($1,184) Movers From San Francisco to Los Angeles

Quick answer: The average cost to move 381 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles, California, ranges from $437 to $5,217. 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 Los Angeles to San Francisco guide.

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

  • Founded in 2015
  • 3,500+ moving companies analyzed
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  • Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
  • Fact-checked for accuracy

The best San Francisco to Los Angeles moving companies

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

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

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
read our full review
(855) 650-0657
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
read our full review
(980) 217-6841
Most Experienced Mover
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(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
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(866) 825-0554
Best customized Plans
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(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
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(844) 950-2963
Best Nationwide Coverage
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
At A Glance
  • 30 days storage included
  • Local and long distance moving options
  • Unlimited loading/unloading time
  • Store on property or at a facility
read our full review
Check prices

Best local San Francisco-to-Los Angeles movers

If you prefer to work with local companies, we've compiled the best San Francisco movers and the best Los Angeles movers.

Customer Praise
  • Efficient service (29%)
  • Professional and polite staff (27%)
  • Careful handling (25%)
Customer Complaints
  • Damage to items (32%)
  • Delayed arrival or delivery (29%)
  • Lack of communication (26%)
Review Analysis
Eagle Moving & Storage has 625 customer reviews, 78% of which are positive. Many customers praised the efficient service, professional and polite staff, and careful handling of items. However, some reported issues with damage to belongings, delays in arrival, and poor communication. While most found their moves to be smooth and stress-free, others experienced frustration with missing items and unresponsive customer service. Overall, Eagle Moving & Storage stands out for its competitive pricing and hardworking team, making it a strong choice among moving companies.
Get a Quote (415) 404-7400

Company Info

State license #: 0190673

Years in Business: 14

DOT #: 3670248


Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc. has been a trusted name for local residential moves in and around San Bruno, CA since 2010. They stand out with a solid reputation, boasting an impressive average rating of 4.4 on Yelp from 429 reviews, and a 4.6 average rating on Google from 129 reviews. With a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, customers frequently praise their professionalism and efficiency. Unlike many nearby competitors, they offer comprehensive packing and unpacking services, along with the specialized capability to move pianos, art, and antiques. Flexible payment options, including cash and credit cards, and no required deposit, further underscore their customer-first approach.

Services Offered

  • Local moves
  • Interstate moves
  • Packing
  • Unpacking
  • Offices
  • Pianos
  • Art
  • Antiques
  • Crating
  • Full-valuation coverage
  • Storage
  • Pay by money order
  • Pay by cash
  • Pay by credit card
Customer Praise
  • Professional and polite staff (38%)
  • Efficient service (34%)
  • Careful handling (30%)
Customer Complaints
  • Unexpected charges (20%)
  • Damage to items (15%)
  • Lack of communication (12%)
Review Analysis
Gentle Giant Moving Company has 127 customer reviews, with 90% being positive. Customers frequently praise the team's efficiency, professionalism, and careful handling of belongings. Many noted that the movers worked quickly and maintained a friendly attitude throughout the process. Some customers, however, reported issues with unexpected charges and a few instances of poor communication. Overall, the company stands out for its reliable service, especially when compared to other moving companies that often leave items damaged or lost.
Get a Quote (415) 544-7000

Company Info

State license #: 0167668

Years in Business: 44

DOT #: 373544

Alternate Names: Great Giant Moving Company


Gentle Giant Moving Company has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in South San Francisco, CA since 1981. With stellar consumer reviews reflecting an average rating of 4.6 on Yelp and 5.0 on Google My Business, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, this company stands out for its reliability and professionalism. Unlike many nearby movers, Gentle Giant also offers office moving services, comprehensive packing and unpacking services, and even storage options if needed. Additionally, they do not require a deposit and accept credit cards, making the moving process as seamless and convenient as possible for their clients.

Services Offered

  • Local moves
  • Interstate moves
  • International moves
  • Packing
  • Unpacking
  • Offices
  • Pianos
  • Crane vans
  • Storage
  • Pay by credit card

How we chose the best moving companies in Californiatoggle

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 San Francisco to Los Angeles?

