Quick Answer: With AB Group Shipping, moving abroad from the USA with your household goods costs from $1,048 port to port to Nicaragua and up to $4,770 to Curaçao (October 2026 quotes). Ocean transit runs 7-35 days depending on lane. You need an ITN, a valued inventory and a destination duty-free household goods permit.
- Budget three separate buckets: ocean or air freight, destination customs clearance and duties, and local door delivery. Only the freight leg is quoted on this page.
- Almost every household goods export needs an AES/EEI filing and an ITN number before the container can be loaded at the port.
- Most countries grant a duty-free used household goods exemption (menaje de casa) if you apply through the consulate before you sail and arrive within the eligibility window.
- Ocean FCL beats LCL above roughly 10 CBM; air freight only makes sense for 200-400 lbs of essentials you need on day one.
Families who plan to mudarse de Estados Unidos a otro país fail on paperwork far more often than on freight. The container almost always sails; it is the consular inventory, the ITN and the residency card that hold cargo at the destination port.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: moving abroad from Miami
| Destination | Boxes and some furniture | 2 bedrooms | 3+ bedrooms | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El SalvadorSan Salvador | $2,489 | $3,982 | $4,299 | 7 days |
| HondurasSan Pedro Sula | $2,732 | $3,450 | $3,827 | 14 days |
| GuatemalaGuatemala City | $2,472 | $3,474 | $3,812 | 14 days |
| Dominican RepublicRio Haina | $1,907 | $3,225 | $3,500 | 14 days |
| ColombiaBarranquilla | $1,869 | $2,600 | $2,800 | 4 days |
| PanamaManzanillo | $2,056 | $2,900 | $3,100 | 14 days |
| PeruCallao | $2,142 | $2,900 | $3,100 | 14 days |
| EcuadorGuayaquil | $2,142 | $2,900 | $3,100 | 14 days |
Port-to-port rates in USD from Miami, calculated with our quoting system (current since September 28, 2026). Boxes and some furniture: consolidated, ≈13 m³. 2 bedrooms: 20 ft container. 3+ bedrooms: 40 ft HC container. They include freight and US export charges; they do not include import taxes or local charges at destination. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery.
How much does it cost to move abroad from the USA with all your belongings?
Quick Answer: Port-to-port ocean freight for a household move from the USA starts at $1,048 to Nicaragua and runs to $4,770 to Curaçao, based on AB Group Shipping quotes from October 2026. Add destination clearance, duties and local delivery. Total relocation budgets usually land far above the freight line alone.
Split your budget into three buckets. Mixing them is how families end up short at the worst moment.
- Origin: packing, export handling, drayage to the terminal and the ocean freight itself. This is the line our calculator prices.
- Destination: terminal handling (DTHC), customs clearance, duties and VAT if your exemption is denied, and port storage after free time expires.
- Last mile: local trucking, stair or long-carry fees, unpacking and debris removal, quoted by the agent in country.
These October 2026 port-to-port reference points show how lane, not distance, drives price: Colombia $1,869, Peru $1,996, Panama $2,056, Costa Rica $2,212, Chile $2,863, Brazil $3,350, Mexico $3,360 and Jamaica $3,553. Nicaragua opens at $1,048 and Curaçao tops the list at $4,770.
Volume matters more than weight for a mudanza internacional desde USA. Household goods "cube out" long before they hit a payload limit. A 2-bedroom apartment usually measures 25-35 CBM. A 3-bedroom-plus house measures 45-65 CBM.
That volume fits a single 20-foot container with room for boxes. Measure your cube before you compare quotes — a mover who guesses low will "re-rate" your shipment after the truck is loaded.
Three budget scenarios
A single person with 8-12 CBM ships LCL. A couple with 20-30 CBM sits at the FCL break-even and usually books a 20-foot container. A family of four with 45-60 CBM needs a 40-foot high cube.
MiamiUSMIA
CartagenaCOCTG
MiamiUSMIA
CallaoPECLL
HoustonUSHOU
Puerto CortésHNPCR
New YorkUSNYC
CaucedoDOCAU
Door delivery and destination charges are not part of these figures. The agent in country quotes them once your clearance file is open.
