($1,274) Movers From California to Des Moines, IA
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: Moving from California to Des Moines, IA, costs $1,205 to $6,995 and takes five to 16 days. How much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself will affect the overall cost of your 1,808-mile move.
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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Des Moines, IA to California guide.
The best California to Des Moines, IA, full-service moving companies
Hiring an interstate moving company from California to Des Moines 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 Des Moines.
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- International Van Lines: 4.45 out of 5 stars
- 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
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- 10% discount for veterans and seniors
- Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
- Services local, long-distance, and international moves
- Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
- 24/7 customer service
Cost to hire professional movers from California to Des Moines
The best moving containers for your California to Des Moines move
If you want a budget-friendly move without driving a rental truck, moving containers are a great middle-ground option. You handle the packing and loading, while the company takes care of transportation.
Many providers also offer storage options, giving you extra flexibility if your new home isn’t ready yet. It’s an easy way to move at your own pace while skipping the hassle of long-distance driving.
Here are our moving container companies in California, that can get your belongings safely to your new home in Des Moines, IA:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
- Combines affordability of DIY moving with convenience of a truck and driver
- Only pay for the truck space you use
- Offers vehicle shipping
Cost of moving containers from California to Des Moines
The best moving truck rentals for your California to Des Moines move
If you don’t mind a little DIY, renting a moving truck is the most affordable way to relocate to California to Des Moines. You’ll have to handle the packing, loading, and driving — but the upside is you control the timeline from start to finish.
Check out these top-rated truck rental companies in California:
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
Cost of moving truck rentals from California to Des Moines
The best hourly movers for your California to Des Moines move
Labor-only movers are a great option if you’ve already arranged transportation for your move to Des Moines, IA, but want to avoid the strain of moving bulky furniture and heavy boxes on your own.
A moving labor company will provide you with a professional moving crew with enough members to match your move size. They’ll load your items into your moving container or rental truck and you’ll pay them by the hour for their assistance.
We recommend using one of these labor-only moving companies in California to make your move faster and easier:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
How much does it cost to move from California to Des Moines, IA?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Des Moines for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
Hiring a professional California moving company will be on the more expensive side, while renting a truck or a moving container is usually cheaper but requires more work.
| Size of the Move | Moving Company | Moving Container | Rental Truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,274 - $5,105 | $1,074 - $2,762 | $1,125 - $2,123 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,394 - $6,995 | $2,032 - $4,242 | $1,205 - $2,501 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $5,694 - $10,428 | $2,832 - $5,702 | $1,490 - $3,031 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 1,808 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect the final cost of your move.
The cost to move from California to Des Moines, IA, will depend on:
- Move size: The amount of items you have — as well as your home size and layout — will impact the total cost of your relocation.
- Time of year: Summer is peak moving season in California, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are usually cheaper but involve more work and stress compared to letting the pros handle your move.
Use our moveBuddha moving cost calculator to get a more accurate estimate for your moving costs.
Things to know before moving from California to Des Moines, IA
Cost of living: California vs Des Moines, IA
| California | Des Moines | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,150 |
| Average home value | $771,057 | $192,347 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $58,492 |
| Unemployment rate | 5% | 6% |
| State income tax | 13% | 4% |
Des Moines sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo
- Rent is about 38% less expensive in Des Moines than in California.
- Home prices are about 75% lower in Des Moines than in California.
- The average income is about 36% lower in Des Moines than in California.
- Des Moines has a higher unemployment rate than California by about 9%.
- Income taxes are 67% lower in Des Moines than in California.
How life is different in Des Moines from California
| Des Moines | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 699,292 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 57-41 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 86ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 13ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 36" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 33" | 7" |
| Crime index | 5.0 | 28.43 |
Des Moines sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow
- The population of Des Moines is approximately 98% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Des Moines voted Democratic and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Des Moines is 86ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Des Moines reaches the temperature of 13ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 36 inches of annual rainfall in Des Moines vs 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In Des Moines, it snows about 33 inches annually vs 7 inches of snow in California.
- Des Moines has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 28.43 vs 5.0.
Things to do in Des Moines
Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Des Moines.
Museums in Des Moines
Parks in Des Moines
Sports Teams in Des Moines
Universities in Des Moines
Other considerations when moving to Des Moines, IA
- Weather: September, June and May are the most pleasant months in Des Moines, while January and December are the least comfortable months.
- 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: When moving within Iowa, make sure to hire a company that is licensed by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Each household goods mover in the state should have an Iowa Motor Carrier (IOWAMC) Number, which means they’ve met minimum insurance and highway safety requirements. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Iowa moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: Iowa 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 and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Iowa. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
FAQ
How long does a move from California to Des Moines take?
The time frame for a move from California to Des Moines, IA, varies based on your moving method and starting location. The actual loading up of your items should not take more than a day, even with DIY moves.
Obviously, the further upstate you are in California, the longer the drive time to Des Moines will be. If you’re driving a rental truck, the move could be completed in one or two days, on average, depending on your route and how often you stop.
With professional movers or moving containers, delivery times to Des Moines from California can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the company’s schedule and transit logistics. You can always ask for a general timeline before booking.
How far in advance should I book movers when moving from California to Des Moines?
Because of the 1808-mile move, it’s best to book your move from California to Des Moines as soon as you have your moving details. Ideally, you’d book your move two to three months ahead of time.
What time of year is the cheapest to move to Des Moines, IA?
With the summer highs of 86ºF and the winter lows of 13ºF, most people move to Des Moines from California during the spring and fall months. To avoid competing during those busy moving seasons, you could save some money by booking your move to Des Moines during summer or winter.
