($1,408+) Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA Movers
Moving from Jacksonville, FL, to Modesto, CA, runs anywhere from $1,408 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,393 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,644 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,239, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $10,393 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,865 - $6,721, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,408 - $4,193.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Jacksonville, FL, to Modesto, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,331 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Jacksonville to Modesto: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $3,331 - $7,123. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 55% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 2,644 miles, expect 7 to 21 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,644-mile route from Jacksonville to Modesto, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $2,239 - $5,079 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,865 - $3,618), rental truck ($1,408 - $2,756), or freight trailer ($1,762 - $3,096). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $3,331 - $7,123 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $10,393.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Jacksonville, Florida, to Modesto, California, costs between $2,239 and $10,393. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 2,644-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $312 - $2,080, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Jacksonville and Modesto. For a rough baseline, movers based in Jacksonville tend to start around $220 plus $95/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Jacksonville to Modesto:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,239 - $5,079
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,331 - $7,123
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,582 - $10,393
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Jacksonville to Modesto.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 66% of Jacksonville movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Modesto, 63% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing85% of local movers | $520 - $5,200 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready66% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Royal Moving and Storage | $208 - $1,248/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $312 - $2,496 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage5% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs63% of local movers | $1,040 - $3,120 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,600 - $10,400 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $779 - $1,480 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items27% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Royal Moving and Storage | $1,040 - $2,600 |
| Piano | Any piano type49% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: Royal Moving and Storage | $832 - $3,640 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $312 - $1,560 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: MoveBright Moving and Storage | $676 - $2,080 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $312 - $15,600+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $312 - $3,640+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Jacksonville to Modesto?
All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Jacksonville, FL. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA
Moving containers from Jacksonville, Florida, to Modesto, California, cost between $1,865 and $6,721. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Jacksonville runs about $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Jacksonville to Modesto:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,865 - $3,618
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,344 - $5,238
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,464 - $6,721
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $78 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $156 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $728 in Jacksonville, FL, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Modesto, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Florida to California move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,865. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $2,344 - $5,238.
What are the best moving containers Jacksonville to Modesto?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Jacksonville to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Jacksonville:
- Flex Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 4 years in business
- MoveBright Moving and Storage (5.0/5), 13 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 29 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA
Truck rentals from Jacksonville, Florida, to Modesto, California, range from $1,408 - $4,193 for the 2,644-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $875 - $1,000
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- Jacksonville daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.89
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Jacksonville to Modesto based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,408 - $2,756
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,510 - $3,485
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,028 - $4,193
Pro tip: A rental truck from Jacksonville to Modesto looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,408 - $4,193. But once you factor in fuel ($875 - $1,000), overnight lodging ($156/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Jacksonville, Florida, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $728.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $875 - $1,000 for the 2,644-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $62 and $338, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $156 per night for hotel stops on the 2,644-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $312 - $468.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Jacksonville to Modesto?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Jacksonville, Florida, to Modesto, California. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $936 and $3,989.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Jacksonville to Modesto:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,762 - $3,096
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,914 - $3,989
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,531 - $5,321
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Jacksonville, Florida, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $728.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $78 - $156 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Jacksonville to Modesto?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Modesto fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Jacksonville, FL vs Modesto, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Modesto, side by side with Jacksonville on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Jacksonville, FL | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 96 | 116 |
| Average rent | $1,520/mo | $1,800/mo |
| Median home value | $262,098 | $415,024 |
| Average income | $66,981/yr | $77,899/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 8.0% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 26/100 | 48/100 |
| Safety index | 43.62/100 | 34.24/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Modesto, CA to Jacksonville, FL guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Florida to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 803 movers in our Florida network to compare for this 2,644-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 2,644-mile route from Jacksonville, FL, to Modesto, CA, run $2,239 - $10,393 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,865 - $6,721, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,408 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,331, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Save Mart Supermarkets and Sutter Central Valley Hospitals.
FAQs: Moving from Jacksonville, FL, to Modesto, CA
How do I know a mover is licensed in California?
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
Is Modesto a safe place to live?
Modesto has a safety index of 34.24 out of 100 and a crime index of 65.76, compared to 43.62 and 56.38 in Jacksonville. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What is the cheapest way to move from Jacksonville, FL to Modesto, CA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,510 - $3,485. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Jacksonville movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 49% of movers in Jacksonville handle piano moves, and 27% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.