How Much Do San Diego Movers Cost?

Quick answer: The typical cost for hiring movers in San Diego is $200 per hour, with the total cost to move ranging from $511 to $6,375, on average. If you’re moving out of California, the cost of hiring long-distance movers in San Diego really depends on where you’re moving.

Use our moving cost calculator below for a quick and personalized price estimate for your move out of San Diego, CA.

Moving Cost Calculator

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Our content is thoroughly fact-checked and reviewed by our team of in-house experts to ensure the information you get is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date.

Average cost to hire a local moving company in San Diego

Hiring a full-service San Diego mover is definitely the most convenient option, but that convenience comes at a cost — professional movers tend to be more expensive than other moving options. If you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you and you can afford it, hire a full-service moving company for your San Diego move.

If you want to save money, you can do some of the work yourself by hiring a container company or renting a moving truck where you do the packing and loading and they transport your belongings in San Diego for you.

Here are the average moving costs from San Diego to another state with different types of movers:

Destination Professional Movers Containers Rental Trucks
Sioux Falls $3,281 - $7,585 $2,003 - $4,011 $1,202 - $2,541
Chicago $3,807 - $7,903 $2,353 - $4,851 $1,334 - $3,095
Atlanta $3,688 - $8,168 $2,339 - $4,590 $1,362 - $2,890

And here's how much professional movers cost in San Diego based on your move size:

Home size Avg. total cost Cost/hour # of movers # hours
Studio $511 $280 2 movers 3 hours
1 bedroom $791 $280 2 movers 4 hours
2 bedroom $1,407 $392 3 movers 5 hours
3 bedroom $3,525 $549 4 movers 8 hours
4 bedroom $4,074 $549 4 movers 9 hours
5+ bedroom $6,375 $768 5 movers 10 hours
  • Studio: The average cost to hire movers in San Diego to move a studio apartment is $511. You'll need two movers for three hours at $280 per hour.
  • One bedroom: If you have a one-bedroom apartment or home, expect to pay around $791 for local San Diego movers. You'll need two movers for four hours at $280 per hour.
  • Two bedrooms: The average cost to hire San Diego movers to move a two-bedroom home is $1,407. You'll need three movers for five hours at $392 per hour.
  • Three bedrooms: For a three-bedroom home, expect to pay $3,525 for local San Diego movers. A three-bedroom typically requires four movers for eight hours at $549 per hour.
  • Four bedrooms: Moving a four-bedroom house in San Diego will cost $4,074, on average. The cost to move a larger home can vary, but typically requires four movers for nine hours at $549 per hour.
  • Five or more bedrooms: The cost of hiring San Diego movers for a home with five or more bedrooms is $6,375. You'll need five movers for ten hours at $768 per hour.

It's worth noting the cost per hour for San Diego movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $280 per hour for two movers to $768 per hour for five movers. As the size of your home increases, the number of movers and hours required for the move also increases, resulting in a higher overall cost.

Overall, hiring local San Diego movers is a convenient and stress-free way to move within the city. By knowing the approximate cost for your home size, you can budget accordingly and make informed decisions for your upcoming move.

Best local moving companies in San Diego, CA

Our expert team of analysts has dug deep into licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to find you the best local moving companies in San Diego.

Company Quote Rating Contact
Stella Moving & Delivery Get A Quote starstarstarstarstar
4.72 overall rating
2291 Dunlop St Business Unit #20, San Diego, CA, 92111
(619) 393-6426
Two Men and a Truck Get A Quote starstarstarstarstar
4.62 overall rating
9245 Farnham St, San Diego, CA, 92123
(858) 935-8392

Visit our best movers in San Diego page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you’re moving outside of San Diego, consider one of San Diego’s top long-distance movers.

Average cost to hire interstate movers in San Diego

Since the cost of moving out of San Diego depends so much on where you’re moving, here are some example costs. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to San Diego or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
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  • Best overall value
  • Portion to charity
  • Veteran owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Certified crews
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Family-owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
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  • Family owned
  • East coast focus
  • Affordable pricing
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • 1,800 trucks
  • Storage available
  • Customized moving plans
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.6 / 5
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  • White glove
  • Expensive items
  • Guaranteed delivery

Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from San Diego

San Diego to New York City: $3,043–$5,813
San Diego to Chicago: $2,662–$5,093
San Diego to Houston: $2,585–$5,186
San Diego to Phoenix: $1,470–$3,299
San Diego to Philadelphia: $2,820–$6,051

Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from San Diego

San Diego to New York City: $4,114–$7,094
San Diego to Chicago: $3,807–$6,645
San Diego to Houston: $3,229–$5,976
San Diego to Phoenix: $1,791–$4,289
San Diego to Philadelphia: $4,138–$7,445

Cost to move a four- bedroom home (or larger) out of state from San Diego

San Diego to New York City: $7,662–$12,199
San Diego to Chicago: $6,722–$10,783
San Diego to Houston: $5,579–$8,686
San Diego to Phoenix: $2,813–$5,832
San Diego to Philadelphia: $7,784–$12,255

Best interstate moving companies in San Diego, CA

Now that you have an idea of what your move from San Diego should cost, it’s time to start looking at the best interstate moving companies. We vetted each one, examining their pricing, services, and our own real-life customer reviews to pick the best options for you.

