Moving to California: Cost From 10 Major Cities (2026 Guide)

Moving to California at a glance

Cost to move to California from major cities

Modeled cost to move to Los Angeles, CA from 10 major cities, with driving miles and transit window.
From	Miles	Transit	2 bedroom	3 bedroom
New York, NY	2,790	6 to 14 days	$6,000–$8,000	$8,800–$11,700
Chicago, IL	1,985	6 to 14 days	$4,750–$6,350	$7,000–$9,300
Houston, TX	1,590	4 to 8 days	$4,350–$5,750	$6,350–$8,450
Phoenix, AZ	425	2 to 5 days	$2,100–$2,800	$2,950–$3,950
Philadelphia, PA	2,725	6 to 14 days	$5,850–$7,750	$8,550–$11,400
San Antonio, TX	1,395	4 to 8 days	$3,900–$5,200	$5,700–$7,600
Dallas, TX	1,435	4 to 8 days	$4,000–$5,350	$5,850–$7,800
Jacksonville, FL	2,445	6 to 14 days	$5,600–$7,450	$8,250–$11,000
Austin, TX	1,420	4 to 8 days	$4,000–$5,300	$5,800–$7,750
Columbus, OH	2,250	6 to 14 days	$5,200–$6,950	$7,650–$10,250

Local movers in California's main cities

Modeled local 2-bedroom move and crew rate in California's main cities.
City	2 bedroom local	Crew rate / hour
Los Angeles	$1,675–$2,300	$210
San Diego	$1,650–$2,250	$205
San Jose	$1,725–$2,375	$215
San Francisco	$1,800–$2,475	$225
Fresno	$1,525–$2,100	$190
Sacramento	$1,550–$2,150	$195
Long Beach	$1,650–$2,250	$205
Oakland	$1,800–$2,475	$225

When moving to California is cheapest

For example, on a move from New York, NY to Los Angeles, a 3-bedroom models at $8,800–$11,700 October through April, $9,250–$12,300 in May or September and $9,850–$13,150 June through August. A container on that same example move models at $5,550–$7,400 against $8,800–$11,700 with full-service movers.

Planning a move to California

Book interstate movers six to eight weeks ahead, earlier for summer dates.
Get at least three written estimates from movers with a USDOT number.
Decide what to sell or donate before the survey; you pay by weight.
Update your address, transfer utilities and plan the vehicle registration and driver license change.
Move medical, school and financial records yourself, not in the truck.
Plan the first week: keys, parking for the truck and an essentials box.

Moving to California: common questions

How much does it cost to move to California?

Moving a 3-bedroom home to California (priced to Los Angeles, CA) models from $2,950–$3,950 from Phoenix, AZ, the cheapest of 10 major origin cities, up to $8,800–$11,700 from New York, NY, the most expensive. Transit runs 2 to 14 days.

What does a 2-bedroom move to California cost?

To Los Angeles, a 2-bedroom models at $2,100–$2,800 from Phoenix and $6,000–$8,000 from New York.

When is the cheapest time of year for moving to California?

For example, a move from New York: a 3-bedroom models at $8,800–$11,700 October through April, $9,250–$12,300 in May or September and $9,850–$13,150 June through August.

Is a moving container cheaper than movers for moving to California?

For example, on a move from New York to Los Angeles, a 3-bedroom models at $8,800–$11,700 with full-service movers and $5,550–$7,400 by container, before your own loading labor.

What do local movers cost in Los Angeles?

A 2-bedroom local move in Los Angeles models at $1,675–$2,300, with a 3-person crew at $210 per hour.

Moving to California from specific cities

Plan your move

Moving out of state checklist

Related pages

How these numbers are made

Costs use the same weight × distance model as our route pages, priced to Los Angeles, CA at its labor index of 1.16. We do not publish population, housing, tax or job statistics.

Moving Cost Editorial Team · Pricing model pricing-v1.0 · Estimates last recalculated 2026-08-01

Moving to California: Costs, Cities and Planning

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