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 $1,184 - $3,356 $744 - $1,644 $382 - $701
2 - 3 bedrooms $1,941 - $5,217 $1,320 - $2,377 $437 - $849
4+ bedrooms $3,338 - $7,445 $1,732 - $3,158 $560 - $1,018

*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 381 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles

Cost of living: San Francisco vs. Los Angeles

San Francisco Los Angeles
Average rent cost $3,250 $2,960
Average home value $1,241,003 $2,368,088
Average income (per capita) $136,689 $74,993
Cost of living (single person) $3,781 $1,311
Cost of living (family of 4) $8,717 $4,745
Unemployment rate 5.4% 10.6%
  • Rent prices in Los Angeles are 9% lower than in San Francisco.
  • Home prices in Los Angeles are 90.8% higher than in San Francisco.
  • Income in Los Angeles is 45.1% lower than in San Francisco.
  • The cost of living for a single person in Los Angeles is 65.3% lower than in San Francisco.
  • The cost of living for a family in Los Angeles is 45.6% lower than in San Francisco.
  • The unemployment rate in Los Angeles is 96.30% higher than in San Francisco.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $1,040.20 in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in San Francisco.

How life is different in San Francisco vs. Los Angeles

Los Angeles San Francisco
Population 3,820,914 808,988
Political leaning Democratic 64-31 Democratic 85-13
Summer high 84ºF 67ºF
Winter low 46ºF 46ºF
Annual rain 16" 25"
Annual snow 0" 0"
Crime index 53.81 61.41
  • The population of Los Angeles is approximately 372% greater than the population of San Francisco.
  • In the last presidential election, Los Angeles voted Democratic and San Francisco voted Democratic.
  • The average high in the summertime in Los Angeles is 84ºF and in San Francisco, it’s 67ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, Los Angeles reaches the temperature of 46ºF and San Francisco gets down to 46ºF.
  • You can expect about 16 inches of annual rainfall in Los Angeles vs 25 inches of rainfall in San Francisco.
  • In Los Angeles, it snows about 0 inches annually vs 0 inches of snow in San Francisco.
  • Los Angeles has a lower crime rate than San Francisco with a crime index of 61.41 vs 53.81.

Things to do in Los Angeles

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

Museums in Los Angelestoggle

  • The Getty Center
  • Griffith Observatory
  • Petersen Automotive Museum
  • Battleship USS Iowa Museum
  • The Broad
  • La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
  • The Nethercutt Collection
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  • Madame Tussauds Hollywood
  • The Hollywood Museum
  • Skirball Cultural Center
  • Hollywood Bowl Museum
  • Autry Museum of the American West
  • Diorama-museum of Bhagavad-gita

Parks in Los Angelestoggle

  • Griffith Park
  • Runyon Canyon Park
  • Lake Hollywood Park
  • Echo Park
  • Venice Skatepark
  • Exposition Park
  • Lake Balboa Park
  • Grand Park
  • Point Fermin Park
  • Lake Shrine Temple and Retreat
  • Mildred Mathias Botanical Gardens
  • Barnsdall Art Park
  • MacArthur Park
  • Elysian Park
  • Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden

Sports Teams in Los Angelestoggle

  • Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
  • Los Angeles FC (MLS)
  • Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
  • Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
  • Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)

Universities in Los Angelestoggle

  • California State University, Los Angeles
  • California State University, Northridge
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • American Film Institute Conservatory
  • Alliant International University
  • American Academy of Dramatic Arts (Los Angeles Campus)
  • American Jewish University
  • Abraham Lincoln University
  • The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (Los Angeles Campus)
  • Antioch University's Los Angeles Campus
  • Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
  • Colburn School
  • Columbia College Hollywood
  • Emerson College (Los Angeles Campus)
  • Emperor's College
  • Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's (Los Angeles campus)
  • Los Angeles Film School
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Marymount College
  • Mount St. Mary's College
  • National University of California
  • Occidental College
  • Otis College of Art and Design
  • Southern California Institute of Architecture
  • Southwestern Law School
  • University of Southern California
  • Woodbury University

FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a professional moving company from San Francisco to Los Angeles?toggle

To ship furniture from San Francisco to Los Angeles with a mover will cost between $1,184 and $3,356. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home will range from $1,941–$5,217, and a four-bedroom move or bigger move from San Francisco to Los Angeles will cost from $3,338–$7,445.

How much are moving container companies from San Francisco to Los Angeles?toggle

Moving containers from San Francisco to Los Angeles will cost you $744 to $1,644 for a studio or one-bedroom home. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,320 to $2,377. A larger home will cost $1,732 to $3,158.

How much is a moving truck from San Francisco to Los Angeles?toggle

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 $382 to $701. A larger move will cost $437 to $849, and a four-bedroom or larger move from San Francisco to Los Angeles costs from $560 to $1,018.

How far in advance should I book San Francisco-to-Los Angeles movers?toggle

Ideally, you should book your move from San Francisco to Los Angeles 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 San Francisco-to-Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?toggle

The cheapest time of year to move to Los Angeles 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.

Learn more about your move to Los Angeles

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