($1,449+) Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

Moving from Montgomery, AL, to San Jose, CA, runs anywhere from $1,463 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $13,301 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,380 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 18 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 $2,840, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $13,301 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,914 - $6,576, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,463 - $3,933.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Montgomery, AL, to San Jose, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $4,146 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

Moving options from Montgomery to San Jose fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $4,146 - $8,269 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 2,380-mile route typically takes 7 to 18 days door to door.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,380-mile route from Montgomery to San Jose, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $2,840 - $6,352 $1,914 - $3,591 $1,463 - $2,858 $1,674 - $3,328
2 - 3 bedrooms $4,146 - $8,269 $2,408 - $4,796 $1,494 - $3,273 $1,831 - $4,075
4+ bedrooms $7,419 - $13,301 $3,409 - $6,576 $1,982 - $3,933 $2,544 - $5,100

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 Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

Hiring full-service movers from Montgomery, Alabama, to San Jose, California, costs between $2,840 and $13,301. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 2,380-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $419 - $2,796, 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 Montgomery and San Jose. For a rough baseline, movers based in Montgomery tend to start around $462 plus $133/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 Montgomery to San Jose:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,840 - $6,352
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,146 - $8,269
  • 4+ bedrooms: $7,419 - $13,301

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 Montgomery to San Jose.

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

Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.

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Specialty moving services from Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of Montgomery movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Jose, 81% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$699 - $6,990
Storage in transitNew place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: McCorquodale Transfer$280 - $1,678/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$419 - $3,355
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage60% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs40% of local movers$1,398 - $4,194
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,495 - $13,980
Car shippingSecond vehicle$1,047 - $1,989
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items60% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: McCorquodale Transfer$1,398 - $3,495
PianoAny piano type80% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: McCorquodale Transfer$1,118 - $4,893
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling80% of local movers$419 - $2,097
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect40% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Motivated Movers, Inc.$909 - $2,796
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$419 - $20,970+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$419 - $4,893+

What are the best full-service movers from Montgomery to San Jose?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in California Moving & Storage Association is a good first thing to confirm.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Montgomery, AL. 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 Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

Moving containers from Montgomery, Alabama, to San Jose, California, cost between $1,914 and $6,576. 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 Montgomery runs about $70/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Montgomery to San Jose:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,914 - $3,591
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,408 - $4,796
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,409 - $6,576

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $105 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $210 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 $979 in Montgomery, AL, 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 San Jose, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Alabama 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 $1,914. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,408 - $4,796, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Montgomery to San Jose?

  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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery:

  • McCorquodale Transfer (5.0/5), 28 years in business
  • Motivated Movers, Inc. (4.6/5), 19 years in business
  • Admiral Movers (4.8/5), 37 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

Truck rentals from Montgomery, Alabama, to San Jose, California, range from $1,463 - $3,933 for the 2,380-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

  • Fuel for the drive: $1,059 - $1,210
  • Daily insurance: $42/day
  • Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
  • Montgomery daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
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 Montgomery to San Jose based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,463 - $2,858
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,494 - $3,273
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,982 - $3,933

Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,463 - $3,933 does not include fuel ($1,059 - $1,210) , lodging ($210/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Montgomery to San Jose typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Gas: Fuel adds $1,059 - $1,210 for the 2,380-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Montgomery, Alabama, for about 5 hours typically costs around $979.
  • Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
  • Lodging: The 2,380-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $210 per night, adding $419 - $629 in hotel costs total.
  • Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $70 and $419.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Montgomery to San Jose?

  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 Montgomery, AL to San Jose, CA

For larger DIY moves from Montgomery, Alabama, 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 San Jose, 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 most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,831 and $4,075.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Montgomery to San Jose:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,674 - $3,328
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,831 - $4,075
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,544 - $5,100

Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.

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 $105 - $210 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 Montgomery, Alabama, typically costs $979.

What are the best freight companies from Montgomery to San Jose?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. MAF Expedited Bhm Express (4/5 stars): MAF Expedited Bhm Express is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Montgomery to San Jose. 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: Montgomery, AL vs San Jose, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Jose, side by side with Montgomery on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure Montgomery, AL San Jose, CA
Cost of living index79231
Average rent$1,200/mo$3,095/mo
Median home value$146,265$1,184,000
Average income$55,687/yr$141,565/yr
Unemployment rate5.8%6.6%
State income taxUp to 5.0%Up to 13.3%
Walkability score26/10051/100
Safety index34.75/10052.27/100
Air qualityModerateModerate

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 San Jose, CA to Montgomery, AL guide.

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Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Montgomery, AL, to San Jose, 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 $2,840 - $13,301 on the 2,380-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,914 - $6,576 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,463 - $3,933 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $4,146 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 Cisco Systems and Western Digital.

FAQs: Moving from Montgomery, AL, to San Jose, CA

How walkable is San Jose?

San Jose has a walkability score of 51 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 62, compared to 26 and 33 in Montgomery. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

What are the best neighborhoods in San Jose?

For families, Berryessa, Cambrian Park, and Evergreen are worth a look in San Jose. If you're moving solo or without kids, Burbank, Downtown, and Evergreen tend to be popular picks instead.

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 do local movers charge in Montgomery?

Local movers based in Montgomery typically start around $462 as a base rate, plus $133/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 San Jose run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

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 3 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 Montgomery movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 80% of movers in Montgomery handle piano moves, and 60% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.