($1,544+) Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ Movers
The cost to move from Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ ranges from $1,357 to $11,384, with an average cost of $4,500. Moves can be as low as $1,544 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 2,739 miles and usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ
Moving options from Riverside to Jersey City fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,357 - $11,384 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,500, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 59% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 2,739 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,739-mile route from Riverside to Jersey City, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,357 - $6,099 | $1,885 - $3,664 | $1,499 - $2,904 | $1,629 - $3,264 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,958 - $8,121 | $2,322 - $4,948 | $1,623 - $3,354 | $1,858 - $3,877 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,939 - $11,384 | $3,539 - $6,815 | $1,970 - $4,414 | $2,589 - $5,508 |
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 Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ
For the 2,739-mile move from Riverside, California, to Jersey City, New Jersey, full-service movers cost between $1,357 and $11,384. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $404 - $2,692 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Riverside generally start around $239 plus $75 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Riverside to Jersey City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,357 - $6,099
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,958 - $8,121
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,939 - $11,384
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 Riverside to Jersey City.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to New Jersey. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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 Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ
Specialty needs vary by market: 52% of Riverside movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Jersey City, 61% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing73% of local movers | $673 - $6,730 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready52% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Burgess Moving and Storage | $269 - $1,615/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $404 - $3,230 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage11% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs48% of local movers | $1,346 - $4,038 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,365 - $13,460 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,008 - $1,915 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Trek Movers | $1,346 - $3,365 |
| Piano | Any piano type33% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: JFK Moving Company | $1,077 - $4,711 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling8% of local movers | $404 - $2,019 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect7% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA) | $875 - $2,692 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $404 - $20,190+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $404 - $4,711+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Riverside to Jersey City?
Look for New Jersey Warehouse & Movers Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in New Jersey beyond this list.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Riverside, CA. 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 Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ
Moving containers from Riverside, California, to Jersey City, New Jersey, cost between $1,885 and $6,815. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Riverside typically costs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Riverside to Jersey City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,885 - $3,664
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,322 - $4,948
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,539 - $6,815
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $101 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $202 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Jersey City, NJ, 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 $942 in Riverside, CA. 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 California to New Jersey 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 $1,885. 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 $2,322 - $4,948.
What are the best moving containers Riverside to Jersey City?
- 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 Riverside 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 Riverside:
- Trek Movers (5.0/5), 11 years in business
- JFK Moving Company (4.8/5), 6 years in business
- Meathead Movers (4.7/5), 24 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ
Plan on $1,499 - $4,414 for a rental moving truck on the 2,739-mile route from Riverside, California, to Jersey City, New Jersey. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,173 - $1,341
- Daily insurance: $40/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
- Riverside daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| 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 Riverside to Jersey City based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,499 - $2,904
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,623 - $3,354
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,970 - $4,414
Pro tip: The base rate of $1,499 - $4,414 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Riverside to Jersey City. Fuel ($1,173 - $1,341), lodging at around $202/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?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Riverside, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $942.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $1,173 - $1,341 for the 2,739-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 $81 and $437, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $202 per night for hotel stops on the 2,739-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $404 - $606.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Riverside to Jersey City?
- 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 Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ
For larger DIY moves from Riverside, California, 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 Jersey City, New Jersey.
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 $1,858 and $3,877.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Riverside to Jersey City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,629 - $3,264
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,858 - $3,877
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,589 - $5,508
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 Riverside, California, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $942.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $101 - $202 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 Riverside to Jersey City?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Riverside to Jersey City, 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: Riverside, CA vs Jersey City, NJ
Good news for your budget: Jersey City isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Riverside. Cost of living index runs 140 there against 131 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 43/100 and 59.76/100 here versus 87/100 and 56.79/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Jersey City, NJ to Riverside, CA guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from California to New Jersey, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 1,154 movers in California, so you have real options to compare for this 2,739-mile move.
Our take
A move from Riverside, CA, to Jersey City, NJ, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,357 - $11,384 on the 2,739-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,885 - $6,815, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,499 - $4,414. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,958 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Kuehne + Nagel International AG and Tokio Marine Management.
FAQs: Moving from Riverside, CA, to Jersey City, NJ
How walkable is Jersey City?
Jersey City has a walkability score of 87 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 64, compared to 43 and 49 in Riverside. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Jersey City a safe place to live?
Jersey City has a safety index of 56.79 out of 100 and a crime index of 43.21, compared to 59.76 and 40.24 in Riverside. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
What is the best time of year to move from Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ?
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.
How long does a move from Riverside, CA to Jersey City, NJ take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 7 to 21 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 percentage of Riverside movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 33% of movers in Riverside handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.