($553) Movers From Irvine to San Diego

Ryan Carrigan

Last Updated: Apr 1, 2025 • 5 min read

Fact Checked by: Hilary Snow

Quick answer: The average cost to move 85 miles from Irvine to San Diego, California, ranges from $106 to $3,299. Your exact costs will depend on the size, distance and date of your move, as well as whether you hire pro movers or take a DIY approach.

Hiring the best California movers will cost more than renting a truck or using a moving container. While those DIY options will certainly save you some money, keep in mind they will also require you to do a lot more of the work

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from San Diego to Irvine guide.

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Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:

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3,500+ moving companies analyzed
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The best Irvine to San Diego moving companies

Moving between two of California's major cities requires expert hands. Irvine to San Diego moves have unique challenges due to the distance and urban logistics.

Here are the best moving companies who can get the job done right:

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
Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.85 / 5

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(855) 650-0657

At A Glance

GPS tracking en route
Veteran-owned
Dedicated move coordinator
Flat-rate pricing
Donates a portion of moves to charity

read our full review

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(855) 650-0657

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.9 / 5

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(980) 217-6841

At A Glance

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

read our full review

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(980) 217-6841

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.5 / 5

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(866) 825-0554

At A Glance

Experienced & fully trained moving crews
Specializes in moving art & antiques
Competitive pricing
Can handle last-minute moves
Climate-controlled storage

read our full review

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(866) 825-0554

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.75 / 5

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(866) 935-3437

At A Glance

Fragile packing
Storage options
24/7 shipment tracking
Quick & efficient
Accurate quotes

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(866) 935-3437

Licensed

Insured

Price

4.5 / 5

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(844) 950-2963

At A Glance

Custom crates for electronics & art
Satellite shipment tracking
1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
Self-packing option
No deposit required

read our full review

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(844) 950-2963

Best local Irvine-to-San Diego movers

If you prefer to work with local companies, we've compiled the best Irvine movers and the best San Diego movers.

Best California Movers: 4.86 out of 5 stars
Meathead Movers: 4.76 out of 5 stars
Terry Moving and Storage Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars

Best California Movers

15 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92591

Customer Praise

Efficient service (41%)
Professional and polite staff (37%)
Good communication (36%)

Customer Complaints

Damage to items (18%)
Delayed arrival or delivery (14%)
Unexpected charges (10%)

Review Analysis

Best California Movers has received a lot of feedback from 185 customers, with about 89% reporting positive experiences. Customers praised the company for its efficient service, friendly and professional staff, and careful handling of belongings. Many noted the transparency in pricing, making it a reliable choice compared to other moving companies. On the downside, some consumers expressed dissatisfaction due to occasional damage to items and delays during the moving process. A few customers felt there were unexpected charges that complicated their experience, which could be improved. Overall, many recommend this company for its strong service and value, while also advising future clients to clarify all costs upfront.

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Company Info

State license #: T0192283

Pricing: $109/hr

Years in Business: 6

DOT #: 3489907

Alternate Names: Best California Movers & Storage, An Moving Forward

Services Offered

Local moves
Interstate moves
Packing
Unpacking
Offices
Crating
Storage
Pay by credit card
Deposit Required

Meathead Movers

2430 South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705 US

Customer Praise

Efficient service (24%)
Professional and polite staff (21%)
Careful handling (19%)

Customer Complaints

Damage to items (25%)
Delayed arrival or delivery (18%)
Unexpected charges (16%)

Review Analysis

Meathead Movers has 563 online customer reviews, with 78% of them being positive. Customers praise the company for its efficient service, friendly staff, and careful handling of belongings. Many reviewers noted that the movers were punctual and hardworking, often exceeding expectations. However, some feedback highlighted issues with damage to items, delays, and unexpected charges, which left a few customers feeling dissatisfied with their experience.

Get a Quote (949) 485-7883

Company Info

State license #: 189849

Years in Business: 27

DOT #: 921143

Alternate Names: Meat Head Movers Inc, Meathead Movers Inc

Meathead Movers, a reputable moving company serving Santa Ana, CA, has been a trusted local residential mover since 1998. Renowned for their exceptional customer service, they boast an average Yelp rating of 4.1 from 378 reviews and a Google rating of 4.3 from 150 reviews, along with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby competitors, they offer comprehensive packing and unpacking services without requiring a deposit. Meathead Movers’ commitment to quality and reliability sets them apart in the local moving industry.

Services Offered

Local moves
Interstate moves
Packing
Unpacking
Offices
Storage
Pay by cash
Pay by credit card

Terry Moving and Storage Inc.

25958 Commercentre Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Customer Praise

Efficient service (29%)
Professional and polite staff (27%)
Careful handling (24%)

Customer Complaints

Unexpected charges (18%)
Damage to items (16%)
Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)

Review Analysis

Terry Moving and Storage has 403 customer reviews, with 83% being positive. Customers praised the company for their efficient service, professional and polite staff, and careful handling of belongings. Many noted that the moving crews were friendly and worked quickly. On the downside, some customers reported issues with unexpected charges, damage to items, and delays in delivery. Despite these concerns, the majority of feedback highlights Terry Moving as a reliable choice compared to other moving companies.

Get a Quote (949) 587-9490

Company Info

State license #: 189603

Years in Business: 28

DOT #: 649215

Alternate Names: Terry Moving and Storage Inc, Richards Moving Company, Orange County Storage Movers

Terry Moving and Storage Inc., located in Lake Forest, CA, has been a trusted name in local residential moving services since 1997. With outstanding consumer reviews—235 on Yelp with an average rating of 4.7 and 141 on Google My Business with an average rating of 4.9, plus an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau—they’re a standout choice among local movers. Unlike many competitors, they offer a comprehensive range of services, including packing, unpacking, and the specialized handling of fragile items, as well as piano and pool table moving. No deposit is required and they accept credit cards, simplifying the moving process for their clients.

