($1,252) Moving From Rhode Island to California
Quick answer: The average cost to move from Rhode Island to California ranges from $1,620 to $7,271 and takes seven–21 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.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from California to Rhode Island guide.
Our track record
The best Rhode Island to California full-service movers
Moving from Rhode Island to California? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving Rhode Island for your California relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- International Van Lines: Best customer service
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
The best Rhode Island to California moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in Rhode Island and drop it off at your new home in California.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
- Combines affordability of DIY moving with convenience of a truck and driver
- Only pay for the truck space you use
- Offers vehicle shipping
The best Rhode Island to California moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from Rhode Island to California, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
The best Rhode Island to California labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from Rhode Island to California:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
How we chose the best moving companies for your RI to CA move
How much does it cost to move from Rhode Island to California?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Rhode Island to California for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,252 - $5,386 | $1,370 - $3,526 | $1,606 - $3,147 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,965 - $7,271 | $2,554 - $5,406 | $1,620 - $3,565 |
4+ bedrooms | $7,316 - $11,267 | $3,495 - $7,535 | $2,199 - $4,601 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 3,077 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.
Cost to hire movers from Rhode Island to California
Cost of moving containers from Rhode Island to California
Cost of moving truck rentals from Rhode Island to California
Factors affecting the cost of moving from RI to CA
There are many factors that influence Rhode Island moving costs. The cost to move from Rhode Island to California 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 Rhode Island 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.
What to know before moving from RI to CA
If you’re moving to California from Rhode Island, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: Rhode Island vs. California
Rhode Island | California | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,195 | $1,856 |
Average home cost | $467,485 | $771,057 |
Average income (per capita) | $81,370 | $91,905 |
Cost of Living Index | 100 | 134 |
Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 5.4% |
Average Sales Tax | 7.0% | 8.68% |
State Income Tax | 5.99% | 13.3% |
- Rent is about 55% more expensive in California than in Rhode Island.
- Home prices are about 65% higher in California than in Rhode Island.
- The average income is about 13% higher in California than in Rhode Island.
- Cost of living is 34% lower in California than in Rhode Island.
- California has a higher unemployment rate than Rhode Island by about 17%.
- Sales taxes are 24% higher in California than in Rhode Island.
- Income taxes are 122% higher in California than in Rhode Island.
How life is different in California vs. Rhode Island
California | Rhode Island | |
---|---|---|
Population | 39,029,342 | 1,093,734 |
Political leaning | Democratic 59-41 | Democratic 56-44 |
Summer high | 87ºF | 82ºF |
Winter low | 59ºF | 19ºF |
Annual rain | 22" | 50" |
Annual snow | 7" | 35" |
Crime index | 28.43 | 14.58 |
- The population of California is approximately 3,468% greater than the population of Rhode Island.
- In the last presidential election, California voted Democratic and Rhode Island voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in California is 87ºF and in Rhode Island, it’s 82ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, California reaches the temperature of 59ºF and Rhode Island gets down to 19ºF.
- You can expect about 22 inches of annual rainfall in California versus 50 inches of rainfall in Rhode Island.
- In California, it snows about 7 inches annually versus 35 inches of snow in Rhode Island.
- California has a higher crime rate than Rhode Island with a crime index of 28.43 vs. 14.58.
Comparing the pros of Rhode Island vs. California
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in California compared to Rhode Island.
Pros of living in Rhode Island | Pros of living in California |
---|---|
Beautiful landscapes | Ample economic opportunity |
Delicious seafood | Pleasant weather |
Rich history | Abundant recreational options |
Amazing beaches | High quality of life |
Short drives | Fresh and healthy foods |
Comparing the cons of living in Rhode Island vs. California
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving Rhode Island for California.
Cons of living in Rhode Island | Cons of living in California |
---|---|
High cost of living | High cost of living |
Heavy traffic and lousy drivers | Heavy tax burdens |
Smallest state | Natural disasters |
Cold winters | Terrible traffic |
Dense population | Strange laws |