($1,192+) Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA Movers

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Moving from Columbus, GA, to Los Angeles, CA, runs anywhere from $1,192 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,349 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,164 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 6 to 17 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

  • Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,387, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $11,349 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,624 - $5,809, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,192 - $3,462.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Columbus, GA, to Los Angeles, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,612 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA

Moving options from Columbus to Los Angeles fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $3,612 - $7,821 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 63% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 2,164 miles and typically takes 6 to 17 days.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,164-mile route from Columbus to Los Angeles, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $2,387 - $5,607 $1,624 - $3,030 $1,192 - $2,256 $1,431 - $2,671
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,612 - $7,821 $2,144 - $4,252 $1,330 - $2,938 $1,613 - $3,507
4+ bedrooms $6,381 - $11,349 $2,912 - $5,809 $1,680 - $3,462 $2,213 - $4,885

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.

Professional moving
Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Moving container
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental truck
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight trailer
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 2,164-mile move from Columbus, Georgia, to Los Angeles, California, with costs ranging from $2,387 - $11,349. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $335 - $2,232. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Columbus and Los Angeles. Local movers in Columbus typically start around $315 as a base rate plus $140/hour per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Columbus to Los Angeles:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,387 - $5,607
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,612 - $7,821
  • 4+ bedrooms: $6,381 - $11,349

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 Columbus to Los Angeles.

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 Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA

Specialty needs vary by market: 84% of Columbus movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Los Angeles, 56% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing68% of local movers$558 - $5,580
Storage in transitNew place not ready84% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK$223 - $1,339/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$335 - $2,678
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage5% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs68% of local movers$1,116 - $3,348
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,790 - $11,160
Car shippingSecond vehicle$836 - $1,588
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items27% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Coleman Worldwide Moving$1,116 - $2,790
PianoAny piano type36% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Coleman Worldwide Moving$893 - $3,906
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling$335 - $1,674
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving$725 - $2,232
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$335 - $16,740+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$335 - $3,906+

What are the best full-service movers from Columbus to Los Angeles?

Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Columbus, GA. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.

Moving container costs from Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA

Moving containers from Columbus, Georgia, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,624 and $5,809. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Columbus typically runs around $65/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Columbus to Los Angeles:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,624 - $3,030
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,144 - $4,252
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,912 - $5,809

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $84 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $167 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Los Angeles, CA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
  • Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $781 in Columbus, GA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Georgia to California 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 $1,624. 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 $2,144 - $4,252.

What are the best moving containers Columbus to Los Angeles?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Columbus 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 Columbus:

  • Apple Moving (4.0/5), 26 years in business
  • College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 0 years in business
  • TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 0 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 2,164 miles from Columbus, Georgia, to Los Angeles, California, running $1,192 - $3,462. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

  • Fuel for the drive: $768 - $878
  • Daily insurance: $33/day
  • Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
  • Columbus daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Columbus to Los Angeles based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,192 - $2,256
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,330 - $2,938
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,680 - $3,462

Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Columbus to Los Angeles starts at $1,192 - $3,462, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($768 - $878), overnight lodging ($167/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $167 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
  • Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Columbus, Georgia, usually costs about $781 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 2,164-mile drive falls between $768 and $878, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $56 and $335 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Columbus to Los Angeles?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Columbus, GA to Los Angeles, CA

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 Columbus, Georgia, to Los Angeles, California. 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 $1,613 and $3,507.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Columbus to Los Angeles:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,431 - $2,671
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,613 - $3,507
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,213 - $4,885

Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $84 - $167 to your final bill.
  • Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
  • Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Columbus, Georgia, typically costs $781.

What are the best freight companies from Columbus to Los Angeles?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.

Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Los Angeles fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.

Cost of living: Columbus, GA vs Los Angeles, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Los Angeles, side by side with Columbus on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure Columbus, GA Los Angeles, CA
Cost of living index78162
Average rent$1,100/mo$2,960/mo
Median home value$179,307$878,142
Average income$56,622/yr$80,366/yr
Unemployment rate5.3%10.6%
State income taxUp to 5.49%Up to 13.3%
Walkability score25/10069/100
Safety index27.82/10046.19/100
Air qualityGoodModerate

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 Los Angeles, CA to Columbus, GA guide.

Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:

We've processed 10 real quotes from Georgia to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 256 movers in our Georgia network to compare for this 2,164-mile move.

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Our take

The 2,164-mile move from Columbus, GA, to Los Angeles, CA, costs between $2,387 and $11,349 with full-service movers, $1,624 - $5,809 with a moving container, and $1,192 - $3,462 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $3,612 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District.

FAQs: Moving from Columbus, GA, to Los Angeles, CA

What size moving truck do I need for this route?

Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.

What do local movers charge in Columbus?

Local movers based in Columbus typically start around $315 as a base rate, plus $140/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 Los Angeles run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

How do I know a mover is licensed in California?

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.

What are the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles?

For families, Brentwood, Eagle Rock, and Mar Vista are worth a look in Los Angeles. If you're moving solo or without kids, Echo Park, Los Feliz, and Playa Del Rey tend to be popular picks instead.

How walkable is Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has a walkability score of 69 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 59, compared to 25 and 31 in Columbus. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

What percentage of Columbus movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 36% of movers in Columbus handle piano moves, and 27% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.