($1,551) Moving From California to Massachusetts
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Massachusetts ranges from $1,763 to $9,204 and takes seven-twenty-one 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 Massachusetts separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Massachusetts to California guide.
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The best California to Massachusetts movers
Hiring an interstate moving company from California to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts:
- 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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4744 North El Capitan Avenue, Fresno, CA, 93722 (559) 785-0316 |
| Grace Moving Company | Get A Quote |
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800 Janopaul Lane, Modesto, CA, 95351 (209) 551-7772 |
| Two Men and a Truck | Get A Quote |
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3851 Morrow Ln Ste 9, Chico, CA, 95928 (530) 592-0093 |
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 Massachusetts?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Massachusetts for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,551 - $6,041 | $1,582 - $3,721 | $1,763 - $3,455 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,364 - $9,204 | $2,777 - $5,596 | $1,763 - $3,879 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $8,709 - $13,576 | $3,875 - $7,728 | $2,252 - $4,666 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 3,094 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 MA
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Massachusetts will cost between $1,551 and $6,041. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to MA will range from $4,364 to $9,204, and a large move from California to Massachusetts will cost from $8,709 to $13,576.
How much are moving containers like PODS from California to Massachusetts?
Moving containers from California to Massachusetts will cost you $1,582 to $3,721 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,777 to $5,596. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $3,875 to $7,728. 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 Massachusetts?
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
$1,763 to $3,455.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$1,763 to $3,879,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to Massachusetts costs from
$2,252 to $4,666.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Is moving from California to Massachusetts a good idea?
If you’re moving to Massachusetts from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Massachusetts
| California | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,586 | $1,336 |
| Average home cost | $746,055 | $588,621 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $96,505 |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 100 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 2.8% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 6.25% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 9.0% |
- Rent is about 16% less expensive in Massachusetts than in California.
- Home prices are about 21% lower in Massachusetts than in California.
- The average income is about 5% higher in Massachusetts than in California.
- Cost of living is about the same in Massachusetts and California.
- Massachusetts has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 42%.
- Sales taxes are 28% lower in Massachusetts than in California.
- Income taxes are 32% lower in Massachusetts than in California.
How does life in Massachusetts differ from California?
| Massachusetts | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,981,974 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 70-32 | Democratic 63-34 |
| Summer high | 82ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 16ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 49" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 47" | 7" |
| Crime index | 13.49 | 27.88 |
- The population of Massachusetts is approximately 82% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Massachusetts voted Democratic and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Massachusetts is 82ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Massachusetts reaches the temperature of 16ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about forty-nine inches of annual rainfall in Massachusetts versus twenty-two inches of rainfall in California.
- In Massachusetts, it snows about forty-seven inches annually versus seven inches of snow in California.
- Massachusetts has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 27.88 vs 13.49.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Massachusetts
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in California versus Massachusetts side by side.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Natural beauty |
| Pleasant weather | Excellent education system |
| Abundant recreational options | Delicious seafood |
| High quality of life | Bountiful recreational opportunities |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Home to Boston |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Bad traffic |
| Heavy tax burdens | Poor driving conditions |
| Natural disasters | Harsh winter weather |
| Terrible traffic | High cost of living |
| Strange laws | Peculiar liquor laws |
What to know before your move to Massachusetts
- Weather: Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
- 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: Moving companies in Massachusetts are required to obtain a license from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities – Transportation Oversight Division to provide local and intrastate moving services in Massachusetts movers must carry adequate cargo insurance and publicly file their tariffs required to list the services they provide and the cost for each. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State Regulator: You can verify a Massachusetts moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving Permits: Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. 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. In Alabama and Massachusetts, Released Value Protection is a no-cost option provided by movers but offers minimal coverage at 60 cents per pound per article. If you seek full value coverage for your items, consider consulting with your moving company for alternative options or explore third-party insurance providers.
- Moving Checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Massachusetts
While you’re in Massachusetts, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- 1: Freedom Trail
- 2: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- 3: Norman Rockwell Museum
- 4: Cape Cod Beaches
- 5: Fenway Park
- 6: Nantucket
- 7: Tanglewood Concerts
- 8: Plimoth Patuxet Museums
- 9: Old Sturbridge Village
- 10: Salem Witch Museum
- 11: Museum of Fine Arts
- 12: Peabody Essex Museum
- 13: The House of the Seven Gables
- 14: New Bedford Whaling Museum
- 15: New England Aquarium
- 16: Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
- 17: Massachusetts State House
- 18: Harvard Square
- 19: Bunker Hill Monument
- 20: Adams National Historical Park
- 21: Minute Man National Historical Park
- 22: Martha’s Vineyard
- 23: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- 24: Hammond Castle Museum
- 25: Mount Greylock
- 26: Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
- 27: The Mapparium
- 28: Danvers State Hospital
- 29: Bash Bish Falls
- 30: Singing Beach
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Massachusetts?
The cheapest way to move from California to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
The main reasons people are moving from California to Massachusetts are the amazing upsides of living in Massachusetts such as natural beauty and excellent education system.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Massachusetts?
It is generally cheaper to live in Massachusetts than in California. While the overall cost of living is similar for both states, housing is much more affordable in Massachusetts, with average rent about 16% less and home prices 21.1% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Massachusetts, most notably income taxes, which are more than 30% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts you live For example, larger cities like Abington and Acton will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
