Is it cheaper to hire a moving company or use pods?

For a local dorm move under 50 miles, a moving company usually beats PODS on total price. Full-service crews run $200 to $600 for a dorm load. A local PODS rental starts at $400 to $800 before you pay loaders at $200 to $600 per side. For cross-country with built-in storage, PODS typically wins. Expect $2,068 to $7,448 against $4,000 to $7,000 for a long-haul mover. PODS storage months after the first run $186 flat. For a college student moving locally with a dorm load, a per-item service like Storage Scholars at about $13 per item monthly often beats both. A 5-to-10-item summer runs $250 to $400 door-to-door.