Houston guide

How do you move to Houston? A step-by-step checklist

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This article is part of our Moving to Houston guide.

Last updated October 23, 2026

To move to Houston, start about eight weeks out: set a budget, pick a move date outside the worst heat and storm months, and line up an apartment, then handle Texas paperwork once you land. A studio or one-bedroom move from Chicago runs about $2,042 to $4,454 with full-service movers, or $686 to $1,342 for a rental truck before fuel (moveBuddha, October 2026). After you arrive, you have 30 days to register your car in Harris County and 90 days to get a Texas driver license. Use the phases below as your checklist.

Chicago to Houston, 1BR$2,042–$4,454full-service movers, moveBuddha, Oct 2026
Register your car30 daysafter moving, TxDMV
Texas driver license90 daysafter moving, TxDMV and Texas DPS
Flood insurance wait30 daystypical NFIP waiting period, Ready Harris, May 2026

When is the best time to move to Houston?

Late fall through early spring is the easiest window. Three things push in that direction.

  • Heat, June through September. Houston’s hottest stretch usually runs from late July to about August 20, with a typical high of 95°F (Space City Weather, citing National Weather Service normals). The heat starts early: Bush Airport hit 91°F on May 14, 2026. Carrying boxes in that is hard work, so book morning moving slots in summer.
  • Hurricane season, June 1 to November 30. The season peaks around September 10, and most storms form from mid-August to mid-October (National Hurricane Center). A storm can delay movers and close roads, so keep your dates flexible if you move in late summer.
  • Lease seasonality. In RentHop’s Houston data, rents were lowest from November to February and peaked in August (RentHop, 2019). That still fits 2026: Houston was among the U.S. metros offering the most move-in deals, and one-bedroom rent was $1,100 in October, down 9% from a year earlier (Zumper, October 2026).

For month-by-month conditions, see what the weather is like in Houston.

What should you do 8 weeks before moving to Houston?

  • Set a moving budget. The table below shows moveBuddha’s estimates for the roughly 1,083-mile Chicago-to-Houston route. For other cities, see what it costs to move across the country.
  • Get three quotes if you’re hiring movers. Ask whether packing is included. moveBuddha puts packing at an extra $307 to $2,048 on this route.
  • Check your lease end date and your current landlord’s notice rules, so you don’t pay two rents for long.
  • Start sorting. Sell or donate what you won’t move. Every box costs money.
Home sizeFull-service moversMoving containerRental truck
Studio or 1 bedroom$2,042–$4,454$1,232–$2,166$686–$1,342
2–3 bedrooms$2,562–$6,034$1,541–$3,229$741–$1,549
4+ bedrooms$4,175–$7,534$2,081–$3,894$978–$1,962

Truck prices cover the vehicle only. moveBuddha adds $353 to $403 for fuel, about $31 a day for insurance, and suggests budgeting another $600 to $1,200 for a realistic total (October 2026).

What should you do 4 weeks before?

This is when you lock in a place to live. Most Houston apartment applications follow a few norms:

  • Income of about three times the rent. Houston complexes typically want gross monthly income of at least 3x the monthly rent, and roommates’ incomes are usually combined (Smart City Locating). At $1,100 a month, that means about $3,300 a month in income.
  • Have documents ready: photo ID, recent pay stubs or an offer letter, and contact details for your current landlord.
  • Ask for the screening rules in writing. Texas law says a landlord must give you its tenant selection criteria with the application. If it rejects you without having given you that notice, it must refund your application fee (Texas Property Code §92.3515).
  • Ask about flooding. Ask whether the unit or parking lot has flooded and what the building does when a storm comes. Our sister site, HoustonApartmentBuildings.com, has a list of hurricane and flood questions to ask before you sign.

Deposits, fees and lease terms are covered in how renting works in Houston. Once you sign, book your movers or truck for a firm date.

What should you do 2 weeks before?

Set up utilities so the lights and Wi-Fi work on day one.