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Go to the calculator →Which shipping method should you choose: FCL, LCL, air freight or baggage?
Quick Answer: Choose FCL above roughly 10 CBM, LCL below it, air freight only for 200-400 lbs of urgent essentials, and excess baggage for under 150 lbs. A 20-foot container holds a typical 2-bedroom apartment. A 40-foot high cube holds a 3-4 bedroom house with a vehicle alongside.
A 20-foot container gives you about 33 CBM of usable space. A 40-foot runs 67 CBM and a 40HC reaches 76 CBM. Pick by cube first, then by schedule.
FCL: your own container
The container is sealed at your home and opened by customs or by you. Nobody else's cargo touches it. FCL moves straight from the vessel to clearance, so it is faster at the destination and the lowest cost per cubic meter above 10 CBM.
LCL: shared container
Your crates go to a CFS warehouse, get consolidated with other shippers, then get deconsolidated at destination. Cheaper under 10 CBM, but add 5-10 days of handling and more touchpoints. Pack hard-sided crates, not loose boxes.
| Method | Cost basis | Typical transit | Volume range | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCL 20ft | Flat rate per container | 7-25 days ocean | Up to 33 CBM | 2-bedroom apartment, full move |
| FCL 40ft / 40HC | Flat rate per container | 7-30 days ocean | 67-76 CBM | 3-4 bedroom house, car alongside |
| LCL | Per CBM or per 1,000 kg | Ocean + 5-10 days CFS | 2-10 CBM | Studio, partial move, students |
| Air freight | Per kg, volumetric 1:6 | 2-7 days | 200-400 lbs typical | Laptops, medication, 2 weeks of clothes |
| Excess baggage | Per 50 lb piece | Same flight | Under 150 lbs | Documents and immediate essentials |
Air freight bills on chargeable weight. The airline compares actual kilos against volume divided by 6,000 and charges the higher number. Light, bulky items like pillows and lamps punish you badly on an AWB.
Self-pack "moving containers" rarely cross borders
Portable storage pods are built for US domestic moves. Most Latin American and European customs authorities will not clear a unit they cannot inspect at a CFS, and the box ties up terminal space while duties are assessed. Use a standard ocean container or LCL crates instead.
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Go to the calculator →What documents do you need to move your furniture out of the United States?
Quick Answer: You need a valued packing inventory, a copy of your passport and visa or residency permit, a bill of lading, and an ITN from the AES/EEI filing when the shipment requires one. Destination countries add a consular-stamped inventory, proof of residence change and, for vehicles, the original title.
The ITN is the Internal Transaction Number. You get it from CBP's ACE/AESDirect platform after filing Electronic Export Information. It proves to the carrier and to CBP that the export was declared.
You are the USPPI — the US Principal Party in Interest. For personal effects you file under your SSN, or under an EIN if you have one. Many household goods shipments qualify for a Schedule B filing exemption, but the steamship line still needs documented proof of that exemption before it releases the booking.
The documents for an international move
- Valued itemized inventory — numbered, in English and the destination language, with replacement values. This doubles as your marine cargo insurance declaration.
- Passport and visa or residency card — the name must match the inventory and the bill of lading exactly.
- Bill of Lading (B/L) or Air Waybill for air shipments.
- ITN from AES/EEI, or the cited exemption code.
- Consular-legalized inventory stamped in the US before the container sails.
- Local tax ID at destination: RUT or NIT in Colombia, RFC and CURP in Mexico, NIE in Spain.
- CBP Form 3299 plus a Supplemental Declaration when you ship personal effects into the United States.
Green card holders should read their obligations carefully before leaving. The USCIS guide Bienvenido a los Estados Unidos de América explains how extended absences can affect permanent resident status.
"Miscellaneous boxes" get your container inspected
Customs officers at Cartagena, Callao and Manzanillo reject vague inventories. Write "12 dinner plates, used, $60", not "kitchen items". A vague line triggers a physical inspection, and an inspection triggers storage and demurrage you will pay out of pocket.
