($1,221) Moving From California to Michigan
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Michigan ranges from $1,508 to $7,746 and takes seven-eighteen 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 Michigan separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Michigan to California guide.
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The best California to Michigan movers
Hiring an interstate moving company from California to Michigan 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 Michigan:
- 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 |
| 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 Michigan?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Michigan for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,221 - $5,004 | $1,286 - $3,131 | $1,326 - $2,488 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,422 - $7,746 | $2,172 - $4,695 | $1,508 - $3,116 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,499 - $11,053 | $3,236 - $6,310 | $1,740 - $3,744 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,404 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 MI
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to Michigan 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 Michigan?
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Michigan will cost between $1,221 and $5,004. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to MI will range from $3,422 to $7,746, and a large move from California to Michigan will cost from $6,499 to $11,053.
How much are moving containers like PODS from California to Michigan?
Moving containers from California to Michigan will cost you $1,286 to $3,131 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,172 to $4,695. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $3,236 to $6,310. 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 Michigan?
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
$1,326 to $2,488.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$1,508 to $3,116,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to Michigan costs from
$1,740 to $3,744.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Is moving from California to Michigan a good idea?
If you’re moving to Michigan from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Michigan
| California | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,037 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $245,716 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $68,505 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 92 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 6.0% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 4.25% |
- Rent is about 44% less expensive in Michigan than in California.
- Home prices are about 68% lower in Michigan than in California.
- The average income is about 25% lower in Michigan than in California.
- Cost of living is 31% lower in Michigan than in California.
- Michigan has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 13%.
- Sales taxes are 31% lower in Michigan than in California.
- Income taxes are 68% lower in Michigan than in California.
How does life in Michigan differ from California?
| Michigan | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,037,261 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Republican 49.7-48.3 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 81ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 14ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 34" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 64" | 7" |
| Crime index | 19.98 | 28.43 |
- The population of Michigan is approximately 74% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Michigan voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Michigan is 81ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Michigan reaches the temperature of 14ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about thirty-four inches of annual rainfall in Michigan versus twenty-two inches of rainfall in California.
- In Michigan, it snows about sixty-four inches annually versus seven inches of snow in California.
- Michigan has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 28.43 vs 19.98.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Michigan
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in California versus Michigan side by side.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Michigan |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Scenic beauty |
| Pleasant weather | Good higher education |
| Abundant recreational options | Bountiful recreational opportunities |
| High quality of life | Low cost of living |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Beautiful lakes |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Michigan
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 Michigan.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Michigan |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Cold snowy winters |
| Heavy tax burdens | Spotty economic opportunity |
| Natural disasters | Poor transportation infrastructure |
| Terrible traffic | Expensive education |
| Strange laws | Thick accents |
What to know before your move to Michigan
- Weather: Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
- 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: The agency regulating local and intrastate household goods movers in Michigan is the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). State regulation and oversight activities include commercial vehicle registration and safety compliance, review of published tariff rates, licensing, and consumer protection efforts. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State Regulator: You can verify a Michigan moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving Permits: Michigan 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 Michigan. 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, Massachusetts, and Michigan, choose the economical option of Released Value Protection, provided by movers at no extra cost. However, it offers minimal coverage at 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage of your items' full value, consult with your moving company for alternatives 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 Michigan
While you’re in Michigan, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Mackinac Island
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Henry Ford Museum
- Michigan State Capitol
- University of Michigan
- Isle Royale National Park
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Colonial Michilimackinac
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Windmill Island Gardens
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
- Detroit Zoo
- Michigan History Center
- Mackinac Bridge
- Soo Locks Boat Tour
- Belle Isle
- Motown Historical Museum
- Michigan’s Adventure
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
- Kitch-iti-Kipi
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Michigan?
The cheapest way to move from California to Michigan 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 Michigan?
The main reasons people are moving from California to Michigan are the amazing upsides of living in Michigan such as scenic beauty and good higher education.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Michigan?
It is generally cheaper to live in Michigan than in California. Housing is much more affordable in Michigan, with average rent about 44% less and home prices 68.1% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Michigan, 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 Michigan?
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 Michigan you live For example, larger cities like Adrian and Allendale will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
