($1,238) Moving From California to Alabama
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Alabama ranges from $1,330 to $7,081 and takes six-seventeen days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
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Hiring a full-service California moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually cheaper but requires more work.
You may also want to consider the potential added cost of getting your vehicle or boat to your new home as part of your move. Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from California to Alabama separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Alabama to California guide.
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The best California to Alabama movers
Hiring an interstate moving company from California to Alabama is a big deal.
There are more than 8,000 moving companies in the U.S. But don’t worry, you won’t have to filter through all of them. We’ve done the research for you and narrowed the list based on customer satisfaction, cost, and services.
Here are the best long-distance moving companies serving California to Alabama:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- BLVD Moving: Best for quick quotes
- PODS: Best nationwide coverage
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
If you’re just trying to ship a few items, here’s a list of our recommended services for small moves.
Looking for local California movers?
| Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
most popular
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Get A Quote |
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3600 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401 (805) 544-6328 |
| Grace Moving Company | Get A Quote |
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800 Janopaul Lane, Modesto, CA, 95351 (209) 551-7772 |
| Grizzly Moving | Get A Quote |
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7090 Miramar Rd #102, San Diego, CA, 92121 (844) 474-9959 |
Visit our Best Movers in California page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews.
How much does it cost to move from California to Alabama?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Alabama for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,238 - $4,756 | $1,182 - $2,958 | $1,168 - $2,279 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,405 - $7,081 | $2,016 - $4,296 | $1,330 - $2,686 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,645 - $11,468 | $2,796 - $5,631 | $1,597 - $3,394 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,169 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Factors affecting the cost of moving from CA to AL
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to Alabama will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in California is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
How much does it cost to hire movers from California to Alabama?
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Alabama will cost between $1,238 and $4,756. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to AL will range from $3,405 to $7,081, and a large move from California to Alabama will cost from $6,645 to $11,468.
How much are moving containers like PODS from California to Alabama?
Moving containers from California to Alabama will cost you $1,182 to $2,958 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,016 to $4,296. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $2,796 to $5,631. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of California.
How much is a moving truck from California to Alabama?
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around
$1,168 to $2,279.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$1,330 to $2,686,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to Alabama costs from
$1,597 to $3,394.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Is moving from California to Alabama a good idea?
If you’re moving to Alabama from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Alabama
| California | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $925 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $227,508 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $59,609 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 88 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 2.9% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 9.22% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 5.0% |
- Rent is about 50% less expensive in Alabama than in California.
- Home prices are about 70% lower in Alabama than in California.
- The average income is about 35% lower in Alabama than in California.
- Cost of living is 34% lower in Alabama than in California.
- Alabama has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 46%.
- Sales taxes are 6% higher in Alabama than in California.
- Income taxes are 62% lower in Alabama than in California.
How does life in Alabama differ from California?
| Alabama | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,108,468 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Republican 65-35 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 91ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 33ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 56" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 1" | 7" |
| Crime index | 21.48 | 28.43 |
- The population of Alabama is approximately 87% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Alabama voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Alabama is 91ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Alabama reaches the temperature of 33ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about fifty-six inches of annual rainfall in Alabama versus twenty-two inches of rainfall in California.
- In Alabama, it snows about one inches annually versus seven inches of snow in California.
- Alabama has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 28.43 vs 21.48.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Alabama
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in California versus Alabama side by side.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Alabama |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Low cost of living |
| Pleasant weather | Tasty southern comfort food |
| Abundant recreational options | Bountiful recreational opportunities |
| High quality of life | Top-notch college football |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Rich history |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Alabama
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving California for Alabama.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Alabama |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Poor quality of life |
| Heavy tax burdens | Severe weather |
| Natural disasters | Restrictive alcohol laws |
| Terrible traffic | Poor healthcare |
| Strange laws | Cockroaches |
What to know before your move to Alabama
- Weather: Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
- HOA Rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator Reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking Permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State Licensing: To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State Regulator: You can verify a Alabama moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving Permits: Alabama does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of Address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to Alabama. Get started here.
- Mover's Insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. Moving companies typically take responsibility for your belongings at a rate of 60 cents per pound (or even less) per item. This means that for a lightweight item weighing five pounds and valued at $500, the reimbursement would be only $3 in the event of loss or damage. To enhance your coverage, certain movers provide additional valuation options, such as declared value or lump sum value protection, which offer better protection compared to the basic released value protection. To better understand and explore these options, consider discussing them with your chosen moving company.
- Moving Checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Alabama
While you’re in Alabama, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- US Space & Rocket Center
- Birmingham Zoo
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
- Point Mallard Park
- Cheaha State Park
- USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
- Gulf Shores
- McWane Science Center
- Huntsville Botanical Garden
- Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Civil Rights Memorials of Montgomery
- Mobile Bay
- Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum
- W.C. Handy Home and Museum
- National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
- Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
- Montgomery Museum of Fine Art
- Bellingrath Gardens and Home
- Birmingham Museum of Art
- Cathedral Caverns State Park
- Unclaimed Baggage Center
- Alligator Alley
- Mobile Carnival Museum
- Fort Morgan State Historic Site
- Talladega Superspeedway
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Alabama?
The cheapest way to move from California to Alabama is with a DIY move. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.
What are the benefits of moving from California to Alabama?
The main reasons people are moving from California to Alabama are the amazing upsides of living in Alabama such as low cost of living and tasty southern comfort food.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Alabama?
It is generally cheaper to live in Alabama than in California. Housing is much more affordable in Alabama, with average rent about 50% less and home prices 70.5% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Alabama, most notably income taxes, which are more than 60% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Alabama?
You should make approximately $0 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in Arizona. The cost of living in Arizona is approximately $0 per month for an individual and $0 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in Alabama you live For example, larger cities like Alabaster and Albertville will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