Best Overall Value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
(855) 650-0657
At A Glance
  • GPS tracking en route
  • Veteran-owned
  • Dedicated move coordinator
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Donates a portion of moves to charity
read our full review
(855) 650-0657
Most Experienced Mover
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(866) 835-2392
At A Glance
  • Experienced & fully trained moving crews
  • Specializes in moving art & antiques
  • Competitive pricing
  • Can handle last-minute moves
  • Climate-controlled storage
read our full review
(866) 835-2392
Best for personalized service
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
(980) 217-6841
At A Glance
  • Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
  • Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
  • Hands-on customer service
  • 24/7 support
  • Price-matching policy
read our full review
(980) 217-6841
Best customized Plans
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(844) 950-2963
At A Glance
  • Custom crates for electronics & art
  • Satellite shipment tracking
  • 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
  • Self-packing option
  • No deposit required
read our full review
(844) 950-2963
Best for high-end moves
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.6 / 5
(703) 972-1772
At A Glance
  • White-glove handling of fragile & high-end items
  • Guaranteed pickup & delivery
  • $250 deposit for interstate moves
  • Mobile app with 24/7 customer service
  • Financing available
read our full review
(703) 972-1772

Average cost to rent a moving truck in San Diego

You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in San Diego will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in San Diego ranges from $19-$39 per day.

While cheaper than full-service moving companies, you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading them on the truck, hauling them to your new spot, and unloading everything there.

Here are the typical costs of San Diego rental trucks:

  • Base cost: $19–$39 per day
  • Mileage fee: $0.79–$1.09 per mile
  • Fuel cost: Dependent on driving distance.
  • Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
  • Parking permit (if necessary): Type 1 Moving Permits: Applications must be submitted at least 2 working days prior to the intended move $16.00 permit fee Type 2 Moving Permits: Applications must be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the intended move for extra -legal loads that do not meet each of the Type 1 criteria. These moves require route evaluations prior to issuance of the permit. $212.00 Permit review and route evaluation fee is required.
  • Equipment costs (optional): Dolly, straps, blankets

The total cost to rent a truck from companies like Budget or U-Haul will depend on:

  • How far you drive the truck
  • How long you have the truck rental
  • Additional insurance
  • Parking
  • Toll fees
  • Fuel
  • Accommodations and dining
  • Moving equipment rentals
Best Availability
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Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.15 / 5
Check prices (800) 468-4285
At A Glance
  • More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
  • Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
  • Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
  • U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
read our full review
Check prices (800) 468-4285
Most Reliable
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4 / 5
Check prices (844) 847-9517
At A Glance
  • Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
  • Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
  • Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
read our full review
Check prices (844) 847-9517
Best Value Rental
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Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices Visit Website
At A Glance
  • Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
  • Round-trip and one-way moves available
  • User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
read our full review
Check prices Check prices

Average cost to rent a moving container in San Diego

San Diego has plenty of moving container companies to choose from. The containers are delivered, you load everything into them, the company picks it up, and it gets put in storage until you're ready for everything to be delivered to your new place.

Naturally, the advantage with containers like PODS and U-Pack is storage. These things will buy you time if you end up with a weird gap between leases.

Here's roughly what moving containers in San Diego are going to cost:

  • Storage fee: $99.95 per 30 days
  • Damage coverage: $10–$350 based on coverage level
  • Parking permit (if necessary): Type 1 Moving Permits: Applications must be submitted at least 2 working days prior to the intended move $16.00 permit fee Type 2 Moving Permits: Applications must be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the intended move for extra -legal loads that do not meet each of the Type 1 criteria. These moves require route evaluations prior to issuance of the permit. $212.00 Permit review and route evaluation fee is required.
  • Door lock (if necessary): $10–$15
  • Equipment costs (if necessary): Dolly, straps, blankets (optional)

Storing everything in a one-bedroom will end up costing somewhere around $110–$490 door-to-door. Still, you might want to factor in a little extra in case you decide to hire a third-party moving crew.

Each large container holds about three rooms until it's completely full. You might end up needing more containers, but keep in mind that your cost will essentially double with each container you add.

Company Quote Rating Price
U-Pack U-Pack Logo Check prices
starstarstarstarstar 5 / 5
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PODS PODS Check prices
starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
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1-800-Pack-Rat Check prices
starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
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Factors that affect the cost of movers in San Diego, CA

The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in San Diego, CA, is distance, but there are several other price considerations to keep in mind, including:

  • The size of your move: The more belongings you have, the more your move will cost. Moving a four-bedroom home will typically be more expensive than moving a studio apartment.
  • When you move: You’ll usually pay more to move during peak season (May–September) because demand is higher. Similarly, the time of month and day of the week you book your move will impact cost. Demand will be higher the first and last of each month, when leases change over, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the most popular moving days. To save money on your move, consider booking during the week and in the middle of one of the off-season months, if possible.
  • The type of move: Professional movers are the most convenient option, but they will cost you more than going with a DIY option like moving container companies or moving truck rentals.
  • Any add-on services you select: Even if you go with a DIY move, you may want to hire third-party movers to assist you with loading and unloading. And professional movers offer a variety of optional services like packing and unpacking to help customize and streamline your relocation. But these additional services will come at an extra cost.

Quick tips for a stress-free move

  • Have important documentation. Places like high rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance and elevator reservation on moving day.
  • Get approval. Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
  • Secure a parking permit (if needed). Type 1 Moving Permits: Applications must be submitted at least 2 working days prior to the intended move $16.00 permit fee Type 2 Moving Permits: Applications must be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the intended move for extra -legal loads that do not meet each of the Type 1 criteria. These moves require route evaluations prior to issuance of the permit. $212.00 Permit review and route evaluation fee is required.
  • Check state licensing laws. 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.
  • Invest in moving insurance. Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.

Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.

Helpful San Diego resources

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