($1,301) Moving From California to Pennsylvania
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Pennsylvania ranges from $1,618 to $8,349 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 Pennsylvania separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Pennsylvania to California guide.
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The best California to Pennsylvania movers
Hiring an interstate moving company from California to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania:
- 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 Pennsylvania?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Pennsylvania for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,301 - $5,362 | $1,501 - $3,419 | $1,633 - $2,924 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,188 - $8,349 | $2,613 - $5,031 | $1,618 - $3,553 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $7,878 - $12,066 | $3,429 - $7,002 | $2,172 - $4,493 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,731 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 PA
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Pennsylvania will cost between $1,301 and $5,362. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to PA will range from $4,188 to $8,349, and a large move from California to Pennsylvania will cost from $7,878 to $12,066.
How much are moving containers like PODS from California to Pennsylvania?
Moving containers from California to Pennsylvania will cost you $1,501 to $3,419 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,613 to $5,031. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $3,429 to $7,002. 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 Pennsylvania?
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
$1,633 to $2,924.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$1,618 to $3,553,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to Pennsylvania costs from
$2,172 to $4,493.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Is moving from California to Pennsylvania a good idea?
If you’re moving to Pennsylvania from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Pennsylvania
| California | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,586 | $958 |
| Average home cost | $746,055 | $254,802 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $73,170 |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 99 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 6.34% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 3.07% |
- Rent is about 40% less expensive in Pennsylvania than in California.
- Home prices are about 66% lower in Pennsylvania than in California.
- The average income is about 20% lower in Pennsylvania than in California.
- Cost of living is 1% lower in Pennsylvania than in California.
- Pennsylvania has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 29%.
- Sales taxes are 27% lower in Pennsylvania than in California.
- Income taxes are 77% lower in Pennsylvania than in California.
How does life in Pennsylvania differ from California?
| Pennsylvania | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,964,056 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 50-49 | Democratic 63-34 |
| Summer high | 83ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 19ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 44" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 38" | 7" |
| Crime index | 19.07 | 27.88 |
- The population of Pennsylvania is approximately 67% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Pennsylvania voted Democratic and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Pennsylvania is 83ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Pennsylvania reaches the temperature of 19ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about forty-four inches of annual rainfall in Pennsylvania versus twenty-two inches of rainfall in California.
- In Pennsylvania, it snows about thirty-eight inches annually versus seven inches of snow in California.
- Pennsylvania has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 27.88 vs 19.07.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Pennsylvania
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in California versus Pennsylvania side by side.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Low cost of living |
| Pleasant weather | Abundant fun and recreational activities |
| Abundant recreational options | Beautiful landscapes |
| High quality of life | Ample economic opportunity |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Excellent education options |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Harsh winter weather |
| Heavy tax burdens | Bad driving conditions |
| Natural disasters | Nuclear power plants |
| Terrible traffic | Unpredictable weather |
| Strange laws | High taxes on gasoline |
What to know before your move to Pennsylvania
- Weather: Pennsylvania experiences cold winters and humid summers. Summers are generally hot and humid. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Tornadoes occur annually in the state, sometimes in large numbers, such as 30 recorded tornadoes in 2011; generally speaking, these tornadoes do not cause significant damage.
- 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: For decades movers In Pennsylvania were regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Each company was issued a PUC Number and was required to abide by a universal publicly published tariff that established the rates movers could charge for various services. Now, some sources claim that the PUC no longer regulates in-state movers, and it appears as though the PUC’s website is no longer functioning. So if you’re moving within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to address these issues with your moving company representative and if possible, contact the state directly. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State Regulator: You can verify a Pennsylvania moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving Permits: Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania, movers typically offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For more comprehensive coverage, inquire about Full Value Protection with the moving company, or explore third-party insurance options for tailored plans. Consider coverage limits, additional costs, and reviews before making a decision.
- Moving Checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Pennsylvania
While you’re in Pennsylvania, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Hersheypark
- Gettysburg National Military Park
- Fallingwater
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Visit Strasburg
- Independence National Park and the Liberty Bell
- Valley Forge National Historical Park
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Presque Isle State Park
- Andy Warhol Museum
- Longwood Gardens
- Ohiopyle State Park
- Knoebels Amusement Resort
- Flight 93 National Memorial
- Ricketts Glen State Park
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
- Eisenhower National Historic Site
- Reading Terminal Market
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Pennsylvania?
The cheapest way to move from California to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
The main reasons people are moving from California to Pennsylvania are the amazing upsides of living in Pennsylvania such as low cost of living and abundant fun and recreational activities.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Pennsylvania?
It is generally cheaper to live in Pennsylvania than in California. While the overall cost of living is similar for both states, housing is much more affordable in Pennsylvania, with average rent about 40% less and home prices 65.8% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Pennsylvania, most notably income taxes, which are more than 70% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania you live For example, larger cities like Abington and Adams will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
