My California to New York Move Cost Exactly $5,425
Fact Checked by: 
San Francisco, CA → New York, NY
$5,425
345 cubic feet, about 2,400 pounds
$5,425
Exactly what I was quoted
2,911 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared three quotes before I hired Safeway Moving for my San Francisco to New York City move.
- My final bill was $5,425, exactly what I was quoted, with no surprise fees and nothing damaged in 2,911 miles.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
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This account is based on a conversation with Isabel P., who moved from San Francisco, California, to New York, New York, in March 2022 using Safeway Moving. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from California to New York
My boyfriend and I had been talking about leaving San Francisco for a while, and when I landed a new job in Brooklyn the timing finally lined up. Our new apartment in Manhattan was about one-third the size of our place in California, so downsizing became the first priority.
Once I had a clear picture of what we were actually moving, roughly 2,400 pounds of household goods, I started looking for a long-distance mover. I wasn’t interested in doing this myself. I was starting a new job and settling into a new city, so peace of mind mattered more than saving a few dollars.
I found moveBuddha while searching online and used the moving cost calculator to request quotes from several companies. According to moveBuddha, users who compare movers this way save more than 30% versus taking the first quote they get.
My Safeway Moving experience at a glance
Here’s what stood out most about moving with Safeway Moving, good and bad.
- Communication: Safeway kept me updated by email, phone, and text before and during the move. It was professional and consistent from the moment I booked, and I got multiple confirmations of every detail in the weeks beforehand.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My final charges came in at exactly what I was quoted, $5,425, with no surprise fees or adjustments at the end.
- Timeliness: The crew arrived on time at 10:30 a.m. on pickup day, and my things were in transit for 15 days.
- Delays: The truck reached New York before I did, and New York’s strict weekend moving restrictions pushed delivery to Monday. That one isn’t on Safeway.
- Loss and damage: Nothing was damaged, which is why declining the extra coverage turned out to be the right call.
- Would I use Safeway Moving again? Yes, without hesitation. The whole thing was smooth from start to finish.
over my original Safeway Moving quote
Find out what a move from California → New York actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose Safeway Moving
What I wanted was straightforward: verified reviews, consistent communication, transparent pricing, prompt delivery, and nothing damaged. My biggest worry was that the movers wouldn’t load on the date we agreed, since I was booking flights and staying with family while the truck was in transit.
I knew about the move for nearly six months and didn’t book until I had an apartment in New York. When I was ready, I told my Safeway representative I needed packing and unpacking help and that the crew would face a few flights of stairs. After a verbal quote they sent a formal estimate breaking down every cost, and based on 345 cubic feet and 2,400 pounds it came to $5,425. That was in line with what I expected, so I booked almost immediately. I picked Safeway out of three estimates on professionalism and competitive pricing.
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
My move at a glance
Here are the basics of my relocation, including what I was quoted and what I actually paid for my San Francisco to New York City move.
| Move date | March 20, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moving from | San Francisco, California 94109 |
| Moving to | New York, New York 10014 |
| Distance | 2,911 miles |
| Move size | 345 cubic feet, approximately 2,400 pounds |
| Moving company | Safeway Moving |
| Moving quote | $5,425 |
| Actual cost | $5,425 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
I requested quotes through moveBuddha and received three estimates for the same 2,911-mile move. I chose Safeway Moving on professionalism and competitive pricing rather than on being the cheapest number, and Safeway’s $5,425 is the only figure I kept a record of.
Because the crew was handling the packing, my preparation was mostly about what wouldn’t be going. I got rid of the things movers can’t move and donated anything that still had life in it. I also declined additional coverage and went with Safeway’s free basic valuation insurance, which was the right call given nothing arrived damaged.
Pickup day
Moving day was Sunday, March 20. The crew called that morning to say they were on the way and arrived right on time at 10:30 a.m. Their professionalism and attention to detail put me at ease the moment they walked in.
While the movers worked, I stayed out of the way, answered their questions, and said goodbye to family and friends. It took about two and a half hours to pack everything into boxes and another 45 minutes to load the truck. I paid by Zelle before they pulled away.
Delivery day
My belongings were in transit for 15 days. Five days before delivery, Safeway called to confirm the date and time.
The truck reached New York before my flight landed. In most cities that wouldn’t matter, and New York has strict weekend moving restrictions, so delivery had to wait until Monday.
On move-in day the crew staged everything in the lobby before bringing it up in the elevator. I checked each item off the inventory as it came in, and they placed everything exactly where I wanted it. It couldn’t have gone more smoothly.
Final thoughts
If I had to flag one thing, it’s the arrival window. Safeway gave me 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. the day before pickup, and a tighter window would have let me run a few errands that morning. The New York weekend restriction was inconvenient, and no mover controls that.
Overall I’m glad I hired full-service movers. For a coast-to-coast move where the timing and logistics were this complicated, the peace of mind was worth every dollar. I’d recommend Safeway without reservation to anyone who values a smooth, stress-free experience as much as the price.
Planning a long-distance move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from reputable movers and find the best option for your budget.
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Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Isabel P.’s experience:
- Check your destination city’s moving restrictions before you book: Isabel P.’s truck reached New York ahead of her, and the city’s weekend moving rules pushed delivery to Monday. Ask about restrictions in your destination, especially in dense cities with building and street rules.
- Don’t book until you have an address: Isabel P. knew about her move for six months and waited to book until she had signed in New York. That kept her from paying to store or reschedule around an address she didn’t have yet.
- Tell the estimator about the stairs: Isabel P. flagged the flights of stairs and the packing help she needed before the formal estimate was written, which is a large part of why her final bill matched her quote to the dollar.
- Basic valuation coverage may be enough on a well-packed move: Isabel P. skipped the paid coverage and nothing was damaged across 2,911 miles. Weigh the cost of full value protection against how your crew actually packs, and remember basic coverage pays by weight rather than value.
- Check items off the inventory as they come in: Isabel P. did this while the crew staged her things in the lobby. It’s the only moment when catching a missing box is easy.
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