How much does it cost to start again after a break up?

According to Pew Research Data, approximately 58% of American adults were living with a spouse or romantic partner in 2023. [1] But what happens when a relationship breaks down? Breaking up with a partner can be emotionally difficult, but for those living together, there is additional financial and logistical stress of one partner moving out.

To find out how much it costs to relocate and start again after a breakup – and how this varies state to state – this analysis considers the expenses of moving out of a shared home. This analysis assumes a single individual with no dependents moving from a shared one-bedroom apartment to a new one-bedroom apartment within the same state. Actual costs may vary based on individual circumstances, specific locations within each state, and personal choices.

Considering the combined cost of eleven different factors (ranging from deposit and rent, utilities, moving costs, credit checks and insurance), our analysis uncovers the typical cost to move out and start again after ending a relationship in the 50 different states.

Key findings:

• The average cost to move out with your own furniture and set up a new apartment is $4,540. 
• California is the most expensive state to break up in: the cost to set up in a new apartment (including the cost of utility bills, security deposit and first month’s rent) with your own furniture is $7,876.
• The second and third most expensive states to break up and move out with your own furniture are Connecticut ($6,829) and Nevada ($6,714).
• Oklahoma has the least expensive break-up bill in our analysis, costing $3,122 when moving with furniture.
• The second and third least expensive states to break up and move out in are West Virginia ($3,254) and Mississippi ($3,286).
• The average cost to move out and re-furnish a new apartment is $7,807 (72% more than moving with furniture).

The average cost of moving out post break up is $4,540

Taking the average costs across the U.S., our analysis finds that it costs $4,540 for someone to move out of their shared home and into a one-bed apartment. For the purpose of our analysis, a breakup is defined as moving out of a shared one-bedroom apartment into a new one-bedroom apartment, using a moving company to relocate furniture within the same state.

Because some states require more than a one-month deposit on a new rental, the cost of the deposit (on average $1,826) is the greatest proportion of these expenses – representing 40.2% of the total cost. This is followed by a month’s rent, which represents 31.2% of the costs ($1,414), and the average movers’ costs which represents 19.3% of the total ($875).

Average cost of moving out after a breakup ($)

Component	Average ($)
Security deposit	$1,826
First month’s rent (one-bed apartment)	$1,414
Avg. Moving cost within state for 1 bed	$875
Renter’s insurance average monthly premium	$22
Electricity	$116
Internet	$77
Gas	$74
Cable	$58
Water	$47
Application/credit check fees	$31
Total when moving	$4,540

The average cost of starting from scratch is $7,807 with new furniture

On the other hand, if you’re starting from scratch and buying a whole new set of furniture, you could be looking at upwards of $7,807.

Considering costs to fill a one-bedroom apartment, including master bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room, those who are newly single and starting from scratch are expected to pay from $4,100 for essential furniture.

Estimated costs of furnishing a new one-bedroom apartment

Room	Estimated costs of furnishing
Master bedroom	$1,500
Bathroom	$100
Kitchen	$1,000
Living room	$1,500

*Based on the lowest estimated costs for basic furniture

The cost of one month’s rent and a deposit

The average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment was found to be $1,414 when taking an average across the states. But where in the country you relocate to can impact these figures significantly. For example, in New York (where rent is most expensive), a month’s rent for a one-bedroom apartment will cost around $2,660, whereas it will cost you almost a third of this when renting in Oklahoma ($895).

Besides the rent, a new landlord will also expect a security deposit. A security deposit is a payment from the tenant to the landlord that serves as financial protection for the landlord in case the tenant causes damage to the property. The maximum legal security deposit varies across the states. In 24 of the 50 states, there is no law (so one month’s deposit was used). In others, though, it’s as much as two months’ rent, and in others, half a month for furnished accommodation. [4]

The state with the most expensive security deposit is California, where the maximum legal security deposit extends to the amount of two months’ rent for an unfurnished apartment, and three months’ rent for a furnished one. Considering the average rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment, the average maximum deposit here is $4,358. On the other end of the spectrum, in Oklahoma (where the value of a month’s rent applies as there is no law), the average figure is much lower at $895.

The cost of insurance and rental credit checks

According to a study by MoneyGeek in 2025, 55% of renters have renters’ insurance. [2] Unlike homeowners’ insurance, renters’ insurance doesn’t cover the physical structure of the property, but it does typically cover personal belongings if they get stolen or damaged. The yearly amount ranges from $136 (Wyoming) and $504 (Louisiana), but our analysis average is $260.
Another administrative task potential renters might undertake is an application or credit check. Landlords use screening services – like rental credit checks – to evaluate if you will be a financially reliable tenant. [3] Application and credit check fees for renting vary.

The cost of utilities 

Another cost newly single tenants will have to cover all by themselves is their utilities. Our analysis considered the monthly average cost for electricity, gas, water, cable, and internet in a one-person household. Electricity is the most expensive of the utilities ($116), ranging from $80 (in Utah) and $163 (in Hawaii). 

Internet is the second most expensive utility to cover ($77), ranging between $55 (Nebraska) and $123 (in Montana). Gas prices cost a similar amount ($74) but vary even wider, ranging from $39 (in Montana) to $210 (in Hawaii). 

The remaining two utilities are cable and water. The average monthly cost of cable is $58 (ranging between $49 in Alaska and New Mexico and $64 in Maryland), and the average cost for water supplies is $47 (ranging between $17 in Vermont and $122 in West Virginia).

The cost of movers

The average moving cost in-state for a one-bedroom apartment is $875. [5] This cost varies by $337, ranging between $717 down in Florida and $1,054 up in North Dakota. 

