($1,177+) St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Long Beach, CA, runs anywhere from $1,076 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,555 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,839 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 5 to 16 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 $2,434, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $10,555 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,528 - $5,613, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,076 - $3,176.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Long Beach, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,501 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

Moving options from St. Louis to Long Beach fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $3,501 - $7,647 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,839 miles and typically takes 5 to 16 days.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,839-mile route from St. Louis to Long Beach, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $2,434 - $5,318 $1,528 - $2,950 $1,076 - $2,160 $1,418 - $2,737
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,501 - $7,647 $2,141 - $4,132 $1,251 - $2,621 $1,712 - $3,306
4+ bedrooms $5,956 - $10,555 $2,673 - $5,613 $1,454 - $3,176 $2,183 - $4,762

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,839-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Long Beach, California, with costs ranging from $2,434 - $10,555. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $346 - $2,304. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between St. Louis and Long Beach. Local movers in St. Louis typically start around $247 as a base rate plus $145/hour per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Long Beach:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,434 - $5,318
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,501 - $7,647
  • 4+ bedrooms: $5,956 - $10,555

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 St. Louis to Long Beach.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.

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Specialty moving services from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Long Beach, 87% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing93% of local movers$576 - $5,760
Storage in transitNew place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage$230 - $1,382/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$346 - $2,765
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs86% of local movers$1,152 - $3,456
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,880 - $11,520
Car shippingSecond vehicle$863 - $1,639
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items36% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage$1,152 - $2,880
PianoAny piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Arch Moving$922 - $4,032
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers$346 - $1,728
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage$749 - $2,304
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$346 - $17,280+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$346 - $4,032+

What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Long Beach?

Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in St. Louis, MO. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.

Moving container costs from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Long Beach, California, cost between $1,528 and $5,613. 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 St. Louis runs about $90/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Long Beach:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,528 - $2,950
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,141 - $4,132
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,673 - $5,613

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $86 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $173 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Long Beach, CA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
  • Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $806 in St. Louis, MO. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Missouri 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 $1,528. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,141 - $4,132, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Long Beach?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis:

  • Arch Moving (4.7/5), 23 years in business
  • ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 37 years in business
  • Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,839 miles from St. Louis, Missouri, to Long Beach, California, running $1,076 - $3,176. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

  • Fuel for the drive: $674 - $770
  • Daily insurance: $35/day
  • Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
  • St. Louis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from St. Louis to Long Beach based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,076 - $2,160
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,251 - $2,621
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,454 - $3,176

Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from St. Louis to Long Beach starts at $1,076 - $3,176, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($674 - $770) , overnight lodging ($173/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.

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 $86 and $403.
  • Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $173.
  • Gas: Expect fuel to run between $674 and $770 for the 1,839-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 $806 for 2 movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for about 5 hours.
  • Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis to Long Beach?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from St. Louis, Missouri, to Long Beach, California. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,712 and $3,306.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Long Beach:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,418 - $2,737
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,712 - $3,306
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,183 - $4,762

Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.

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 $86 - $173 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 St. Louis, Missouri, typically costs $806.

What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Long Beach?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
  3. Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. (4.42/5 stars): Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from St. Louis 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: St. Louis, MO 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 St. Louis on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure St. Louis, MO Long Beach, CA
Cost of living index84162
Average rent$1,250/mo$2,075/mo
Median home value$180,206$762,188
Average income$55,279/yr$83,969/yr
Unemployment rate6.3%5.2%
State income taxUp to 4.8%Up to 13.3%
Walkability score66/10073/100
Safety index30.35/10041.42/100
Air qualityModerateGood

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 St. Louis, MO guide.

Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:

Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to California, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Missouri alone has 54 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,839-mile move like this one.

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Our take

How you handle your interstate move from St. Louis, MO, 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 $2,434 - $10,555 on the 1,839-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,528 - $5,613 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,076 - $3,176 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,501 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 St. Louis, MO, to Long Beach, CA

Is Long Beach a safe place to live?

Long Beach has a safety index of 41.42 out of 100 and a crime index of 58.58, compared to 30.35 and 69.65 in St. Louis. 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 St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, 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 $1,251 - $2,621. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

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.

How long does a move from St. Louis, MO to Long Beach, CA take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, 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 do local movers charge in St. Louis?

Local movers based in St. Louis typically start around $247 as a base rate, plus $145/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.

What percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 64% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 36% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.