  • Electricity: pick a retail electric provider. Most of Houston uses Texas’s deregulated electricity market. You choose a retail provider and plan, and the Public Utility Commission’s site, PowerToChoose.org, lets you compare them. CenterPoint Energy owns the wires and doesn’t sell you power. Your provider sends CenterPoint a start order, and CenterPoint turns on service on the date you asked for.
  • Expect a possible deposit. Under state rules, a provider can ask for a deposit only if you can’t show good credit. Good credit can mean a solid credit rating, or two years of on-time electric bills elsewhere. Being 65 or older also usually waives it. A deposit can’t be more than the larger of one-fifth of your estimated yearly bill or two months of bills (16 Tex. Admin. Code §25.478).
  • Water: City of Houston Water. If water isn’t billed through your apartment, start service online with Houston Public Works or call Utility Billing at 713-371-1400 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Ask your leasing office first, since many complexes handle water for you.
  • Internet. Xfinity reaches about 98% of Houston addresses and AT&T about 80%, much of it fiber (BroadbandNow, October 2026). Check your exact address, and book installation early.
  • Renters insurance. Get a policy that starts on move-in day. Standard renters policies typically don’t cover flood damage (FEMA).

What should you do during moving week?

  • Buy flood insurance now if you want it. National Flood Insurance Program policies usually take 30 days to start. Ready Harris also warns you can’t buy one while a tropical storm is active in the Gulf. Renters can insure belongings up to $100,000 (FEMA).
  • Confirm dates with movers, your electric provider, internet installer and leasing office.
  • Pack a first-night box: chargers, medicine, sheets, a towel, basic tools and your documents. Keep IDs, your car title or registration, and your lease with you, not in the truck.
  • Plan for the heat. In summer, start loading early, bring water and keep the AC running in the new unit.
  • Take photos of the empty apartment before you bring anything in, so you have a record of its condition.

What do you have to do after you arrive in Houston?

Texas sets the order: car first, then license. The first 30 days in Houston guide covers the rest of settling in.

Within 30 days: inspection, insurance, registration

  1. Get Texas-level insurance. You need at least 30/60/25 liability coverage. An out-of-state policy is fine if it meets those limits, but the Harris County Tax Office won’t accept one from a no-fault state.
  2. Pass an emissions inspection at a state-certified station. Harris County is one of 17 Texas counties that require one before you register (TxDMV).
  3. Register at the Harris County Tax Office. Book an auto appointment online. Bring Form 130-U, your out-of-state registration or title, your inspection report and proof of insurance. State registration is $51.75 plus county fees, and the new-resident tax is $90 if you apply within 30 days (TxDMV, Harris County Tax Office).

Within 90 days: a Texas driver license

  • Book early. Texas DPS lets you book up to six months ahead. In fiscal 2025, the average wait to get an appointment was 15 days statewide, and some offices took more than 45. Book as soon as you have a Houston address.
  • Bring: proof of identity, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, your Social Security number, your Harris County vehicle registration receipt and proof of insurance, plus your out-of-state license.
  • Two proofs of Texas residency. Each must be printed and show your name and Houston address. Good options are your lease, a utility bill, or your renters or car insurance. Bills must be dated within 180 days. You don’t have to prove 30 days of residency if you turn in a valid out-of-state license (Texas DPS).
  • REAL ID. Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID, marked with a star, or a passport to fly within the U.S. (Houston Airports). Run DPS’s online REAL ID Document Check before you go. The license costs $33 for ages 18 to 84 and lasts eight years.

Register to vote

Texas requires you to register at least 30 days before an election. You can’t do it fully online. You can download the form or request one, but you must sign it and mail or deliver it to the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar, P.O. Box 3527, Houston, TX 77253-3527 (Harris County Tax Office). Mail it early, and ask the post office for a free hand postmark (VoteTexas.gov).

What else should you plan for before moving to Houston?

Our Moving Guides cover the parts of a move that work the same way in every big city:

Frequently asked questions about moving to Houston

How much does it cost to move to Houston?

From Chicago, moveBuddha estimates $2,042 to $4,454 for full-service movers for a studio or one-bedroom, or $686 to $1,342 for a rental truck before fuel and insurance (October 2026).

Do I need to choose an electricity company in Houston?

Usually, yes. Most of Houston has electricity choice, so you pick a retail provider on PowerToChoose.org, and CenterPoint delivers the power.

How long do I have to get a Texas driver license?

You have 90 days after moving. Register your car first, because DPS asks for proof of Texas vehicle registration.

Does renters insurance cover flooding in Houston?

Typically not. Flood coverage is a separate policy, and an NFIP policy usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before you need it.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

More Houston questions

Back to the Houston guide →
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Next step: see the full Moving to Houston guide for rent, costs, transit, weather, jobs and neighborhoods in one place.

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