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The truck is cheaper. The question is how much cheaper.
Every move is the same decision: sweat or money. This calculator prices both — a one-way rental truck with fuel and supplies versus full-service movers estimated from typical shipment weight and distance — so you can see the dollar value of your own labor before committing a weekend to it.
People relocating for a job use it right after the offer lands to price the sweat-versus-money decision before booking anything. Pair it with the salary offer comparison and the whole "should I take the job in Denver" question becomes arithmetic.
It is a rule-of-thumb model, not a quote — real prices swing 30% or more with season (May–September is peak), stairs vs elevator, long carries, and how far ahead you book. Use it to decide DIY vs movers and to sanity-check quotes, then get three binding written estimates from licensed movers (check their USDOT number) before signing anything.
Beyond truck and fuel: insurance on the rental (your auto policy usually does not cover it), tolls, parking permits in dense cities, hotel nights on long hauls, and the value of two or three days of your labor. Also the damage risk — movers carry liability; your friends carrying a couch do not.
For most people, no — the moving expense deduction has been suspended since 2018 and remains suspended in 2026 for everyone except active-duty military moving under orders. Some employers offer relocation assistance instead; that is usually taxable income, so negotiate it grossed up if you can.