Relocation Cost Estimator
Estimate the one-time cost of moving to a new city: brokerage, security deposit and moving charges.
Formula last reviewed 4 August 2026 · How we verify our calculators
One-time relocation cost
- Security deposit (2 mo)
- ₹90,000
- Brokerage (1 mo)
- ₹45,000
- Moving / packers
- ₹15,000
- Monthly rent basis
- ₹45,000
Updates live as you type
Frequently asked questions
The big three are the security deposit (often 2 months’ rent, much higher in some southern metros), brokerage (typically up to a month’s rent), and the cost of packers and movers. This tool sums all three.
It varies widely — one to three months’ rent in much of India, but historically far higher in cities like Bangalore. Adjust the months field to match what your landlord asks.
No. If you find a place directly or through a no-brokerage platform, set brokerage to zero. Where an agent is involved, it is commonly around one month’s rent.
Yes — initial furnishing, appliances, and the first month’s rent in advance. Treat this estimate as the core moving outlay and add a buffer for setup.
A lakh and a half before you unpack
Moving into a 1BHK in central Mumbai at ₹45,000 a month costs about ₹1,50,000 up front — ₹90,000 security deposit (two months), ₹45,000 brokerage (one month) and ₹15,000 for packers and movers.
That is more than three months of rent paid before a single night in the flat, and it is the figure most people underestimate when accepting a relocation.
The components
Security deposit is the largest and most variable line, and it differs dramatically by city:
- Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune — typically 2 to 3 months
- Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai — historically 6 to 10 months, though Bangalore has moved towards 3 to 5 in recent years
- Smaller cities — often 1 to 2 months
A Bangalore move at ten months' deposit on a ₹30,000 flat ties up ₹3,00,000, which dwarfs every other relocation cost combined. Note that Karnataka's Model Tenancy framework caps residential deposits at two months, though practice has been slow to follow legislation.
Brokerage is conventionally one month's rent plus GST, though it is negotiable and increasingly avoidable through direct-listing platforms.
Moving costs depend on distance and volume. Intra-city moves of a small household run ₹8,000–₹20,000; long-distance moves of a full household can reach ₹50,000–₹1,00,000.
What the estimate does not include
Advance rent — most landlords require the first month up front alongside the deposit.
Setting up the home — curtains, basic furniture, kitchen essentials, a geyser or air conditioner. For a first move this routinely exceeds every other line.
Society charges and one-time move-in fees, common in apartment complexes and sometimes substantial.
New utility connections and deposits — electricity, gas, broadband, water.
Travel for the move itself, and temporary accommodation while flat-hunting.
Transfer costs — vehicle re-registration if moving states, school admission fees, and the cost of updating documents.
A realistic all-in figure is frequently double the rental-transaction cost shown here.
Getting the deposit back
The deposit is the largest amount at risk, and disputes over it are the most common friction in Indian renting. Practical protections:
A written, registered rent agreement stating the deposit amount, the deductions permitted and the refund timeline. Registration matters — an unregistered agreement is weak evidence.
A dated photographic record of the flat's condition at move-in, covering walls, fittings, appliances and any existing damage, shared with the landlord in writing.
Payment by bank transfer, never cash, so the amount paid is documented.
Clarity on what is deductible — normal wear and tear is not, repainting sometimes is by agreement, and unpaid dues always are.
Notice served correctly and in writing, since deposit deductions for short notice are common and usually contractual.
Negotiating it down
More is negotiable than most tenants attempt. Brokerage is frequently reducible or avoidable entirely through direct platforms. Deposits can sometimes be lowered in exchange for a longer lock-in or slightly higher rent, which is a genuine trade worth considering if cash is tight. And where an employer is funding the move, deposit assistance or an interest-free advance is a common and reasonable thing to ask for.
Reading the result
The figure is the rental transaction cost only. Add advance rent, home setup, utility deposits and travel for a realistic total, and remember that the deposit is recoverable while the brokerage and moving costs are not — so the true sunk cost is smaller than the cash required.
Common mistakes
Budgeting only for rent. The entry cost is several months of it.
Assuming deposits are uniform. They range from one month to ten depending on city.
Skipping the photographic record. It is the main defence against deduction disputes.
Paying in cash. Undocumented payments are difficult to recover.
Forgetting setup costs. For a first move these often exceed the deposit.