How much does it cost to move from Vietnam to United States?

Two separate budgets. The international removal itself is quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — sea freight is the default for a full household, air only for small or urgent loads. Separately, you need settling-in cash on arrival: a deposit, first month's rent and a buffer, which for New York is around USD 15,360. Get a firm shipping quote below; the settling-in figure is from our cost data.

Should I ship by sea or air to United States?

Sea freight is typically 50–70% cheaper than air but takes weeks; it's the standard choice for a flat or house. Air makes sense only for a few boxes you need immediately. Most movers ship the bulk by sea and fly with essentials.

When should I exchange the deposit money?

Before you move. A 2-month deposit in USD is roughly VND 175,000,000 at today's mid-market rate — sending it with a specialist that uses the real rate avoids the 3–5% margin most banks hide in the exchange.

Vietnam→

United States

Cost of moving from Vietnam to United States

Moving to United States from Vietnam? An international move on this route has two costs: the removals quote (priced on volume and mode) and the settling-in cash you need on arrival in New York. We break down both below.

Data signals

The real cost of landing in United States

Cash to land in New York
Beyond the shipping quote, the cash you need on arrival — a 2-month deposit, your first month's rent, and a month of essentials — comes to roughly 15,360 USD in New York.
Deposit in your home currency
The 2-month rental deposit (~7,000 USD) is about 175,000,000 VND at today's mid-market rate — move it before you go to avoid a bank's exchange margin.
Housing dominates the move
Housing — deposit plus first month's rent — is about 68% of the upfront cash needed to settle in United States, far more than the one-off freight cost for most moves.

Cash on arrival

What you need to settle in New York

Deposit (2 months)

7,000 USD

First month's rent

3,500 USD

One month of essentials

4,860 USD

Total to land

15,360 USD

excludes shipping

Settling-in figures are derived from our cost-of-living data for New York(housing + essentials). The shipping quote is separate — see below. Data as of 2026-05-23.

How removals are priced

Shipping by volume and mode

International removals are quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — not a flat fee. Sea freight is the default for a full household; air is for small, urgent loads only. Use this to size your move, then get a firm quote:

Household	Typical volume	By sea	By air
Studio / 1-bed	10–18 m³	4–8 weeks	3–10 days
2-bed flat	20–35 m³	5–9 weeks	5–12 days
3–4 bed house	40–70 m³	6–12 weeks	by sea only

Volumes and transit windows are industry-standard reference ranges; the price depends on your exact volume, port access and season — get a real quote below.

Move Vietnam → United States: quotes & money transfer

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FAQ

How much does it cost to move from Vietnam to United States?: Two separate budgets. The international removal itself is quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — sea freight is the default for a full household, air only for small or urgent loads. Separately, you need settling-in cash on arrival: a deposit, first month's rent and a buffer, which for New York is around USD 15,360. Get a firm shipping quote below; the settling-in figure is from our cost data.
Should I ship by sea or air to United States?: Sea freight is typically 50–70% cheaper than air but takes weeks; it's the standard choice for a flat or house. Air makes sense only for a few boxes you need immediately. Most movers ship the bulk by sea and fly with essentials.
When should I exchange the deposit money?: Before you move. A 2-month deposit in USD is roughly VND 175,000,000 at today's mid-market rate — sending it with a specialist that uses the real rate avoids the 3–5% margin most banks hide in the exchange.