American woman living in India shares reality of moving homes in India vs USA: 'In India, call the movers. In America, call your friends and buy them pizza’

Moving homes can look very different depending on where you live. For Kristen Fischer, an American woman living in India, one of the biggest differences between India and the USA is how people approach shifting. While Indian households can hire packers and movers to handle everything from packing to setting up the new home, she says Americans often take the DIY route. Her comparison offers a glimpse into the very different moving cultures of the two countries.

Moving homes in India vs USA

Kristen Fischer, an American woman who lives in India, took to social media to compare what shifting homes looks like in India and the USA. According to Fischer, moving in India can be relatively straightforward because packers and movers are widely available and can be hired at an affordable price. She said a local move can cost around Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000, depending on the requirements. Her description highlights how much of the physical work can be outsourced.

In India, packers and movers can handle almost everything

Fischer explained that in India, “help is everywhere” when it comes to moving. People can hire teams to pack their belongings, load them, carry furniture and dismantle items before transporting them. The movers can also help transport everything to the new house and assist with setting it up. For someone accustomed to doing much of the work themselves, this can make shifting seem considerably less demanding.


Fischer's key takeaway was simple: in India, moving often means calling the movers and letting them handle the job.

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Why moving in America can be more expensive

Fischer said the experience is different in the USA, where professional moving companies can cost a few thousand dollars or even more. Because moving services can represent a much larger expense, she explained that DIY moving is more common in America.

Instead of hiring a team to take care of the entire process, people may choose to rent a moving truck and handle the physical work themselves. That can mean packing boxes, loading furniture, transporting belongings and unloading everything at the new home.

‘Call your friends and buy them pizza’

Fischer summed up the contrast between the two countries with a humorous comparison. In India, the approach is essentially “call the movers, they’ll handle it.” In America, she described the process as renting a truck, calling friends and family for help, and making sure to “buy everyone some pizza.”

The comparison captures a broader difference in how moving costs and labour can be approached.

How Americans typically move homes

Fischer claimed that only around one-third of Americans naturally use moving companies, while the remaining two-thirds move themselves. That means DIY moving can involve relying on friends and family rather than paying professional movers.

For Americans accustomed to this system, renting a truck and asking people they know to help may simply be part of the moving process. But for someone living in India, where professional packers and movers can be relatively accessible, the American approach can appear considerably more hands-on

Internet reacts

Fischer’s comparison sparked reactions from users, with many agreeing that moving in the US can mean relying on friends and family because professional removal services are expensive.

One user said it was “so true,” noting that asking loved ones for help is common when moving costs are high outside India. Another felt both approaches have their advantages, with professional help being affordable and convenient, while DIY moving can be hectic but also enjoyable because it brings friends together over a “rewarding pizza treat.”

Someone currently preparing for a move joked that they would need to “borrow some of these friends” who help in exchange for pizza. Another user pointed to the wider economic difference, saying that labour is very expensive in the US compared with India on a comparable-value basis, which affects everything from moving homes to building a house.