($1,587+) Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA Movers

Easily compare and book your next move with moveBuddha
Background image of a moving truck moving from Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

Moving from Burlington, VT, to Oakland, CA, runs anywhere from $1,587 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $14,622 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 3,004 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 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 $3,212, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $14,622 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,965 - $7,384, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,587 - $4,644.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Burlington, VT, to Oakland, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $4,652 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

There are 3 main ways to move from Burlington to Oakland: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $4,652 - $9,631. Containers cost roughly 41% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 3,004 miles, expect 7 to 21 days in transit no matter which service you choose.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 3,004-mile route from Burlington to Oakland, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $3,212 - $7,453 $1,965 - $3,876 $1,587 - $3,208 $1,842 - $3,593
2 - 3 bedrooms $4,652 - $9,631 $2,734 - $5,401 $1,844 - $3,934 $2,166 - $4,585
4+ bedrooms $9,208 - $14,622 $3,524 - $7,384 $2,332 - $4,644 $2,790 - $6,329

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.

Professional moving
Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Moving container
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental truck
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 trailer
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 Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

Full-service movers for the 3,004-mile relocation from Burlington, Vermont, to Oakland, California, cost between $3,212 and $14,622. 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 $437 - $2,912, 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 Burlington typically charge a base rate around $594 plus $200 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Burlington to Oakland:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $3,212 - $7,453
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,652 - $9,631
  • 4+ bedrooms: $9,208 - $14,622

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 Burlington to Oakland.

Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.

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.

Get Started

Specialty moving services from Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

Specialty needs vary by market: 80% of Burlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Oakland, 53% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing80% of local movers$728 - $7,280
Storage in transitNew place not ready80% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Booska Movers$291 - $1,747/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$437 - $3,494
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage40% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs40% of local movers$1,456 - $4,368
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,640 - $14,560
Car shippingSecond vehicle$1,091 - $2,072
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items20% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Booska Movers$1,456 - $3,640
PianoAny piano type40% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: Local Muscle Movers$1,165 - $5,096
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling$437 - $2,184
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect9% nationally$946 - $2,912
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$437 - $21,840+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$437 - $5,096+

What are the best full-service movers from Burlington to Oakland?

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 Burlington, VT. 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 Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

Moving containers from Burlington, Vermont, to Oakland, California, cost between $1,965 and $7,384. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Burlington costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Burlington to Oakland:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,965 - $3,876
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,734 - $5,401
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,524 - $7,384

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $109 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $218 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 $1,019 in Burlington, VT, 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 Oakland, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Vermont 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 $1,965. 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 $2,734 - $5,401.

What are the best moving containers Burlington to Oakland?

  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 Burlington 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 Burlington:

  • Local Muscle Movers (4.9/5), 16 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

Truck rentals from Burlington, Vermont, to Oakland, California, range from $1,587 - $4,644 for the 3,004-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

  • Fuel for the drive: $1,392 - $1,590
  • Daily insurance: $44/day
  • Equipment rentals: $10 - $29
  • Burlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
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 Burlington to Oakland based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,587 - $3,208
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,844 - $3,934
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,332 - $4,644

Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,587 - $4,644 does not include fuel ($1,392 - $1,590), lodging ($218/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Burlington to Oakland typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Burlington, Vermont, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,019.
  • Gas: Fuel costs total $1,392 - $1,590 for the 3,004-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 $87 and $473, depending on what you need.
  • Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
  • Lodging: Budget around $218 per night for hotel stops on the 3,004-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $437 - $655.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Burlington to Oakland?

  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 Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA

If you're moving a larger household from Burlington, Vermont, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Oakland, California.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $2,166 and $4,585.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Burlington to Oakland:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,842 - $3,593
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,166 - $4,585
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,790 - $6,329

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 $109 - $218 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 Burlington, Vermont, typically costs $1,019.

What are the best freight companies from Burlington to Oakland?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.

Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Burlington to Oakland, 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: Burlington, VT vs Oakland, CA

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

Measure Burlington, VT Oakland, CA
Cost of living index112196
Average rent$2,200/mo$2,200/mo
Median home value$402,586$925,411
Average income$68,854/yr$97,369/yr
Unemployment rate3.2%4.5%
State income taxUp to 8.75%Up to 13.3%
Walkability score59/10075/100
Safety index56.67/10031.38/100
Air qualityGoodGood

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 Oakland, CA to Burlington, VT guide.

Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:

We've processed 10 real quotes from Vermont to California 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 5 movers in our Vermont network to compare for this 3,004-mile move.

30%+
Save 30%+
moveBuddha users save more than 30% on average by comparing movers before they book.
$1K
$1,000 in coverage
Booking with a moveBuddha Certified mover gets you dedicated support from start to finish.
✓
Dispute mediation
We help resolve issues with Certified movers if a problem comes up.

Our take

The 3,004-mile move from Burlington, VT, to Oakland, CA, costs between $3,212 and $14,622 with full-service movers, $1,965 - $7,384 with a moving container, and $1,587 - $4,644 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $4,652 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Kaiser Permanente and Dreyer's.

FAQs: Moving from Burlington, VT, to Oakland, CA

What are the best neighborhoods in Oakland?

For families, Fairview Park, Rockridge, and Bushrod are worth a look in Oakland. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown, Grand Lake, and Piedmont Avenue tend to be popular picks instead.

How walkable is Oakland?

Oakland has a walkability score of 75 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 65, compared to 59 and 81 in Burlington. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

Is Oakland a safe place to live?

Oakland has a safety index of 31.38 out of 100 and a crime index of 68.62, compared to 56.67 and 43.33 in Burlington. 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 Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA?

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 Burlington, VT to Oakland, CA?

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.

What percentage of Burlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 40% of movers in Burlington handle piano moves, and 20% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.