Moving abroad from eastern Slovakia: Hungary, Poland, Austria and Germany compared

Eastern Slovakia has a geographic advantage people often forget: the borders are close. From Košice, the Hungarian city of Miskolc is nearer than Poprad, and from Prešov the Polish city of Rzeszów is closer than Žilina. That makes moving abroad from Košice or Prešov shorter and often cheaper than people expect. This guide compares the most common international routes from the east – to Hungary, Poland, Austria and Germany – by distance, time and price, explains fixed versus flexible delivery, and covers what to sort out when you arrive. If you're heading further, to the UK or western Europe, there's a section on that too.

Comparing routes from eastern Slovakia

The destinations we drive to most often from Košice and Prešov. Distances and driving times with a loaded van are indicative and depend on exact addresses and traffic.

What an international move costs

International moves follow the same principle as domestic ones: an hourly rate for the van and crew (€40, €50 or €75/hour, counted from arrival at pick-up to departure from drop-off) plus mileage at €0.90/km for a vehicle with two movers, charged from the depot and back. Sundays, public holidays and night work carry a 50% surcharge; Saturdays are standard rate. For Hungary and Germany we publish indicative prices by home size:

Indicative prices excl. VAT. The final price depends on route, access, floors, packing and delivery option.

For Poland and Austria we quote individually for each route, using the same rates. For Košice–Rzeszów the mileage works out as 200 km × 2 = 400 km; for Košice–Vienna, 480 km × 2 = 960 km. The online calculator gives you an estimate for your exact addresses.

Fixed or flexible delivery?

For short routes to Hungary and Poland we almost always recommend fixed delivery. For longer routes to Austria and Germany, flexible delivery is worth considering.

Moving to Hungary

Hungary is the closest foreign destination from Košice. We move people most often to Miskolc, Budapest, Debrecen and Nyíregyháza, and to villages near the border where many Košice families buy houses. EU citizens staying in Hungary longer than 90 days generally register their residence and receive an address card – check the current rules in advance. Our detailed guide: Moving to Hungary from Košice. Coming the other way? See Moving from Hungary to Slovakia.

Moving to Poland

From Prešov it's about three hours via Svidník to Rzeszów, and around four via Stará Ľubovňa to Kraków. South-eastern Poland is popular for work and study, and the route is routine for us. EU citizens staying in Poland longer than three months register their stay at the voivodeship office. More in Moving to Poland from Prešov, and for the return trip Moving from Poland to Slovakia.

Moving to Austria

Vienna is about 480 km from Košice – still a one-day route on fixed delivery. For smaller moves, flexible delivery is worth it. In Austria you need to register your address (Meldezettel) within three days of moving in, and EU citizens staying longer than three months apply for a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) within four months of arrival. Moving back? See Moving from Austria to Slovakia.

Moving to Germany

Germany is the furthest of these destinations – Munich, Nuremberg, Berlin or Dresden are 800 to 1,000 km from the east. At that distance we always quote individually, and for smaller moves we recommend flexible delivery, which can lower the price considerably. In Germany you register your new address (Anmeldung), generally within 14 days.

Further afield: UK and western Europe

Many expats in eastern Slovakia eventually move on or head home – to the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, France or Switzerland. We cover these routes too; see European removals for the full list. Two things to keep in mind. First, the UK and Switzerland are outside the EU customs union, so a move there involves customs paperwork for household goods – plan it early and ask us what's needed. Second, on very long routes flexible delivery usually makes the biggest difference to the price.

Documents, borders and practicalities

• Customs: within the EU, personal belongings aren't subject to customs and no declarations are needed.
• ID: carry your ID card or passport. Temporary checks can take place at some Schengen borders.
• Inventory: on international moves we prepare a packing list with numbered items, so you can check everything on delivery.
• Pets: we don't carry animals in the cargo area. Travelling with a dog or cat in the EU requires an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination.
• Leaving Slovakia: end your utility contracts, internet and lease properly, and deregister with the foreign police if required. Our guide Leaving Slovakia covers this in detail.
• Packing: long journeys make good packing even more important – see How to pack for a move.

Moving back to eastern Slovakia

We do as many return moves as departures. After years working in Austria, Germany or Hungary, many families come back to Košice, Prešov and the surrounding area with a whole household. The pricing principle is the same – hourly rate plus mileage, with flexible delivery available on longer routes – and return trips can often be combined with outbound moves, lowering the price for both. See Relocating to Košice or Prešov from abroad.

If your employer is covering the relocation, ask HR early which documents they need – usually a written quote and an invoice in English. We provide both, and for company-paid moves we can invoice the employer directly with VAT.

Summary

The closest foreign destinations from eastern Slovakia are Hungary and Poland – Miskolc, Debrecen or Rzeszów fit into a single day and cost much the same as a move across eastern Slovakia. Vienna is still a one-day route; for Germany, consider flexible delivery. Our English-speaking team handles all of these routes – see European removals, get a price online or call us on +421 940 989 982.