Moving to Marseille: costs process & districts

Marseille is divided into 16 arrondissements with a total of 111 neighbourhoods (quartiers). The city covers around 240 square kilometres and rises from sea level to 652 metres; the official centre is in the Noailles neighbourhood. The basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde stands above the city, and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations by the harbour.

The neighbourhoods are very different: narrow, steep lanes in the old town by the harbour, dense development in the centre and more space in the outer districts. For the move, the specific address is therefore what counts – hillside location, street width and stairwell. Our home move service adapts to this.

Marseille is the most important French port city on the Mediterranean and a cultural metropolis; in 2013 it was European Capital of Culture together with Košice. With Aix-Marseille University it has the largest university in France. Alongside Aix-en-Provence, Marseille is one of the two core cities of the Métropole. We do not quote specific rents – they depend heavily on the neighbourhood.

As an EU citizen you do not need a residence document for the first three months; according to service-public, an EU residence card is not compulsory. In Berlin you deregister within two weeks of moving out if you are not moving into a new home in Germany. Plan the journey with a buffer – from Berlin it takes two to three days.

Clear up all your questions conveniently during a free survey.

Your moving price is made up of several components: the amount of belongings, the kilometres driven (from €4.10/km), the floor and whether a lift can be used. A parking restriction zone may also be needed. We are happy to add furniture assembly or a part load to your move.

Small or large, private or commercial – we have the right solution.

1. Part load – flexible and budget-conscious.
2. Furniture transport – we transport single items too.
3. Move with assembly – furniture is assembled properly.
4. Clearance – make space without the effort.
5. Home move – your move, our care.
6. Company relocation – professional for every business.

We plan moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) for private and business customers. The locations overview lists places with their own pages, and details on long routes are under long-distance moves. We also plan moves in the opposite direction, to Berlin, with a survey and a fixed price.

If you are driving a lorry to Marseille, you should know about the low-emission zone. The Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence describes the ZFE-m as a zone in the centre of Marseille. It applies to all vehicle types: cars, motorised two-wheelers, light commercial vehicles, lorries and buses. It was introduced in stages over three years from September 2022; according to the Métropole, it now applies permanently, seven days a week, around the clock. It is based on the national Crit'Air system, which classifies vehicles by their pollutant emissions.

What this means for your move:

• Before booking, clarify whether your destination address is in the centre and therefore within the zone.
• Check which Crit'Air requirement applies to the vehicle used; the perimeter and levels are published by the Métropole.
• Give us the exact address during the survey so that we can match the vehicle and access to it and check the approach before the binding quote. This is especially important if several vehicles or a furniture lift are used.

Check the full rules, exemptions and the map of the zone directly with the Métropole before booking. Further information on the route and process is in the guide Long-distance move to France and in the checklist for France.

For EU citizens, according to the “Your Europe” platform: no residence document can be required in the first 3 months; after that, registration may be necessary. The page contains no France-specific information, so check the requirements with the responsible office. On the EU residence card, the French platform service-public.gouv.fr states that it is not compulsory but must be updated after a move. For entry on the electoral roll, it lists as documents proof of identity, proof of address (no older than 3 months) and Cerfa form 12669.

In France, bulky waste is called encombrants. According to the Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, it handles waste collection in 92 municipalities; bulky waste collection dates are requested via an online form. Check the costs and quantity rules in the Métropole's form before making your request. For collection days, the Métropole refers to the portal dechets.ampmetropole.fr (“Je consulte mes jours de collecte”); taking items to recycling centres yourself is covered under the section “Je trie en déchèterie”. Some déchèteries (recycling centres) are temporarily closed, so check the current notices before you go.

France is part of the EU. According to German customs, the zoll.de rules on removal goods apply to moves from non-EU countries. Information on customs and formalities is in the article Moving to France: customs and process.