($1,383) Cost of Moving From Utah to California

Quick answer: The average cost to move from Utah to California ranges from $714 to $6,235 and takes two–seven 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.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Best overall value
  • Portion to charity
  • Veteran owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Family owned
  • East coast focus
  • Affordable pricing
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Certified crews
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Family-owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Specialty packing services
  • White-glove reputation
  • 80+ years' experience
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • 1,800 trucks
  • Storage available
  • Customized moving plans

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

Our track recordtoggle

Recommended by Time Magazine
Recommended by The New York Times
Recommended by Forbes
Recommended by Money.com
Recommended by Consumer Reports
Recommended by Time Magazine
Recommended by The New York Times
Recommended by Forbes
Recommended by Money.com
Recommended by Consumer Reports

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

  • Founded in 2015
  • 2,500+ car shipping companies analyzed
  • $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
  • Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
  • Fact-checked for accuracy

The best Utah to California full-service movers

Moving from Utah 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 Utah for your California relocation:

Best Overall Value
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
(866) 825-0554
Best for Contents Coverage
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5
(866) 935-3437
At A Glance
  • Fragile packing
  • Storage options
  • 24/7 shipment tracking
  • Quick & efficient
  • Accurate quotes
read our full review
(866) 935-3437
Best customized Plans
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
(844) 950-2963

The best Utah 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 Utah and drop it off at your new home in California.

Check out these highly rated moving container companies:

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

The best Utah to California moving truck rentals

Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from Utah 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:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Affordable pricing
  • Online pricing
  • Several discounts
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Most expensive
  • 4 truck sizes
  • Unlimited mileage
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.15 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Greatest coverage
  • 7 truck sizes
  • One way rentals

The best Utah 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 Utah to California:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Hire moving labor
  • Online quotes
  • Nationwide
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Online booking
  • Move Concierge
  • Affordable

How we chose the best moving companies for your UT to CA movetoggle

moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 25 Utah 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 Utah to California?

The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Utah to California for different moving services depending on the size of your home.

Move size Moving company Moving container Rental truck
Studio / 1 Bedroom $1,383 - $5,000 $871 - $2,218 $630 - $1,152
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,637 - $6,235 $1,488 - $3,085 $714 - $1,469
4+ bedrooms $4,761 - $8,677 $2,165 - $4,187 $818 - $1,643

*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 813 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 Utah to Californiatoggle

Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from Utah to California will cost between $1,383 and $5,000. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from UT to CA will range from $2,637 to $6,235, and a large move from Utah to California will cost from $4,761 to $8,677.

Cost of moving containers from Utah to Californiatoggle

Moving containers from Utah to California will cost you $871 to $2,218 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,488 to $3,085. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $2,165 to $4,187. Learn more about PODS cost.

Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of Utah.

Cost of moving truck rentals from Utah to Californiatoggle

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 $630 to $1,152. A two to three-bedroom move will cost $714 to $1,469, and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from Utah to California costs from $818 to $1,643.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.

Factors affecting the cost of moving from UT to CA

There are many factors that influence Utah moving costs. The cost to move from Utah 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 Utah 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 UT to CA

If you’re moving to California from Utah, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.

Cost of living: Utah vs. California

Utah California
Average rent cost $1,302 $1,856
Average home cost $517,020 $771,057
Average income (per capita) $86,833 $91,905
Cost of Living Index 0 134
Unemployment rate 3.5% 5.4%
Average Sales Tax 7.19% 8.68%
State Income Tax 4.95% 13.3%
  • Rent is about 43% more expensive in California than in Utah.
  • Home prices are about 49% higher in California than in Utah.
  • The average income is about 6% higher in California than in Utah.
  • Cost of living is inf% lower in California than in Utah.
  • California has a higher unemployment rate than Utah by about 54%.
  • Sales taxes are 21% higher in California than in Utah.
  • Income taxes are 169% higher in California than in Utah.

How life is different in California vs. Utah

California Utah
Population 39,029,342 3,417,734
Political leaning Democratic 59-41 Republican 60-40
Summer high 87ºF 90ºF
Winter low 59ºF 17ºF
Annual rain 22" 15"
Annual snow 7" 43"
Crime index 28.43 21.37
  • The population of California is approximately 1,042% greater than the population of Utah.
  • In the last presidential election, California voted Democratic and Utah voted Republican.
  • The average high in the summertime in California is 87ºF and in Utah, it’s 90ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, California reaches the temperature of 59ºF and Utah gets down to 17ºF.
  • You can expect about 22 inches of annual rainfall in California versus 15 inches of rainfall in Utah.
  • In California, it snows about 7 inches annually versus 43 inches of snow in Utah.
  • California has a higher crime rate than Utah with a crime index of 28.43 vs. 21.37.

Comparing the pros of Utah 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 Utah.

Pros of living in Utah Pros of living in California
Robust economic growth Ample economic opportunity
Abundant outdoor activities Pleasant weather
Growing population Abundant recreational options
Outdoor paradise High quality of life
Diverse Fresh and healthy foods

Comparing the cons of living in Utah 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 Utah for California.

Cons of living in Utah Cons of living in California
Extreme weather High cost of living
High cost of housing Heavy tax burdens
Peculiar liquor laws Natural disasters
Dangerous drivers Terrible traffic
Huge emphasis on religious identity Strange laws

Other things to consider for your Utah to California movetoggle

  • Weather: California has a great Mediterranean climate throughout most of the state. In the Southeast, you may experience colder winters and hotter summers. The northern part of California experiences more rain than the rest of the state. Before your move be sure to check for rain or very hot days.
  • 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: When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
  • State regulator: You can verify a California moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
  • Moving permits: California 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 California. 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. Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
  • Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.

Things to do in Californiatoggle

While you’re in California, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:

  • Yosemite National Park
  • Golden Gate Bridge
  • Disneyland Park
  • Big Sur Coastline
  • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Death Valley National Park
  • San Diego Zoo
  • Lake Tahoe
  • Santa Catalina Island
  • Redwood National and State Parks
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Hearst Castle
  • Channel Islands National Park
  • Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
  • The Hollywood Sign
  • Lombard Street
  • Venice Beach
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Griffith Observatory
  • Santa Monica Pier
  • Alcatraz Island
  • Winchester Mystery House
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Solvang
  • Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Burney Falls
  • Anza Borrego Desert State Park
  • Bodie State Historic Park

FAQs

What is the cheapest way to move from Utah to California?toggle

Hiring a full-service Utah moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually the cheaper way to go, but requires more work. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.

Do movers transport your car from Utah to California?toggle

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 Utah to California separately through one of the top car shipping companies.

What are the benefits of moving from Utah to California?toggle

The main reasons people are moving from Utah to California are the amazing upsides of living in California such as ample economic opportunity and pleasant weather.

Is it cheaper to live in Utah or California?toggle

It is generally cheaper to live in Utah than in California. Housing is much more affordable in Utah, with average rent about 30% less and home prices 33% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Utah, 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 California?toggle

You should make approximately $74,410 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in California. The cost of living in California is approximately $693 per month for an individual and $2,423 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in California you live For example, larger cities like Los Angeles and Bakersfield will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.

Helpful moving resources