($834+) Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX Movers
The cost to move from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX ranges from $1,230 to $8,821, with an average cost of $3,450. Moves can be as low as $834 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 1,362 miles and usually takes 3 to 8 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX
Moving options from Santa Ana to Austin fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,230 - $8,821 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $3,450, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 69% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 1,362 miles and typically takes 3 to 8 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,362-mile route from Santa Ana to Austin, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,230 - $4,948 with full-service movers, $1,364 - $2,448 with a container, $785 - $1,610 with a rental truck, or $1,169 - $2,138 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,908 - $6,769 full-service, $1,709 - $3,485 by container, $892 - $1,840 by rental truck, or $1,354 - $2,787 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $4,908 - $8,821 full-service, $2,207 - $4,724 by container, $1,067 - $2,246 by rental truck, or $1,893 - $3,564 by freight.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,362-mile move from Santa Ana, California, to Austin, Texas, with prices running from $1,230 - $8,821. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $452 - $3,012 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Santa Ana and Austin are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Santa Ana movers tend to run around $185 as a base rate plus $75/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Santa Ana to Austin:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,230 - $4,948
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,908 - $6,769
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,908 - $8,821
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 Santa Ana to Austin.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX
Specialty needs vary by market: 54% of Santa Ana movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Austin, 62% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $753 - $7,530 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready54% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Meathead Movers | $301 - $1,807/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $452 - $3,614 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs55% of local movers | $1,506 - $4,518 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,765 - $15,060 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,128 - $2,143 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $1,506 - $3,765 |
| Piano | Any piano type39% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $1,205 - $5,271 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling10% of local movers | $452 - $2,259 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect5% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA) | $979 - $3,012 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $452 - $22,590+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $452 - $5,271+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Santa Ana to Austin?
Movers licensed to operate in Texas are typically members of the Southwest Movers 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Santa Ana, CA. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX
Moving containers from Santa Ana, California, to Austin, Texas, cost between $1,364 and $4,724. 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 Santa Ana costs roughly $110/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Santa Ana to Austin:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,364 - $2,448
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,709 - $3,485
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,207 - $4,724
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $1,054 in Santa Ana, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $113 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $226 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Austin, TX, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Texas 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 $1,364. 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 $1,709 - $3,485.
What are the best moving containers Santa Ana to Austin?
- 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana:
- Meathead Movers (4.7/5), 24 years in business
- Best Fit Movers (4.8/5), 8 years in business
- Maison Moving (4.6/5), 18 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX
Renting a moving truck for the 1,362-mile move from Santa Ana, California, to Austin, Texas, costs between $785 and $2,246, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $653 - $746
- Daily insurance: $45/day
- Equipment rentals: $11 - $30
- Santa Ana daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| 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 Santa Ana to Austin based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $785 - $1,610
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $892 - $1,840
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,067 - $2,246
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $785 - $2,246 does not include fuel ($653 - $746), lodging ($226/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Santa Ana to Austin 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?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $226 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 $98 and $489 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $653 - $746 in fuel for the 1,362-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $1,054 in Santa Ana, California, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Santa Ana to Austin?
- 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 Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Santa Ana, California, to Austin, Texas. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,354 and $2,787.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Santa Ana to Austin:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,169 - $2,138
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,354 - $2,787
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,893 - $3,564
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Santa Ana, California, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $1,054.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $113 - $226 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Santa Ana to Austin?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
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: Santa Ana, CA vs Austin, TX
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Austin, side by side with Santa Ana on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Santa Ana, CA | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 165 | 129 |
| Average rent | $2,650/mo | $1,765/mo |
| Median home value | $657,015 | $512,969 |
| Average income | $88,354/yr | $91,461/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 3.5% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | None |
| Walkability score | 67/100 | 42/100 |
| Safety index | 45.83/100 | 59.87/100 |
| 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 Austin, TX to Santa Ana, CA guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from California to Texas, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. California alone has 1,154 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,362-mile move like this one.
Our take
A move from Santa Ana, CA, to Austin, TX, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,230 - $8,821 on the 1,362-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,364 - $4,724, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $785 - $2,246. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,908 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Austin tend to point to delicious barbecue and phenomenal live music, though hot summers and terrible traffic come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Keller Williams Realty and Whole Foods Market.
FAQs: Moving from Santa Ana, CA, to Austin, TX
What do local movers charge in Santa Ana?
Local movers based in Santa Ana typically start around $185 as a base rate, plus $75/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Austin run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX?
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.
How much does it cost to move from Santa Ana, CA to Austin, TX?
Costs on this route range from around $834 to $8,821, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,230 and $8,821, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
How walkable is Austin?
Austin has a walkability score of 42 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 54, compared to 67 and 62 in Santa Ana. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($653 - $746), daily insurance ($45/day), and equipment rentals ($11 - $30) on top. Overnight stops can add another $226/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What percentage of Santa Ana movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 39% of movers in Santa Ana handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.