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Relocation Cost Calculator
Enter the quotes you already have. The calculator adds the one-time lines, applies a contingency and shows the cost per person. Ongoing living costs are not included.
One-time costs only. First month's rent, ongoing living costs and the move-in stack are separate; use the move-in calculator for the cash due at signing.
What belongs in the one-time budget
The one-time budget covers everything paid before you start living on a local salary: transport, shipping or excess baggage, visa and permit fees, insurance for the transition, the housing deposit, the basics you cannot ship, and the documents that need translating or certifying.
Keep ongoing rent, food and transport out of this total. Mixing them produces a number that looks frightening but cannot be compared with a salary that starts later.
Why the contingency line matters
Quotes are issued before the move and paid after it. Shipping weights change, a document needs a second certification, temporary accommodation runs longer than planned, and the currency can move between the quote and the payment. A ten percent reserve is not padding; it is the line that prevents a small surprise from becoming a credit-card balance.
If the reserve is unused, it becomes the first month of the emergency fund in the new country, which is the next thing a move usually needs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use quotes or estimates?
Use real quotes where you have them and mark the rest as estimates. The total is only as good as its weakest line, so replace estimates as quotes arrive.
Does the calculator convert currencies?
No. Enter every line in one currency, using the rate you expect to pay at. If you will pay some lines in another currency, convert them first and add a small buffer for the rate move.
What if the employer pays part of the move?
Enter only your own share. If the employer reimburses later, the budget still needs to cover the cash until the reimbursement arrives.
Is the deposit part of relocation cost or move-in cash?
It appears in both views on purpose: it belongs to the total outlay, and it dominates the cash due at signing. Count it once in your own plan.