($1,640+) San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA Movers
The cost to move from San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA ranges from $1,356 to $13,116, with an average cost of $5,000. Moves can be as low as $1,640 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 2,848 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.
Compare moving options from San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA
Moving options from San Jose to Arlington fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,356 - $13,116 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $5,000, and movers handle 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 particular route covers 2,848 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 2,848-mile route from San Jose to Arlington, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,356 - $6,550 | $2,125 - $3,742 | $1,657 - $3,245 | $1,839 - $3,546 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,090 - $8,634 | $2,624 - $5,598 | $1,759 - $3,713 | $2,205 - $4,345 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $8,170 - $13,116 | $3,512 - $7,563 | $2,157 - $4,837 | $2,839 - $5,869 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA
Full-service movers for the 2,848-mile relocation from San Jose, California, to Arlington, Virginia, cost between $1,356 and $13,116. 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 $613 - $4,084, 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 San Jose typically charge a base rate around $316 plus $119 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from San Jose to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,356 - $6,550
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,090 - $8,634
- 4+ bedrooms: $8,170 - $13,116
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 Jose to Arlington.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Virginia. 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 San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA
Specialty needs vary by market — 81% of San Jose movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Arlington, 94% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing97% of local movers | $1,021 - $10,210 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready81% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Fairprice Movers | $408 - $2,450/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $613 - $4,901 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage47% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs44% of local movers | $2,042 - $6,126 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $5,105 - $20,420 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,529 - $2,906 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items68% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Fairprice Movers | $2,042 - $5,105 |
| Piano | Any piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Fairprice Movers | $1,634 - $7,147 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling37% of local movers | $613 - $3,063 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Arnoni Moving Services LLC | $1,327 - $4,084 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $613 - $30,630+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $613 - $7,147+ |
What are the best full-service movers from San Jose to Arlington?
Movers licensed to operate in Virginia are typically members of the Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- 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 Jose, 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 Jose, CA to Arlington, VA
Moving containers from San Jose, California, to Arlington, Virginia, cost between $2,125 and $7,563. 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 San Jose typically costs about $120/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Jose to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,125 - $3,742
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,624 - $5,598
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,512 - $7,563
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $153 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $306 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 $1,429 in San Jose, CA, 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 Arlington, VA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Virginia 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 $2,125. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,624 - $5,598, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers San Jose to Arlington?
- 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 Jose 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 Jose:
- Best California Movers (5.0/5), 7 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (5.0/5), 16 years in business
- Trek Movers (4.8/5), 10 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA
Truck rentals from San Jose, California, to Arlington, Virginia, range from $1,657 - $4,837 for the 2,848-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,850 - $2,115
- Daily insurance: $61/day
- Equipment rentals: $14 - $41
- San Jose daily rental rate: $19 - $49
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
| 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 Jose to Arlington based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,657 - $3,245
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,759 - $3,713
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,157 - $4,837
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from San Jose to Arlington starts at $1,657 - $4,837, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($1,850 - $2,115) , overnight lodging ($306/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?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $306 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $133 and $664 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $1,850 - $2,115 in fuel for the 2,848-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $1,429 in San Jose, California, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from San Jose to Arlington?
- 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 Jose, CA to Arlington, VA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from San Jose, California, to Arlington, Virginia, 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. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $2,205 and $4,345.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Jose to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,839 - $3,546
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,205 - $4,345
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,839 - $5,869
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?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $153 - $306 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in San Jose, California, for about five hours typically runs $1,429.
What are the best freight companies from San Jose to Arlington?
- 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.
- 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.
- PRO Logistics (4.54/5 stars): PRO Logistics 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: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: San Jose, CA vs Arlington, VA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Arlington, side by side with San Jose on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | San Jose, CA | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 231 | 164 |
| Average rent | $3,095/mo | $2,718/mo |
| Median home value | $1,184,000 | $866,334 |
| Average income | $141,565/yr | $140,160/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% | 4.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 5.75% |
| Walkability score | 51/100 | 71/100 |
| Safety index | 52.27/100 | 79.15/100 |
| 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 Arlington, VA to San Jose, CA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from California to Virginia in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 374 movers based in California, handy for sizing up options on this 2,848-mile route.
Our take
For a move from San Jose, CA, to Arlington, VA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,356 for a studio to $13,116 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 2,848-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $2,125 - $7,563. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $1,657 - $4,837, 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 $4,090 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 U.S. Department of Defense and Safran.
FAQs: Moving from San Jose, CA, to Arlington, VA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from San Jose, CA to Arlington, VA?
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.
Is Arlington a safe place to live?
Arlington has a safety index of 79.15 out of 100 and a crime index of 15.67, compared to 52.27 and 47.73 in San Jose. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is Arlington?
Arlington has a walkability score of 71 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 51 and 62 in San Jose. 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 Arlington?
For families, Arlington Ridge, Barcroft, and Chain Bridge Forest are worth a look in Arlington. If you're moving solo or without kids, Aurora Highlands, Ballston-Virginia Square, and Bluemont tend to be popular picks instead.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Virginia?
In addition to filing tariffs and complying with insurance, bond, and highway safety requirements, all intrastate moving companies in Virginia must have a certificate from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VaDMV).
What percentage of San Jose movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 77% of movers in San Jose handle piano moves, and 68% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.