How to use the move-in cost calculator
- Enter the monthly rent. If your first month is partial, enter the days you pay for, and open More options to change the days in that month.
- Tick last month's rent if it is due at signing, and enter the security deposit, fees and any pet costs.
- Enter the costs of the move itself: truck or movers, utility setup and furniture and basics.
- Read the amount due at signing, the cost of the move, the total and the total in months of rent.
Formula
first month = rent x days to pay / days in the month (or the full rent)
due at signing = first month + last month (if due) + deposit + fees + pet costs
cost of the move = movers + utility setup + furniture and basics
total = due at signing + cost of the move
months of rent = total / rent
Refundable deposits are included because they must be paid up front, even though they may come back later.
An $1,800 apartment
With a full first month of $1,800, a $1,800 deposit and $75 of fees, $3,675 is due at signing. A $600 truck, $150 of utility setup and $300 of basics add $1,050, so the total is $4,725, which is 2.63 months of rent.
If you pay for 12 days of a 30 day month, the first month is 1,800 x 12 / 30 = $720. Add last month's rent of $1,800, the deposit of $1,800, $75 of fees and $50 of pet costs, and $4,445 is due at signing.
Costs that are easy to forget
Beyond rent and deposit, a move often brings application fees, pet fees, parking permits, renter insurance, key or fob deposits and a new set of utility deposits. Add them to the fields that fit best or to furniture and basics. A cushion of one or two hundred dollars is a reasonable thing to add to the final figure.
Rules differ, so read your lease
Whether a deposit is refundable, how large it may be and whether last month's rent can be asked for in advance depend on your lease and local rules. The page takes the amounts you enter from your own paperwork and does not apply any rule.
Related tools
Budget the whole move with the Moving Cost Calculator, prorate a partial month with the Proration Calculator, split costs with roommates in the Rent Split Calculator, and plan an early exit with the Lease Break Cost Calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- All the amounts are what you will actually pay, taken from your lease and quotes.
- A partial first month is prorated by days in that month.
- Refundable deposits are counted in full.
- Taxes, interest and the value of anything you get back later are not modeled.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to move into an apartment?
Add the first month of rent, the deposit, fees and the costs of the move. For $1,800 rent with a $1,800 deposit, $75 of fees and $1,050 of moving costs the total is $4,725.
How do I prorate the first month of rent?
Multiply the rent by the days you pay for and divide by the days in the month. For 12 days of a 30 day month at $1,800, that is $720.
Is the deposit part of the cost of moving in?
Yes, because you pay it up front. The page counts it in full, even though some or all of it may be returned when you leave.
What is the total in months of rent?
It is the total divided by the monthly rent. It gives a quick sense of how many months of rent you need saved before you sign.