Quick answer: A move from Atlanta to San Diego costs $1,439 – $7,801 and usually takes six to 17 days. Key factors include your move size, date, and whether you hire pros or do the 2,139-mile drive yourself.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our guide to moving from San Diego to Atlanta.
Our track record
Best movers by type
When you’ve got 27 interstate movers to choose from like you do in Atlanta, the search for the right one can quickly become overwhelming. And that’s after you decide whether to hand the job over to a full-service team or keep more control — and save a little money — with a DIY approach.
We’ve already done the hard work for you. Each Atlanta mover was reviewed for services offered, pricing, and overall value, with customer experiences drawn from online reviews. From there, we narrowed the field to the best long-distance movers in Atlanta, so you can move forward with confidence.
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Best professional movers from Atlanta to San Diego
When you’d rather skip the packing tape, heavy lifting, and scheduling hassles for your interstate move from Atlanta to San Diego, full-service movers are the answer. They manage every step so you can keep your attention on the big decisions and the excitement of the move.
There are 27 interstate moving companies in Atlanta, here are our picks for the most reliable full-service movers ready to take you to San Diego without the headaches.
What moving services are available in Atlanta?
How we chose the best movers GA→CA movers
Top-rated movers to make your Atlanta to San Diego move easy
Organizing a move from Atlanta to San Diego can be daunting, particularly when trying to identify a reliable mover that offers long-distance services. We’ve done the groundwork for you, evaluating local movers in Atlanta known for their long-distance moving capabilities, assessing them on pricing, customer experiences, and reliability.
Here are the top local moving companies to ensure a smooth transition from Atlanta to San Diego.
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc.: 5.0 out of 5 stars
- Atlanta Peach Movers: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Wirks Moving & Storage, Inc.: 5.0 out of 5 stars
- Mark the Mover, Inc.: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Atlantic Relocation Systems: 4.62 out of 5 stars
Company Info
State license #: 8948
Pricing: $125/hr
Years in Business: 9
DOT #: 3306591
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 8292
Years in Business: 26
DOT #: 797586
Alternate Names: Georgia Peach Movers
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 500873
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 1942465
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 7576
Years in Business: 48
DOT #: 0758674
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 268
Years in Business: 59
DOT #: 2730619
Alternate Names: Atlantic Moving & Storage, Inc.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
How much does it cost to move from Atlanta to San Diego?
Movers in Georgia charge $139 per hour on average. Here are average prices for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck:
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,325 – $5,331 | $1,257 – $3,114 | $1,291 – $2,515 |
2 – 3 bedrooms | $3,851 – $7,801 | $2,258 – $4,706 | $1,439 – $2,788 |
4+ bedrooms | $7,155 – $12,212 | $2,944 – $6,237 | $1,815 – $3,776 |
Cost to hire movers from Atlanta to San Diego
Moving a studio or one-bedroom home from Atlanta to San Diego typically costs between $1,325 and $5,331. For a two- or three-bedroom home, expect prices to fall between $3,851 and $7,801 when moving from Atlanta to San Diego. If you’re tackling a large move (think four or five bedrooms) from Atlanta to San Diego, you’re looking at costs ranging from $7,155 up to $12,212.
Cost of moving containers from Atlanta to San Diego
If you’re relocating from Atlanta to San Diego, you’ll typically spend between $1,257 and $3,114 for a small move. Have a two or three-bedroom home? Plan for costs to range from $2,258 up to $4,706. If you’re moving a larger home — four bedrooms or more — expect to pay anywhere between $2,944 and $6,237. For a full breakdown, check out our complete PODS cost guide.
Explore our top budget-friendly moving container companies for your move from Georgia.
Cost of moving truck rentals from Atlanta to San Diego
Renting a moving truck is typically the most budget-friendly choice for a Atlanta to San Diego move, but remember, you’ll be responsible for all the heavy lifting, packing, and driving on your own.
If you’re moving from a studio or one-bedroom place with a rental truck, expect to pay between $1,291 and $2,515. For a two- or three-bedroom move, costs usually range from $1,439 to $2,788. If you’re tackling a four-bedroom or bigger move, your rental truck will likely run between $1,815 and $3,776.
Estimated fuel costs are already factored into these quotes.
Major factors affecting moving costs from Atlanta to San Diego

What to know before moving from Atlanta to San Diego
Expect a bump in monthly expenses after the move – San Diego runs about 7% higher for singles and -1% higher for families than Atlanta.
Singles spend around $3,346 in Atlanta versus $3,134 in Atlanta; families pay $7,719 compared with $7,822.
Dig into the side-by-side details here:
Atlanta | San Diego | |
---|---|---|
Average 1 BR rent | $1,810 | $2,704 |
Average 3 BR rent | $3,039 | $4,914 |
Average home value | $388,167 | $1,003,444 |
Average income (per capita) | $66,107 | $72,963 |
Unemployment rate | 6.0% | 6.6% |
Sales tax | 8.9% | 7.75% |
State income tax | 5.49% | 13.3% |
- Rent is about 52% more expensive in San Diego than in Atlanta; make sure to include this increase in your monthly budget.
- Be sure to budget for a higher monthly mortgage payment, as home prices are about 159% higher in San Diego than in Atlanta.
- Exciting news here, the average income is about 10% higher in San Diego than in Atlanta, so you should have more to save or invest each month.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in San Diego, since the cost of living for a single person in San Diego is 7% higher than in Atlanta. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- The cost of living for a family is within about 5% of the same in San Diego and Atlanta, so you probably won’t see a major difference in expenses.
- San Diego has a higher unemployment rate than Atlanta by about 10%. This means that more people are out of work, so employers may have a larger pool of candidates to choose from, which can lead to a more competitive hiring process.