What is a menaje de casa and how do you import household goods duty free?
Quick Answer: A menaje de casa is the customs exemption that lets a new resident import used household goods duty free. Eligibility usually requires residency status, a consular-legalized inventory filed before shipping, and arrival of the goods within a set window — commonly 90 days to 6 months after you land.
Getting menaje de casa exento de impuestos approved is a sequence, not a form. Residency first, then consular legalization, then sailing, then arrival inside the window.
Duty-free household goods exemption by destination
| Country | Exemption name | Typical arrival window | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Menaje de casa | Within residency card validity | Temporary or permanent resident card, consular-certified inventory |
| Spain | Cambio de residencia | Up to 12 months after residence change | Baja consular, Modelo 06, NIE, padrón registration |
| Portugal | Bagagem / transferência de residência | About 12 months | NIF, certificate of residence, used-goods inventory |
| Colombia | Menaje doméstico (DIAN) | Within 4 months of arrival (typical) | 12+ months abroad or resident visa, RUT, legalized inventory |
| Costa Rica | Menaje de casa | About 6 months | DIMEX or approved residency category, consular inventory |
| Panama | Menaje de casa | About 3-6 months | Residency resolution or carné, legalized inventory |
| Canada | Settler's effects | Goods listed on arrival | CBSA Form B4/BSF186 goods-to-follow list |
Source: published customs guidance from SAT, AEAT, AT, DIAN, Hacienda CR, ANA Panamá and CBSA · October 2026. Confirm with the consulate before booking.
The consular step is the one families skip. Most Latin American consulates must stamp the inventory in the United States before the container sails. Doing it after arrival is usually impossible, and the exemption then dies.
What disqualifies your shipment
- New items still in retail packaging with price tags — customs reads them as commercial imports.
- Duplicate appliances: three refrigerators in one inventory looks like resale stock.
- Goods shipped before the visa or residency resolution was issued.
- Vehicles, firearms, alcohol, tobacco, construction materials and tools beyond personal quantity.
How duties are actually calculated
Duties are published country rates, not freight charges. Here is the math if an exemption is denied in Colombia on $10,000 of declared CIF value, at a 10% duty plus 19% IVA: duty is $1,000; IVA applies to $11,000 and equals $2,090; total exposure is $3,090. Rates vary by HS code, so confirm with a licensed customs broker.
Pro Tip
Photograph every room before packing and keep the files with your inventory. When a DIAN or SUNAT officer questions whether an item is "used", a timestamped photo in your home resolves it in minutes instead of days of storage.
How long does a container take from the USA to your destination?
Quick Answer: Port-to-port ocean transit runs 7-12 days from Miami to Cartagena or Caucedo, 12-18 days to Callao and Manzanillo, 18-25 days to Santos and Valparaíso, and 16-24 days from Miami or Houston to Algeciras and Valencia in Spain. Add 7-15 days for customs clearance and delivery.
Your gateway depends on where you live, and it changes both price and transit. Florida ships through PortMiami or Port Everglades. Texas and the central states route through Port Houston. California and the Southwest use Los Angeles/Long Beach. The Northeast uses New York/New Jersey, the Southeast uses Savannah, the Midwest rails through Chicago, and the Pacific Northwest uses Seattle.
From Canada: Ontario via Toronto, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces via Montreal, Western Canada via Vancouver.
Ocean transit and indicative freight by lane
See the data
| Lane | Transit (days) | From, port to port |
|---|---|---|
| Miami → Cartagena | 7-10 | USD $1,869 (Oct 2026) |
| New York → Caucedo | 8-12 | USD $1,907 approx. |
| Houston → Puerto Cortés | 7-11 | USD $2,700 approx. |
| Los Angeles → Acajutla | 12-16 | USD $2,489 approx. |
| Savannah → Kingston | 8-12 | USD $3,553 approx. |
| Miami → Santos | 18-25 | USD $3,350 (Oct 2026) |
Source: AB Group Shipping quoting system, October 2026, lowest consolidated port-to-port rate per destination; transit per current carrier schedules.