The most and least expensive states to start over in after a break up

By considering the average prices per state for each metric, our analysis also found where heartbreak hurts your bank balance the most and least if you’re starting again following a break up. The difference between the most and least expensive states to move your furniture into a new one-bed apartment after a breakup is $4,754, from the least expensive state ($3,122) and the most expensive ($7,876).

California is the most expensive state to start over again after a break up 

The most expensive state to break up in is California, where the cost to move out of an apartment with your own furniture and pay initial bills is $7,876.

The main reason California is so expensive is that the rental (and, in turn, deposit) prices are very high. California has the 4th most expensive rent in our analysis ($2,179), and because the maximum legal security deposit is set at two months’ rent, the state also has the most expensive deposit costs in our analysis ($4,358). The cost of water ($94) and internet ($101) are also some of the most expensive in our analysis.

Following California is Connecticut, with a cost of $6,829 to move your furniture into a new one-bedroom apartment, alongside bills and initial rent. The state has the third most expensive deposit of $3,698, as the state has set the limit of a maximum security deposit at two months (but one month for tenants 62 years of age or older). The city also has the second-most-expensive electricity ($162) in our analysis. 

Completing the top three is Nevada. Here, those moving out of a shared apartment can expect to spend an average of $6,714 if they move with their own furniture. Because the maximum security deposit is set at three months, the state has the second-largest security deposit in our analysis ($4,041).

Top 10 most expensive states to break up in

Rank	State	In-state moving costs (one-bedroom apartment)	Security deposit	First month’s rent (one-bedroom apartment)	Renter’s insurance premium (monthly)	Utilities	Application/credit check fees	Total
1	California	$838	$4,358	$2,179	$23	$448	$30	$7,876
2	Connecticut	$811	$3,698	$1,849	$24	$417	$30	$6,829
3	Nevada	$885	$4,041	$1,347	$16	$396	$30	$6,714
4	Virginia	$789	$3,584	$1,792	$15	$392	$50	$6,622
5	New York	$786	$2,660	$2,660	$17	$371	$20	$6,514
6	New Jersey	$829	$3,072	$2,048	$14	$368	$30	$6,362
7	Maine	$969	$3,324	$1,662	$22	$331	$30	$6,338
8	Massachusetts	$830	$2,513	$2,513	$16	$404	$30	$6,306
9	Maryland	$804	$3,350	$1,675	$21	$391	$25	$6,267
10	Pennsylvania	$855	$3,008	$1,504	$23	$364	$30	$5,784

Oklahoma is the least expensive state to start over again after a break up

On the other hand, which states have softer financial blows of moving out and moving on from a relationship? Oklahoma has the least expensive total in our analysis, costing $3,122 when moving with furniture and paying initial bills. The reason Oklahoma performs so well in our analysis is that the state has both the cheapest average security deposit cost ($895) and average rent ($895) for a one-bedroom apartment.

West Virginia follows with an estimate of $3,254 when moving with pre-owned furniture. Similar to Oklahoma, West Virginia performed well because it has the second cheapest deposit and rent (both $914). Finally, Mississippi completes the top three, costing $3,286 to move with furniture. The hospitality state has the 4th cheapest deposit cost ($973) and the 6th cheapest rent ($973) for an average one-bedroom apartment.

Top 10 least expensive states to break up in

Rank	State	In-state moving costs (one-bedroom apartment)	Security deposit	First month’s rent (one-bedroom apartment)	Renter’s insurance premium (monthly)	Utilities	Application/credit check fees	Total
1	Oklahoma	$902	$895	$895	$23	$376	$30	$3,122
2	West Virginia	$888	$914	$914	$14	$495	$30	$3,254
3	Mississippi	$917	$973	$973	$19	$374	$30	$3,286
4	North Dakota	$1,054	$935	$935	$24	$317	$30	$3,296
5	South Dakota	$1,011	$974	$974	$17	$305	$30	$3,311
6	Louisiana	$836	$1,051	$1,051	$42	$364	$30	$3,373
7	Indiana	$809	$1,098	$1,098	$21	$340	$30	$3,395
=8	Kansas	$882	$1,063	$1,063	$21	$340	$30	$3,399
=8	Kentucky	$890	$1,049	$1,049	$17	$340	$30	$3,399
10	Nebraska	$891	$1,075	$1,075	$28	$315	$30	$3,413

Methodology

To calculate the average cost of moving out of a shared home, the study considered eleven different factors. All costs considered reflect the cost of a single person living in a one-bedroom apartment.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 85% of movers remain in-state [2024]. Therefore, in-state moving costs were calculated for this study. The in-state moving costs per state were taken from movingBuddha [2025]. 

The average one month’s rent for a one-bedroom apartment in each state was taken from apartments.com [2025]. Once the average monthly rent was taken for each state, this could be used to calculate the maximum security deposit cost by referring to data from the LandlordStudio [2024]. All utility costs (for electricity, gas, water, and internet) were taken from move.org [2025]. 

Renter’s insurance costs per state were taken from ValuePenguin [2025]. The typical credit check and application fees were taken from LandlordStudio [2024] and LawDistrict [2024].

The cost of furnishings for a standard one-bed apartment was taken from a report from Summer [2025]. 

Sources

[1] Pew Research Center, ‘Share of U.S. adults living without a romantic partner has ticked down in recent years’, 2025. Accessed October 2025.

[2] Moneygeek, ‘Renters Insurance Statistics and Facts’, 2025. Accessed October 2025.

[3] Nerdwallet, ‘What to Expect From a Rental Credit Check’, 2024. Accessed October 2025.

[4] Landlord Studio, ‘The Complete State-By-State Guide To Security Deposit Laws’, 2024. Accessed October 2025.[5] moveBuddha. Accessed October 2025.

[5] moveBuddha. Accessed October 2025.