Services Offered

Local moves
Interstate moves
Packing
Unpacking
Offices
Pianos
Pool Tables
Storage
Fragile-only packing
Pay by credit card

How we chose the best moving companies in California

moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 281 California movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.

Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.

Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.

Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.

Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.

Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.

Here is our full moving company rating methodology.

How much does it cost to move from Irvine to San Diego?

Even though you're staying inside of California, this is still considered a long-distance move by many moving companies. Here are average prices to hire a moving company, rent a moving container, or rent a moving truck:

Move Size	Moving Company	Moving Container	Rental Truck
Studio / 1 Bedroom	$553 - $2,430	$430 - $1,060	$88 - $149
2 - 3 bedrooms	$1,121 - $3,299	$869 - $1,504	$106 - $166
4+ bedrooms	$1,563 - $4,034	$1,143 - $1,892	$114 - $179

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*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 85 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.

Considerations when moving from Irvine to San Diego

Cost of living: Irvine vs. San Diego

	Irvine	San Diego
Average rent cost	$4,000	$2,881
Average home value	$1,561,760	$1,003,444
Average income (per capita)	$114,027	$72,963
Cost of living (single person)	$9,167	$3,346
Cost of living (family of 4)	$18,000	$7,719
Unemployment rate	5.4%	6.6%

source: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo

Rent prices in San Diego are 28% lower than in Irvine.
Home prices in San Diego are 35.7% lower than in Irvine.
Income in San Diego is 36.0% lower than in Irvine.
The cost of living for a single person in San Diego is 63.5% lower than in Irvine.
The cost of living for a family in San Diego is 57.1% lower than in Irvine.
The unemployment rate in San Diego is 22.22% higher than in Irvine.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $1,095.01 in San Diego to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Irvine.

How life is different in Irvine vs. San Diego

	San Diego	Irvine
Population	1,386,932	307,670
Political leaning	Democratic 60-37	Democratic 49.8-48.3
Summer high	79ºF	82ºF
Winter low	46ºF	46ºF
Annual rain	12"	13"
Annual snow	0"	0"
Crime index	39.83	31.01

Irvine sources: US Census Bureau, 270TOWIN, BestPlaces
San Diego sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow

The population of San Diego is approximately 351% greater than the population of Irvine.
In the last presidential election, San Diego voted Democratic and Irvine voted Democratic.
The average high in the summertime in San Diego is 79ºF and in Irvine, it’s 82ºF.
During the coldest part of the year, San Diego reaches the temperature of 46ºF and Irvine gets down to 46ºF.
You can expect about 12 inches of annual rainfall in San Diego vs 13 inches of rainfall in Irvine.
In San Diego, it snows about 0 inches annually vs 0 inches of snow in Irvine.
San Diego has a higher crime rate than Irvine with a crime index of 39.83 vs 31.01.

Things to do in San Diego

Whether you prefer to be in the great outdoors, soak up some culture, or catch a live game, San Diego has plenty to offer:

Museums in San Diego

USS Midway Museum
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Maritime Museum of San Diego
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla
Stuart Collection
Africa and Beyond
Old Town Model Railroad Depot
RC Gorman Navajo Gallery
ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station
La Jolla Historical Society
Scripps Memorial Hospital Sculpture Parks
The New Children's Museum

Parks in San Diego

La Jolla Cove
Balboa Park
La Jolla Shores Park
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Cuvier Park - The Wedding Bowl
Scripps Institute of Oceanography Coastal Reserve
La Jolla Underwater Park
Coast Boulevard Park
Kellogg Park
Calumet Park
Waterfront Park
Friendship Park
Mission Trails Regional Park
Heritage County Park

Sports Teams in San Diego

San Diego Padres (MLB)
San Diego Gulls (AHL)
San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship)

Universities in San Diego

California State University-San Marcos
California Western School of Law
San Diego Christian College
National University
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego State University
University of California San Diego
University of Phoenix
University of San Diego
Alliant International University
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University
Brandman University
California College San Diego
John Paul the Great Catholic University

FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a professional moving company from Irvine to San Diego?

To ship furniture from Irvine to San Diego with a mover will cost between $553 and $2,430. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home will range from $1,121–$3,299, and a four-bedroom move or bigger move from Irvine to San Diego will cost from $1,563–$4,034.

How much are moving container companies from Irvine to San Diego?

Moving containers from Irvine to San Diego will cost you $430 to $1,060 for a studio or one-bedroom home. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $869 to $1,504. A larger home will cost $1,143 to $1,892.

How much is a moving truck from Irvine to San Diego?

Renting a moving truck is usually the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor; these estimates include the estimated fuel cost:

Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around $88 to $149. A larger move will cost $106 to $166, and a four-bedroom or larger move from Irvine to San Diego costs from $114 to $179.

How far in advance should I book Irvine-to-San Diego movers?

Ideally, you should book your move from Irvine to San Diego at least two months in advance. If you’re moving during the busy summer months, it’s best to book your movers at least three months ahead of your move. The sooner you reserve your Irvine-to-San Diego movers, the better the chance you’ll get the most affordable rates and secure the exact moving date you need. Some movers even offer early-bird discounts for advance reservations.

What time of year is the cheapest to move to San Diego?

The cheapest time of year to move to San Diego is between early October and late April. This period of time is outside of the moving industry’s peak season (May–September), which means demand — and therefore pricing — will typically be lower. A majority of all U.S. moves happen between May and August, so staying outside the busy summer months will help you save money.