($1,455) Movers From Santa Ana, CA to Des Moines, IA
Quick answer: A move from Santa Ana to Des Moines costs $1,170–$8,185 and takes four to 15 days. The main factors that determine the cost and time are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the 1,681-mile move yourself.

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Our track record
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from Des Moines to Santa Ana guide.
The best Santa Ana to Des Moines full-service moving companies
Choosing a long-distance moving company in Santa Ana to go to Des Moines can be overwhelming. With so many options, it’s hard to know which movers to trust… and which ones to avoid.
Don't worry — you won't have to sort through all of them. We've done the research for you and narrowed down the list based on customer satisfaction, cost, and services.
Here are the best long-distance moving companies serving Santa Ana 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
- International Van Lines: 4.45 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 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
- 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
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
How much are professional moving companies when moving from Santa Ana to Des Moines?
The best moving containers for your Santa Ana to Des Moines move
Moving containers can be a cost-effective option for moving from Santa Ana to Des Moines. You’ll save a little money by opting to pack and load everything yourself, but the container company will take care of the transportation for you.
We recommend these moving container companies:
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How much are moving container companies from Santa Ana to Des Moines?
The best moving truck rentals for your Santa Ana to Des Moines move
If you want to save even more money on your Santa Ana to Des Moines move, renting a moving truck is your cheapest option. Keep in mind that you’ll be handling all the work — packing, loading, and driving. But that extra work will pay off in terms of keeping costs low.
These top moving truck rentals are a great place to start:
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How much is a moving truck from Santa Ana to Des Moines?
The best labor-only movers for your Santa Ana to Des Moines move
If you need some extra hands to help you with your move, you’ll want to hire labor-only movers with reasonable hourly rates and professional crews. Labor-only companies that offer add-on options like packing and cleaning allow you to more fully tailor services to your needs and budget.
Consider these highly rated labor-only movers to help you move from Santa Ana to Des Moines:
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How much does it cost to move from Santa Ana to Des Moines?
Santa Ana movers charge $75 per hour on average. Here are average prices for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck:
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
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Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,455 - $5,476 | $1,133 - $2,938 | $1,173 - $2,079 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,699 - $8,185 | $2,211 - $4,207 | $1,170 - $2,628 |
4+ bedrooms | $6,574 - $11,109 | $3,045 - $5,872 | $1,506 - $3,151 |
Factors influencing moving costs from Santa Ana to Des Moines
What to know before moving from Santa Ana to Des Moines
Santa Ana | Des Moines | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $2,650 | $1,150 |
Average home value | $843,858 | $192,347 |
Average income (per capita) | $77,283 | $58,492 |
Cost of living (single person) | $6,333 | $1,891 |
Cost of living (family of 4) | $11,160 | $4,380 |
Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 5.9% |
Sales tax | 9.25% | 7.0% |
State income tax | 13.3% | 4.4% |
- Rent prices in Des Moines are 57% lower than in Santa Ana.
- Home prices in Des Moines are 77.2% lower than in Santa Ana.
- Income in Des Moines is 24.3% lower than in Santa Ana.
- The cost of living for a single person in Des Moines is 70.1% lower than in Santa Ana.
- The cost of living for a family in Des Moines is 60.8% lower than in Santa Ana.
- The unemployment rate in Des Moines is 15.71% lower than in Santa Ana.
- Sales taxes in Des Moines are 24.32% lower than in Santa Ana.
- State income taxes in Des Moines are 66.92% lower than in Santa Ana.
To put this in perspective, you would need around $895.78 in Des Moines to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Santa Ana.
How life is different in Santa Ana vs. Des Moines
Des Moines | Santa Ana | |
---|---|---|
Population | 699,292 | 310,227 |
AllTransit Transportation Performance Score | 5 | 7 |
Walkability score | 45 | 67 |
Bike friendliness score | 39 | 62 |
Crime Index | 5.0 | 54.17 |
Safety Index | 57.8 | 45.83 |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
- Des Moines's population is about 125% greater than Santa Ana.
- Des Moines's public transportation has a score of 5 out of 10 versus Santa Ana's lower score of 7.
- Des Moines is less walkable than Santa Ana with a score of 45 out of 100 vs Santa Ana's 67 out of 100.
- Des Moines is less bike-friendly than Santa Ana with a score of 39 out of 100 vs Santa Ana's 62.
- Des Moines's crime rate is lower than Santa Ana with a score of 5.0 compared to Santa Ana's 54.17. This means that Des Moines neighborhoods are safer than 5.0% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Santa Ana neighborhoods are safer than 54.17%.
- Des Moines is considered to be safer than Santa Ana with a safety index of 57.8 vs Santa Ana's 45.83.
- Air quality in Des Moines is good, and in Santa Ana it's moderate.
Other things to consider for your Santa Ana vs. Des Moines move
- 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: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
- Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
- 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 through the state's public utilities commission.
- 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 Des Moines. Get started here.
- Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound.
- Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.
Where to live in Des Moines
Now that you've decided to make the move to "Hartford of the West", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Des Moines.
Best neighborhoods for singles
Best neighborhoods for families
Things to do in Des Moines
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Santa Ana to Des Moines?
The best time to move from Santa Ana to Des Moines is during the spring or fall. These seasons offer milder weather and avoid higher moving costs during the peak moving season in Santa Ana.
When is the cheapest time to move from Santa Ana to Des Moines?
Because most people are moving from Santa Ana to Des Moines in the spring or fall, you can often catch discounts by moving in the winter. Read our guide on moving discounts to learn more.
How long does a move from Santa Ana to Des Moines take?
The 1,681-mile move from Santa Ana, CA, to Des Moines, IA, takes four to 15 days. Some Santa Ana movers may offer expedited moving if you need it faster. If you need more time, ask your mover about storage options in Des Moines.