($1,487+) Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA Movers
Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Long Beach, CA, runs anywhere from $1,487 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,258 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,723 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 $2,291, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $11,258 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,818 - $7,186, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,487 - $4,209.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Philadelphia, PA, to Long Beach, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,673 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 Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Philadelphia to Long Beach: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $3,673 - $7,193. Moving containers run about 31% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 58% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 7 to 21 days for this 2,723-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,723-mile route from Philadelphia to Long Beach, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,291 - $5,676 | $1,818 - $3,426 | $1,487 - $2,995 | $1,653 - $3,375 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,673 - $7,193 | $2,552 - $5,172 | $1,545 - $3,258 | $2,022 - $4,259 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,772 - $11,258 | $3,384 - $7,186 | $1,933 - $4,209 | $2,814 - $5,804 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA
Full-service movers for the 2,723-mile relocation from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Long Beach, California, cost between $2,291 and $11,258. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $382 - $2,544, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Philadelphia typically charge a base rate around $282 plus $130 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Philadelphia to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,291 - $5,676
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,673 - $7,193
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,772 - $11,258
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 Philadelphia to Long Beach.
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 Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 55% of Philadelphia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Long Beach, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing72% of local movers | $636 - $6,360 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready55% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Superior Moving & Storage | $254 - $1,526/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $382 - $3,053 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs48% of local movers | $1,272 - $3,816 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,180 - $12,720 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $953 - $1,810 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items27% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Superior Moving & Storage | $1,272 - $3,180 |
| Piano | Any piano type35% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Superior Moving & Storage | $1,018 - $4,452 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling8% of local movers | $382 - $1,908 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Payless Moving Inc. | $827 - $2,544 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $382 - $19,080+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $382 - $4,452+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Philadelphia to Long Beach?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in California Moving & Storage Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Philadelphia, PA. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA
Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Long Beach, California, cost between $1,818 and $7,186. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Long Beach. If you go over that window, storage in Philadelphia adds around $80/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Philadelphia to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,818 - $3,426
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,552 - $5,172
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,384 - $7,186
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $95 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $191 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 $890 in Philadelphia, PA, 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 Long Beach, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Pennsylvania 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 $1,818. 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 $2,552 - $5,172.
What are the best moving containers Philadelphia to Long Beach?
- 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia:
- Superior Moving & Storage (4.3/5), 45 years in business
- Flex Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 4 years in business
- Payless Moving Inc. (4.5/5), 17 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 2,723 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Long Beach, California, running $1,487 - $4,209. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,102 - $1,260
- Daily insurance: $38/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
- Philadelphia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $0.99
| 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 Philadelphia to Long Beach based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,487 - $2,995
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,545 - $3,258
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,933 - $4,209
Pro tip: The base rate of $1,487 - $4,209 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Philadelphia to Long Beach. Fuel ($1,102 - $1,260), lodging at around $191/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $95 and $445.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $191.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $1,102 and $1,260 for the 2,723-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $890 for 2 movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia to Long Beach?
- 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 Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA
For larger DIY moves from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Long Beach, California.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $2,022 and $4,259.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Philadelphia to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,653 - $3,375
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,022 - $4,259
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,814 - $5,804
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?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $95 and $191.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for roughly five hours typically average $890.
What are the best freight companies from Philadelphia to Long Beach?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Philadelphia to Long Beach. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Philadelphia, PA vs Long Beach, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Long Beach, side by side with Philadelphia on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Philadelphia, PA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 104 | 162 |
| Average rent | $1,695/mo | $2,075/mo |
| Median home value | $231,098 | $762,188 |
| Average income | $60,698/yr | $83,969/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 10.6% | 5.2% |
| State income tax | Up to 3.07% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 75/100 | 73/100 |
| Safety index | 33.91/100 | 41.42/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
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 Long Beach, CA to Philadelphia, PA guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Pennsylvania to California, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 267 movers licensed in Pennsylvania, useful context for sizing up this 2,723-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Philadelphia, PA, to Long Beach, CA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,291 - $11,258 on the 2,723-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,818 - $7,186 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,487 - $4,209 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,673 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include UTi Worldwide and Molina Healthcare.
FAQs: Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Long Beach, CA
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia, PA to Long Beach, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $1,487 to $11,258, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,291 and $11,258, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
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.
What do local movers charge in Philadelphia?
Local movers based in Philadelphia typically start around $282 as a base rate, plus $130/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Long Beach run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
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 are the best neighborhoods in Long Beach?
For families, Bixby Village, Los Altos, and Wrigley Heights are worth a look in Long Beach. If you're moving solo or without kids, Belmont Shore, Recreation Park, and Carroll Park tend to be popular picks instead.
What percentage of Philadelphia movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 35% of movers in Philadelphia handle piano moves, and 27% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.