- Sales taxes are 13% lower in San Diego than in Atlanta. If you have a larger family or higher consumption habits, the lower sales tax in San Diego can reduce your overall living expenses.
- Income taxes are 142% higher in California than in Georgia. This means a larger portion of your earnings will go to state taxes, potentially reducing your take-home pay.
Here’s the side-by-side view of common monthly bills and day-to-day expenses in Atlanta versus San Diego:
Living Expense | Atlanta | San Diego |
---|---|---|
Basic utilities | $200.80 | $277.55 |
Cell phone plan | $57.65 | $66.79 |
Dozen eggs | $4.13 | $5.26 |
Loaf of bread | $3.96 | $4.50 |
Fast-food/casual eatery (one meal) | $20.00 | $21.00 |
Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) | $90.00 | $100.00 |
Gym membership | $46.00 | $65.68 |
- Basic utilities cost less in Atlanta than in San Diego, helping trim your monthly bills.
- Cell phone plans are cheaper in Atlanta than in San Diego.
- Eggs are less expensive in Atlanta than in San Diego.
- Bread costs less in Atlanta than in San Diego.
- A quick meal is cheaper in Atlanta than in San Diego.
- A mid-range dinner for two costs less in Atlanta than in San Diego.
- Gym memberships are more affordable in Atlanta than in San Diego.
How life is different in Atlanta vs. San Diego
Atlanta | San Diego | |
---|---|---|
Population | 498,715 | 1,386,932 |
Transportation score | 8 | 6 |
Walkability score | 48 | 53 |
Bike friendliness score | 42 | 43 |
Crime index | 64.23 | 39.83 |
Safety index | 35.77 | 60.17 |
Air quality | Moderate | Moderate |
- San Diego’s population is about 178% greater than Atlanta.
- San Diego’s public transportation has a score of 6 out of 10 versus Atlanta’s higher score of 8.
- San Diego is more walkable than Atlanta with a score of 53 out of 100 vs Atlanta’s 48 out of 100.
- Both San Diego and Atlanta have similar bike-friendliness scores (42 vs 43), meaning San Diego is about as safe for cyclists as Atlanta. Typically, cities with scores of 20 or higher are seen as reasonably safe, though higher scores mean better cycling accessibility.
- San Diego’s crime rate is lower than Atlanta with a score of 39.83 compared to Atlanta’s 64.23. This means that San Diego neighborhoods are safer than 39.83% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Atlanta neighborhoods are safer than 64.23%.
- San Diego is considered to be safer than Atlanta with a safety index of 60.17 vs Atlanta’s 35.77.
- Air quality in San Diego is Moderate, and in Atlanta it’s Moderate.
Other things to consider for your Atlanta to San Diego move
- HOA rules: Costs across Atlanta and San Diego are largely aligned, so your monthly budget shouldn’t shift much after the move.
- Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you’ll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
- Truck parking permits: Many cities require special permits for parking large moving trucks. Check in advance to see if one is needed for your move.
- State licensing: 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. Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
- State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in California, visit the state’s public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: Moving permits aren’t typically required in California, but always confirm with local authorities to avoid surprises.
- Change of address: You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to San Diego. Get started here.
- Moving company insurance: Each state has its own requirements for the level of insurance moving companies must carry. 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.
- Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Where to live in San Diego
With your sights set on America’s Finest City, these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in San Diego.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Gaslamp Quarter
- Hillcrest
- North Park
- Ocean Beach
- Pacific Beach
Best neighborhoods for families
- Carmel Valley
- Del Mar Heights
- Loma Portal
- Rancho Bernardo
- Rancho Penasquitos
Things to do in San Diego
With your move to California complete, you can dive right into experiencing San Diego. From cultural attractions to outdoor adventures, you’ll never run out of things to do:
- Arts and culture: San Diego is home to museums and cultural arts centers like the USS Midway Museum, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Maritime Museum of San Diego, and San Diego Air & Space Museum.
- Outdoor recreation: The city’s La Jolla Cove, Balboa Park, La Jolla Shores Park, and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park — among other spots — perfect for hiking, biking, or simply soaking up the outdoors.
- Sports: Experience the energy of a live game and back the home team at an San Diego Padres (MLB)San Diego Gulls (AHL)San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Atlanta to San Diego?
If you’re flexible with timing, spring and fall are great seasons to move from Atlanta to San Diego. You’ll dodge the heat, the crowds, and the higher moving costs typical of peak season in Atlanta.
When is the cheapest time to move from Atlanta to San Diego?
Want to save on your move from Atlanta to San Diego? Consider scheduling it in winter, when demand is lower and rates are often cheaper. Our moving discounts guide shows you how.
How long does a move from Atlanta to San Diego take?
The 2,139-mile move from Atlanta, GA, to San Diego, , takes six to 17 days. Some Atlanta movers may offer expedited moving if you need it faster. If you need more time, ask your mover about storage options in San Diego.
What kinds of discounts do Atlanta movers offer?
Many local moving companies provide ways to save, from ongoing deals to seasonal offers. 3 movers offer special pricing for military members. 3 movers extend discounts to senior citizens.
Check with each mover to confirm discount availability, eligibility requirements, and how much you can save.
Need help moving a piano or antiques in Atlanta?
These delicate items require movers with specialized training. Currently, 18 movers in Atlanta provide piano moving services. 20 can transport antiques with care. Statewide, there are 29 piano movers and 30 antique movers, with nationwide counts at 1,607 and 1,131.
Demand for these services can be high, so schedule your specialty move as far ahead as possible.
Helpful moving resources
Atlanta moving services
Popular Georgia routes
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