Spain lanes from Miami or Houston to Algeciras and Valencia run 16-24 days depending on whether the service is direct or transships. Those rates are quoted on request through the calculator.
Port cut-off is not vessel ETD
Cargo must be at the terminal 3-5 days before the ship sails. On weekly services, missing the cut-off by two hours costs you a full week. Book your packing crew against the cut-off date, never against the ETD printed on the booking.
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Go to the calculator →Can you take your car from the United States to another country?
Quick Answer: Yes, but CBP requires the original title and the export declaration at the port at least 72 hours before loading. You also file EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7. Destination rules matter more than US rules — several countries ban imports of vehicles over a set age.
The 72-hour rule is strict. The original title, or a certified copy, plus the ITN must reach the designated export port three business days before the vehicle is loaded. Late paperwork rolls the car to the next sailing.
- EPA Form 3520-1 declares emissions status on export.
- DOT Form HS-7 declares FMVSS safety conformity.
- Lienholder letter on bank letterhead if the car is financed — no letter, no loading.
- Bill of sale and registration matching the title holder's name.
Three shipping modes exist: RoRo (drive on, drive off), a sole-use container, or sharing a 40-foot container with another vehicle or with household goods. Each prices on a different line. A car is always quoted on the vehicle line, never on a general-cargo container rate.
Destination rules decide the deal. Some countries cap the age of imported used vehicles. Others apply a published duty percentage on CIF value plus VAT and a luxury tax. Check the rule before you book, not after.
RVs, trucks and machinery do not fit a container
Motorhomes, semi-trucks, heavy machinery and aircraft move on flat rack or RoRo vessels. They are never priced as a container. Send the details through the request form on this page and a project cargo specialist will quote the lift, lashing and survey requirements.
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Go to the calculator →What Incoterms and quote inclusions actually mean for a personal move
Quick Answer: Door-to-door is a marketing phrase, not an Incoterm. Personal moves usually price as port-to-port, DAP (delivered to your address, duties unpaid) or DDP (duties included). Incoterms 2020 define who pays origin handling, ocean freight, destination terminal charges, customs clearance and delivery.
DAP: delivered, duties unpaid
The mover delivers to your address. You still handle the menaje de casa filing, duties and VAT. This is the honest structure for personal moves, because only you can prove your own residency status to customs.
DDP: duties included
Looks simpler on the invoice. In practice the shipper takes import-side liability and usually adds a markup on duties you cannot verify. If your exemption is approved, you have overpaid for a tax nobody owed.
Port-to-port covers export handling and ocean freight only. You or your destination agent handle clearance and local trucking. That is exactly what our calculator prices, which is why the number is comparable across movers.
Five questions to ask any mover
- Confirm whether destination THC is included or billed in country.
- Ask how many free days you get at the destination port before storage starts.
- Clarify who pays storage if your residency card is delayed by the consulate.
- Check for long-carry, stair, shuttle and elevator-reservation fees.
- Request an itemized quote showing origin handling, freight, BAF/CAF and destination charges separately.
An "all-in" lump sum hides which leg absorbed the margin. An itemized quote can be audited line by line against another forwarder's.
How do you plan the 12 months before you move abroad from the USA?
Quick Answer: Start 12 months out with the visa application, 6 months out with the move survey and insurance decision, 3 months out with consular legalization of your inventory, 6 weeks out with booking the sailing, and 2 weeks out with packing, pet paperwork and utility cancellations.
Anyone planning to mudarse de Estados Unidos a otro país should work backward from the residency approval date. Everything else depends on it.
Months 12-9: residency and apostilles
File the visa or residency application. Gather proof of income against the country's threshold. Apostille birth, marriage and police records through the issuing state's Secretary of State. Start the pet vaccination and USDA APHIS endorsement timeline — rabies titer tests can take months.
Months 6-4: survey, cube and insurance
Book an in-home or video survey to measure real CBM. Decide FCL versus LCL on that number. Buy marine cargo insurance against the valued inventory, not against weight. Verify your mover holds an FMC OTI license and, for domestic trucking, FMCSA authority.
