($1,471) Cost of Moving From California to Iowa
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Iowa ranges from $1,394 to $8,346 and takes five–16 days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Iowa to California guide.
Our track record
The best California to Iowa full-service movers
Moving from California to Iowa? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving California for your Iowa relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- Allied Van Lines: Best for contents coverage
- North American Van Lines: Best customized plans
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- 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
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
The best local moving companies in California
- Best California Movers: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Rigo's Moving Company Inc: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Meathead Movers: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Grace Moving Company: 4.9 out of 5 stars
Best California Movers
rating
4.9 / 5
DOT #: 3489907
Pricing: $109/hr
Years in Business: 6
15 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92591Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 3489907
- State license #: T0192283
Alternative Business Names
- Best California Movers & Storage
- An Moving Forward
Rigo's Moving Company Inc
rating
4.96 / 5
DOT #: 3075110
Years in Business: 11
4385 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023Rigo's Moving Company Inc has been providing top-notch local residential moving services in and around Los Angeles, CA since 2014. With a solid reputation backed by 445 combined Yelp and Google reviews, averaging over 4.3 stars, and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, they stand out among nearby moving companies. Rigo's Moving excels in customer satisfaction and offers a comprehensive suite of services including packing, unpacking, crating, and even specialized moves for pianos and antiques. They also accept credit cards and do not require a deposit, making them a convenient and trusted choice for local moves.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 3075110
- State license #: 0191663
Meathead Movers
rating
4.96 / 5
DOT #: 921143
Years in Business: 27
2905 Unicorn Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308 USMeathead Movers has been a staple in Bakersfield, CA, for local residential moving services since 1998. Compared to other movers in the area, their standout feature is a comprehensive offering, including packing and unpacking services. With a combined average rating of over 4.0 on Yelp and Google, and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, their reputation for customer satisfaction is clear. Uniquely, they require no deposit and accept both cash and credit cards, making the moving process seamless and hassle-free for clients.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 921143
- State license #: 0189849
Alternative Business Names
- Meathead Packers
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
rating
4.9 / 5
DOT #: 2527384
Years in Business: 20
8362 Galena Ave, Sacramento, CA 95828Two Men and a Truck, a trusted local moving company in Sacramento, CA, has been providing reliable residential moving services since 2005. Unlike many nearby movers, they offer comprehensive options including packing and unpacking services, as well as specialized capabilities like piano and safe moving. Known for their professionalism and transparency, they accept credit cards and require no deposit, making the moving process easier for clients. Consumer reviews are mixed, with an average rating of 3.4 on Yelp and 3.8 on Google, but they boast a strong A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, indicating a commitment to customer satisfaction.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 2527384
- State license #: 0190058
Alternative Business Names
- Snyir Inc.
- Two Men And A Truck
Grace Moving Company
rating
4.9 / 5
DOT #: 2806730
Years in Business: 26
800 Janopaul Lane, Modesto, CA 95351 USGrace Moving Company, based in Modesto, CA, has been reliably serving local residents since 1999, earning a stellar reputation for their top-notch residential moving services. Unlike many competitors, Grace Moving Company also offers specialized services like piano and art moving, packing, unpacking, and crating, ensuring a comprehensive moving experience. With an impressive average rating of 4.6 on Yelp and 4.7 on Google, plus an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, their customer satisfaction speaks volumes. Notably, they accept credit cards and require no deposit, making them a convenient and trusted choice for local relocations.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 2806730
- State license #: 0189642
The best California to Iowa moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in California and drop it off at your new home in Iowa.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
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The best California to Iowa moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from California to Iowa, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
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The best California to Iowa labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from California to Iowa:
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How we chose the best moving companies for your CA to IA move
How much does it cost to move from California to Iowa?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Iowa for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,471 - $5,772 | $1,405 - $3,306 | $1,364 - $2,628 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,903 - $8,346 | $2,314 - $4,691 | $1,394 - $3,098 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $7,405 - $12,861 | $3,359 - $6,638 | $1,756 - $3,535 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 1,849 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Cost to hire movers from California to Iowa
Cost of moving containers from California to Iowa
Cost of moving truck rentals from California to Iowa
Factors affecting the cost of moving from CA to IA
What to know before moving from CA to IA
If you’re moving to Iowa from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Iowa
| California | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $914 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $220,277 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $70,571 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 89 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 3.0% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 6.94% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 4.4% |
- Rent is about 51% less expensive in Iowa than in California.
- Home prices are about 71% lower in Iowa than in California.
- The average income is about 23% lower in Iowa than in California.
- Cost of living is 34% lower in Iowa than in California.
- Iowa has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 44%.
- Sales taxes are 20% lower in Iowa than in California.
- Income taxes are 67% lower in Iowa than in California.
How life is different in Iowa vs. California
| Iowa | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,207,004 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Republican 53-45 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 84ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 10ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 35" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 30" | 7" |
| Crime index | 16.18 | 28.43 |
- The population of Iowa is approximately 92% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Iowa voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Iowa is 84ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Iowa reaches the temperature of 10ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 35 inches of annual rainfall in Iowa versus 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In Iowa, it snows about 30 inches annually versus 7 inches of snow in California.
- Iowa has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 16.18 vs. 28.43.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Iowa
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in Iowa compared to California.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Iowa |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Low cost of living |
| Pleasant weather | Ample economic opportunity |
| Abundant recreational options | High quality of education |
| High quality of life | No traffic |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Beautiful outdoors |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Iowa
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving California for Iowa.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Iowa |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Severe weather conditions |
| Heavy tax burdens | Limited recreational opportunities |
| Natural disasters | High taxes |
| Terrible traffic | High emphasis on politics |
| Strange laws | Rustic food |
