs along the Dallas North Tollway corridor, with highly rated schools, newer housing and more space per dollar. They suit anyone working in the Metroplex's corporate corridor.
What a Texas mover owes you in writing
Because this is an in-state move, Texas rules decide how the contract works. Before loading, the mover must give you a written proposal that is either binding or not-to-exceed. Read which one it is. A binding proposal fixes the price for the work described. A not-to-exceed proposal sets a ceiling and lets the final bill come in under it. Either is a fair product. A quote that is neither written nor clear about its type should make you hesitate.
Liability works differently from what you may have read about interstate moves. In Texas, the mover's liability is whatever you and the mover agree to in writing. It can be set as low as nothing if the contract says so, and 60 cents per pound is one common example. That is a liability level, not insurance. Do not assume anything is covered by default. Ask what the number is, read it on paper, and decide whether to buy separate moving insurance for higher-value items. If something is damaged, file your claim within 90 days.
The price itself depends mostly on the size of your load, the access at each end, stairs or elevators, how much packing you hand over, and specialty items such as pianos, safes and fine art. The price range at the top of this page is the place to start. Then compare written proposals.
Choosing among Austin-to-Dallas movers
Start with licensed movers who work this route often. You can look at movers in Austin and movers in Dallas, or go to find movers to see the whole directory. If you want to see how other states handle this, browse by state.
Then work through these steps:
- Check the license. An intrastate mover on this route should be registered with TxDMV. Ask for the number and look it up.
- Read recent reviews on independent review sites, not only the testimonials on a company's own website. Look at how a mover handles a problem, not only the five-star praise.
- Ask about this route. A mover who runs Austin to Dallas regularly will know the parking and the high-rise elevator reservations at the Dallas end.
- Ask the paper questions. Which type of proposal is this, what liability amount is in the contract, and could anything such as stairs or long carries add to the bill?
- Settle the Dallas unloading plan. Where will the truck unload, is street parking restricted, and does the building want a certificate of insurance from the mover?
Our team has 35+ years of hands-on service-provider experience, including an operator who ran a moving company for 18 years. Majestic Moving Companies is a directory. We connect you with movers and do not move anything ourselves. To confirm a company's standing, check with TxDMV.
Planning the two ends and the drive between
Plan the move as two separate days of work with a drive in between. Think through each end:
- Austin. Find out whether your building needs an elevator booking, a certificate of insurance from the mover, or a reserved parking spot. Ask the building manager early, since some require notice.
- Dallas. Confirm that a truck can reach the entrance, and whether you need to reserve a loading area.
- Both. Start early, measure the rooms and the doorways, and ask the mover for a loading window so you know when the crew will arrive.
Heat, storms and ice
Both cities have long, hot summers. Dallas summers are as fierce as Austin's, with temperatures regularly above 100°F and more humidity. A truck loaded in that heat is hard on everyone, especially with boxes going up stairs. Book an early start and ask whether the crew will load before midday. If you can avoid June through August, you move in kinder temperatures. Late September through November brings cooler mornings and keeps you clear of spring storm season.
Spring brings severe thunderstorm and tornado risk in both places, and Dallas sits in Tornado Alley, with tornadoes and hail among the spring hazards. Know where your safe shelter is at your new address before storm season arrives.
Winter is mild in both cities, but ice storms can close roads for a few days. The one that paralyzed Austin in February 2021 can hit Dallas too. If you move in winter, leave yourself a spare day on each end so a closed road does not leave your furniture in a truck and you in a motel. Ask your new landlord or neighbors what winter preparation means on your street.
Getting around Dallas
I-35E through downtown Dallas is notoriously congested. If your commute uses it daily, weigh that in your choice of neighborhood. The DART light rail system serves a good number of neighborhoods and is worth a look if you are coming from Austin's more car-dependent habits.
Questions about this particular move
Is a phone quote enough for an Austin house?
A phone quote is the weakest basis for a proposal. Ask two or three licensed movers for an in-home or video survey, so the inventory behind the price is checked. Then compare their written proposals rather than ballpark figures.
Will a large Austin home need two days to reach Dallas?
Larger households, such as three-bedroom homes and up, sometimes benefit from a two-day schedule. That is more likely if the Dallas address is a high-rise or has difficult access. Ask the mover to say in the proposal how many days the job is expected to take.
Will my furniture arrive the day it leaves Austin?
Not necessarily. Even on a same-state move, a carrier may quote a delivery window of a day or more rather than a guaranteed same-day delivery. Get the delivery date or window in writing before the crew loads.
What do I update with the state after moving from Austin to Dallas?
Staying in Texas does not exempt you from updating your records. Texas DPS expects you to update the address on your driver's license, and vehicle registration is tied to your county, so your vehicle will be registered in Dallas County at renewal or sooner if required. Check the Texas DPS website for current requirements.
When is the easiest season for the Austin-to-Dallas drive and unload?
Late September through November is the gentlest stretch. Mornings are cooler, you avoid the 100°F afternoons of summer, and spring storm season is behind you. If you must move in summer, ask for an early start and drink water through the day.