Months 3-2: consulate and records
Legalize the inventory at the destination consulate. Apply for the local tax ID. Transfer school and medical records. Buy international health insurance — Medicare does not cover you abroad.
Months 2-1: booking and banking
Book the sailing against the port cut-off. Restructure US bank accounts and keep at least one open. Set up mail forwarding and a domicile state. Register to vote abroad through FVAP.
Final 30 days: pack and fly
Use a professional crew, sign the inventory at the door, and ship 200-400 lbs of essentials by air. Keep passports, titles and jewelry out of the container.
Prohibited items that stop a container
Aerosols, fuel, propane, open liquids, paint, plants, seeds and firearms without ATF handling are refused. Export-controlled items under an ECCN need a license. Drain lawn equipment and grills completely — a fuel smell at the CFS gets the whole consolidation held.
Do you still pay US taxes after you move abroad?
Quick Answer: Yes. US citizens and green card holders file a federal return on worldwide income no matter where they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion on Form 2555 shields a capped amount of earned income. FBAR and FATCA reporting apply to foreign accounts above set thresholds.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is an election on Form 2555. It excludes a capped amount of foreign earned income — about $130,000 of 2025 income — when you pass the physical presence test or the bona fide residence test.
- Form 2555 — Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.
- Form 1116 — Foreign Tax Credit, often better than the exclusion in high-tax countries like Spain, Portugal and Canada.
- FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) — foreign accounts exceeding $10,000 combined at any point in the year.
- Form 8938 (FATCA) — separate, higher thresholds that vary by filing status and residence.
- Form 8854 — only if you formally renounce and meet the covered-expatriate tests.
On the practical side: keep one US bank account and one US credit card open. Use an FX transfer service instead of paying wire fees. Confirm whether your destination triggers tax residency after 183 days in-country.
We move cargo, not tax returns
AB Group Shipping is a freight forwarder and NVOCC, not a tax advisor or law firm. Confirm your filing position, treaty benefits and exit-tax exposure with a licensed CPA or an international tax attorney before you change residence.
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Go to the calculator →Families who mudarse de Estados Unidos a otro país successfully do three things early: they measure their cube, they legalize the inventory before the container sails, and they book against the port cut-off. Knowing qué puedo llevar en una mudanza internacional and collecting the documentos para mudanza internacional in advance keeps your goods moving and your exemption intact. Run the calculator on this page for your exact origin city and destination port — real port-to-port pricing in seconds, no email required and no follow-up calls.
Move with AB Group Shipping
Planning the whole move? Our international movers pack, ship and handle customs, with your door-to-port price in 60 seconds.
It depends on volume, destination port and service type, so there is no single number. Port-to-port ocean freight is driven by cubic meters shipped and the lane, while destination duties, clearance and local delivery are billed separately in country. Check the live price table on this page and run the calculator at #quote-calc for your exact origin and destination.
You need a valued itemized inventory, your passport and visa or residency permit, a bill of lading, and an ITN from the AES/EEI filing when one is required. Most destination countries also require the inventory legalized at their consulate in the US before the container sails, plus a local tax ID. Missing the consular step is the single most common reason a duty-free household goods exemption gets denied.
Yes. US citizens and green card holders must file a federal tax return on worldwide income regardless of where they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555) and the Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) can reduce or eliminate what you owe, and FBAR plus FATCA reporting apply to foreign accounts above published thresholds. Speak with a licensed international tax professional about your situation.
Ocean transit from Miami or Port Everglades to Algeciras or Valencia typically runs 16-24 days port to port, depending on whether the service is direct or transships through a hub. Add 7-15 days for Spanish customs clearance under the cambio de residencia exemption and local delivery. Booking a week before the port cut-off, not the vessel ETD, keeps you on the sailing you planned.
Yes, as long as you present the original title and the export filing to CBP at the port at least 72 hours before loading, plus EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7. The bigger constraint is the destination: several countries cap the age of imported used vehicles or charge duty on the CIF value plus VAT. Check the destination rules before you book the sailing.