($1,482) Movers From California to Columbus, OH

Quick answer: Moving from California to Columbus, OH, costs $1,646 to $8,571 and takes seven to 18 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 2,366-mile move.

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  • Family owned
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  • Certified crews
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  • Specialty packing services
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  • 80+ years' experience
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
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  • 24/7 cust. service
  • Competitive rates
  • 10% discounts

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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Columbus, OH to California guide.

The best California to Columbus, OH, full-service moving companies

Hiring an interstate moving company from California to Columbus 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 Columbus.

Best for personalized service
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
(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
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(980) 217-6841
Best Overall Value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
(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
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(855) 650-0657
Most Experienced Mover
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(866) 825-0554
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  • Experienced & fully trained moving crews
  • Specializes in moving art & antiques
  • Competitive pricing
  • Can handle last-minute moves
  • Climate-controlled storage
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(866) 825-0554
Best for Contents Coverage
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5
(866) 935-3437
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  • Fragile packing
  • Storage options
  • 24/7 shipment tracking
  • Quick & efficient
  • Accurate quotes
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(866) 935-3437
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
(855) 929-4120
At A Glance
  • 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
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(855) 929-4120

Cost to hire professional movers from California to Columbustoggle

Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Columbus will cost between $1,482 to $5,987. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from California to Columbus will range from $3,876 to $8,571, and a large move from California to Columbus will cost from $7,743 to $13,520.

The best moving containers for your California to Columbus 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 Columbus, OH:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
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  • Unlimited storage
  • 3 container sizes
  • 10% discount
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  • Fast delivery
  • Nationwide
  • 100+ miles moves
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Affordable pricing
  • Offers car shipping
  • No hidden fees

Cost of moving containers from California to Columbustoggle

Moving containers from California to Columbus will cost you $1,410 to $3,575 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,557 to $5,462. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $3,446 to $7,050.

Here are the cheapest moving containers for your move to Columbus.

The best moving truck rentals for your California to Columbus move

If you don’t mind a little DIY, renting a moving truck is the most affordable way to relocate to California to Columbus. 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:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
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  • Affordable pricing
  • Online pricing
  • Several discounts
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4 / 5
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  • Most expensive
  • 4 truck sizes
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.15 / 5
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  • Greatest coverage
  • 7 truck sizes
  • One way rentals

Cost of moving truck rentals from California to Columbustoggle

A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option for moving from California to Columbus, 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 $1,580 to $2,823. A larger move will cost $1,646 to $3,326, and a four-bedroom or more move from California to Columbus costs from $1,975 to $4,121. These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.

These are the cheapest rental truck companies for your move from California

The best hourly movers for your California to Columbus move

Labor-only movers are a great option if you’ve already arranged transportation for your move to Columbus, OH, 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:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Hire moving labor
  • Online quotes
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
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  • Online booking
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  • Affordable

How much does it cost to move from California to Columbus, OH?

The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Columbus 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 $1,482 - $5,987 $1,410 - $3,575 $1,580 - $2,823
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,876 - $8,571 $2,557 - $5,462 $1,646 - $3,326
4+ bedrooms $7,743 - $13,520 $3,446 - $7,050 $1,975 - $4,121

*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,366 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 Columbus, OH, 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 Columbus, OH

Cost of living: California vs Columbus, OH

California Columbus
Average rent cost $1,856 $1,441
Average home value $771,057 $238,832
Average income (per capita) $91,905 $65,075
Unemployment rate 5% 6%
State income tax 13% 4%
  • Rent is about 22% less expensive in Columbus than in California.
  • Home prices are about 69% lower in Columbus than in California.
  • The average income is about 29% lower in Columbus than in California.
  • Columbus has a higher unemployment rate than California by about 6%.
  • Income taxes are 74% lower in Columbus than in California.

