($642+) San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT Movers
The cost to move from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT ranges from $1,221 to $8,231, with an average cost of $2,850. Moves can be as low as $642 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 977 miles and usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
Fact Checked by:
Compare moving options from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT
Moving options from San Francisco to Missoula fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,221 - $8,231 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $2,850, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 38% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 70% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 977 miles and typically takes 2 to 7 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 977-mile route from San Francisco to Missoula, 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 $1,221 - $4,689 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,094 - $2,138), rental truck ($674 - $1,253), or freight trailer ($1,066 - $1,849). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,395 - $5,947 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $8,231.
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 San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT
Hiring full-service movers from San Francisco, California, to Missoula, Montana, costs between $1,221 and $8,231. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 977-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $577 - $3,844, 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 San Francisco and Missoula. For a rough baseline, movers based in San Francisco tend to start around $284 plus $150/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 San Francisco to Missoula:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,221 - $4,689
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,395 - $5,947
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,903 - $8,231
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 San Francisco to Missoula.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
Don't see your company listed?
Reach customers actively searching for trusted movers in your area. Tell us about your company and services to get your business listed on moveBuddha.
Specialty moving services from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT
Specialty needs vary by market: 54% of San Francisco movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Missoula, 50% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing76% of local movers | $961 - $9,610 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready54% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Pure Moving Company | $384 - $2,306/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $577 - $4,613 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage15% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs51% of local movers | $1,922 - $5,766 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,805 - $19,220 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,440 - $2,735 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Pure Moving Company | $1,922 - $4,805 |
| Piano | Any piano type38% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Got2Move | $1,538 - $6,727 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling4% of local movers | $577 - $2,883 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect5% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA) | $1,249 - $3,844 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $577 - $28,830+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $577 - $6,727+ |
What are the best full-service movers from San Francisco to Missoula?
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in San Francisco, CA. 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 San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT
Moving containers from San Francisco, California, to Missoula, Montana, cost between $1,094 and $3,792. 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 Missoula. If you go over that window, storage in San Francisco adds around $120/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Francisco to Missoula:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,094 - $2,138
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,496 - $2,913
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,956 - $3,792
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $1,345 in San Francisco, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $144 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $288 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Missoula, MT, destination before booking.
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 $1,094. 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 $1,496 - $2,913.
What are the best moving containers San Francisco to Missoula?
- 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco:
- Got2Move (4.8/5), 19 years in business
- Sweet Lemon Moving Services (5.0/5), 9 years in business
- 680 Movers (4.8/5), 9 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT
Truck rentals from San Francisco, California, to Missoula, Montana, range from $674 - $1,672 for the 977-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $597 - $683
- Daily insurance: $58/day
- Equipment rentals: $13 - $38
- San Francisco daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.59
| 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 San Francisco to Missoula based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $674 - $1,253
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $715 - $1,374
- 4+ bedrooms: $826 - $1,672
Pro tip: The base rate of $674 - $1,672 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from San Francisco to Missoula. Fuel ($597 - $683), lodging at around $288/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?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $288 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in San Francisco, California, usually costs about $1,345 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 977-mile drive falls between $597 and $683, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $96 and $577 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from San Francisco to Missoula?
- 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 San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from San Francisco, California, to Missoula, Montana, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,138 and $2,447.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Francisco to Missoula:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,066 - $1,849
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,138 - $2,447
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,597 - $3,186
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $144 - $288 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in San Francisco, California, typically costs $1,345.
What are the best freight companies from San Francisco to Missoula?
- 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: If speed matters on your move from San Francisco to Missoula, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: San Francisco, CA vs Missoula, MT
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Missoula, side by side with San Francisco on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | San Francisco, CA | Missoula, MT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 245 | 113 |
| Average rent | $3,250/mo | $1,322/mo |
| Median home value | $1,374,773 | $426,764 |
| Average income | $141,446/yr | $65,329/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 6.75% |
| Walkability score | 99/100 | 45/100 |
| Safety index | 38.59/100 | 66.73/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | 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 Missoula, MT to San Francisco, CA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 1 real quote from California to Montana 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 1,154 movers in our California network to compare for this 977-mile move.
Our take
For a move from San Francisco, CA, to Missoula, MT, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,221 for a studio to $8,231 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 977-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,094 - $3,792. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $674 - $1,672, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,395 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Walmart AT&T and Target.
FAQs: Moving from San Francisco, CA, to Missoula, MT
How long does a move from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($597 - $683), daily insurance ($58/day), and equipment rentals ($13 - $38) on top. Overnight stops can add another $288/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT?
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 $715 - $1,374. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT?
Costs on this route range from around $642 to $8,231, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,221 and $8,231, 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 percentage of San Francisco movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 38% of movers in San Francisco handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.