How life is different in Columbus from California

Columbus California
Population 905,748 39,029,342
Political leaning Republican 55-14 Democratic 59-41
Summer high 85ºF 87ºF
Winter low 21ºF 59ºF
Annual rain 40" 22"
Annual snow 22" 7"
Crime index 49.65 28.43
  • The population of Columbus is approximately 98% lower than the population of California.
  • In the last presidential election, Columbus voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
  • The average high in the summertime in Columbus is 85ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, Columbus reaches the temperature of 21ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
  • You can expect about 40 inches of annual rainfall in Columbus vs 22 inches of rainfall in California.
  • In Columbus, it snows about 22 inches annually vs 7 inches of snow in California.
  • Columbus has a higher crime rate than California with a crime index of 49.65 vs 28.43.

Things to do in Columbus

Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Columbus.

Museums in Columbustoggle

  • Beeler Gallery
  • Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
  • Central Ohio Fire Museum
  • Columbus Historical Society
  • Columbus Museum of Art
  • COSI
  • Hale Black Cultural Center
  • Historic Costume & Textile Collection
  • Jack Nicklaus Museum
  • Kelton House Museum and Garden
  • Museum of Biological Diversity
  • Museum of Classical Archaeology
  • Museum of Catholic Art and History
  • Ohio Craft Museum Fifth by Northwest
  • Ohio History Center
  • Ohio Statehouse
  • Ohio Village
  • Orton Geological Museum
  • Pizzuti Collection
  • Riffe Gallery Downtown
  • Thompson Library Gallery
  • Thurber House
  • Wexner Center for the Arts

Parks in Columbustoggle

  • Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
  • Scioto Mile
  • Topiary Garden
  • Schiller Park
  • Whetstone Park / Park of Roses
  • Hayden Falls Park
  • Columbus Commons
  • Antrim Park
  • Goodale Park
  • Kelton House Museum & Garden
  • Scioto Audubon Metro Park

Sports Teams in Columbustoggle

  • Columbus Crew (MLS)
  • Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA)
  • Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
  • Columbus Clippers (AAAE)

Universities in Columbustoggle

  • Ohio State University
  • Columbus State Community College
  • Capital University Law School
  • Columbus College of Art
  • Design, Fortis College
  • DeVry University
  • Ohio Business College
  • Miami-Jacobs Career College
  • Ohio Institute of Health Careers
  • Bradford School and Franklin University
  • Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminary
  • Mount Carmel College of Nursing
  • Ohio Dominican University
  • Pontifical College Josephinum
  • Trinity Lutheran Seminary
  • Bexley's Capital University
  • Westerville's Otterbein University
  • Delaware's Ohio Wesleyan University.

Other considerations when moving to Columbus, OH

  • Weather: Columbus doesn't get the snowfall that more northern Ohio gets but it does have some of the severe weather that's common in the midwest such as strong lightning storms and hail. In general, you can expect all 4 seasons in Columbus so take that into account when choosing the time of the year that you move.
  • 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: Although a local license is not required in Ohio, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
  • State regulator: You can verify a Ohio moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
  • Moving permits: Ohio 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 Ohio. Get started here.
  • Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. Opt for cost-free Released Value Protection from movers, offering minimal coverage with a maximum liability of 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, explore alternatives with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
  • Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.

Compare the pros and cons of California vs. Columbus, OH

Comparing the pros of California vs. Columbus, OH:

There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in California vs Columbus side-by-side.

Pros of living in California Pros of living in Columbus, OH
Ample economic opportunity Low cost of living
Pleasant weather Delicious food
Abundant recreational options Bountiful arts and recreational activities
High quality of life Friendly people
Fresh and healthy foods Ample economic opportunity

Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Columbus, OH:

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, these are the things to be aware of when leaving California for Columbus.

Cons of living in California Cons of living in Columbus, OH
High cost of living Bad drivers
Heavy tax burdens Terrible traffic
Natural disasters Bad weather
Terrible traffic High taxes
Strange laws Limited public transportation

FAQ

How long does a move from California to Columbus take?

The time frame for a move from California to Columbus, OH, 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 Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus?

Because of the 2366-mile move, it’s best to book your move from California to Columbus 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 Columbus, OH?

With the summer highs of 85ºF and the winter lows of 21ºF, most people move to Columbus 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 Columbus during summer or winter.

Helpful moving resources