($1,680) Cost of Moving From Massachusetts to California
Quick answer: The average cost to move from Massachusetts to California ranges from $2,174 to $9,964 and takes seven–21 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 California to Massachusetts guide.
Our track record
The best Massachusetts to California full-service movers
Moving from Massachusetts to California? 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 Massachusetts for your California 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 Massachusetts
- Boston Best Rate Movers: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Marathon Moving Co.: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Olympia Moving & Storage: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Poseidon Moving: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Oscar's Moving Company: 4.96 out of 5 stars
Boston Best Rate Movers

DOT #: 1718049
Years in Business: 19
252R Calvary St, Waltham, MA 02453Boston Best Rate Movers has been a trusted name for local residential moves in and around Waltham, MA since 2006. Unlike many nearby moving companies, they offer a comprehensive range of services including packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items, making them an excellent choice for meticulous movers. Clients consistently praise their reliability, as evidenced by their 4.7 average rating across 32 Yelp reviews and 530 Google reviews, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, their no-deposit policy and acceptance of credit cards add to their customer-friendly approach.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1718049
- State license #: 31391
- DOD certified
Alternative Business Names
- Flat Rate Moving & Storage, Inc.
Marathon Moving Co.

DOT #: 943487
Years in Business: 24
146 Will Dr, Canton, MA 02021Marathon Moving Co., a reputable and seasoned moving company based in Canton, MA, has been serving the local community with excellence since 2001. Highly regarded by customers, the company boasts a 4.3 average rating on Yelp from 75 reviews and a stellar 4.7 average rating on Google My Business from 190 reviews; it also holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby moving services, Marathon Moving Co. offers an extensive range of services, including packing, unpacking, crating, and specialized moving for items like pianos and antiques. With full valuation insurance coverage and shipment tracking available, they ensure peace of mind throughout the moving process, though a deposit is required.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 943487
- State license #: 943487
Alternative Business Names
- Marathon Moving Company, Inc.
Olympia Moving & Storage

DOT #: 70719
Years in Business: 31
17 Bridge St, Watertown, MA 02472Olympia Moving & Storage, located in Watertown, MA, has been providing exceptional local residential moving services since 1994. They stand out among nearby moving companies with their comprehensive offerings, including packing and unpacking services, and the ability to move delicate items such as pianos, antiques, and safes. Their reputation is solid, boasting a Yelp average rating of 4.1 from 148 reviews, a Google My Business rating of 4.5 from 229 reviews, and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Olympia Moving & Storage also accepts credit cards and offers full valuation insurance coverage, ensuring peace of mind for their customers.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 70719
- State license #: 70719
- DOD certified
Poseidon Moving

DOT #: 2522855
Pricing: $120/hr
Years in Business: 10
45 Longwood Ave, Brookline, MA 5244Poseidon Moving, a reputable local moving company based in Brookline, MA, has been providing dependable residential moving services since 2015. With an impressive average rating of 4.5 on Yelp and 4.1 on Google, their customer satisfaction speaks volumes compared to many nearby competitors. They offer a comprehensive suite of services including packing, unpacking, and specialized moving for items such as pianos, art, and antiques. Though a deposit is required and rates start at $120 per hour, Poseidon Moving accepts both cash and credit cards, ensuring a flexible and professional moving experience for their clients.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2522855
- State license #: 31816
Alternative Business Names
- Poseidon Moving, LLC
Oscar's Moving Company

DOT #: 1637689
Years in Business: 17
86 Rowe St, Newton, MA 02466Oscar's Moving Company, established in 2008, specializes in local residential moving services in and around Newton, MA. Unlike many nearby movers, Oscar's Moving Company boasts a stellar reputation with a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, an impressive 4.8-star average on Google My Business, and a solid 3.8-star average on Yelp from 143 reviews. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including packing and unpacking, and even have the capability to move pianos. Customers can pay by credit card, though a deposit is required.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 1637689
- State license #: 31320
Alternative Business Names
- Oscar's Moving Company
The best Massachusetts to California 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 Massachusetts and drop it off at your new home in California.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
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The best Massachusetts to California moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from Massachusetts to California, 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 Massachusetts to California 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 Massachusetts to California:
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How we chose the best moving companies for your MA to CA move
How much does it cost to move from Massachusetts to California?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Massachusetts to California for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,680 - $7,012 | $1,783 - $4,585 | $2,068 - $3,779 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,861 - $9,964 | $3,161 - $6,826 | $2,174 - $4,452 |
4+ bedrooms | $9,723 - $15,599 | $4,544 - $8,966 | $2,776 - $5,980 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 3,095 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 Massachusetts to California
Cost of moving containers from Massachusetts to California
Cost of moving truck rentals from Massachusetts to California
Factors affecting the cost of moving from MA to CA
What to know before moving from MA to CA
If you’re moving to California from Massachusetts, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: Massachusetts vs. California
Massachusetts | California | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,588 | $1,856 |
Average home cost | $623,131 | $771,057 |
Average income (per capita) | $96,505 | $91,905 |
Cost of Living Index | 100 | 134 |
Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 5.4% |
Average Sales Tax | 6.25% | 8.68% |
State Income Tax | 9.0% | 13.3% |
- Rent is about 17% more expensive in California than in Massachusetts.
- Home prices are about 24% higher in California than in Massachusetts.
- The average income is about 5% lower in California than in Massachusetts.
- Cost of living is 34% lower in California than in Massachusetts.
- California has a higher unemployment rate than Massachusetts by about 38%.
- Sales taxes are 39% higher in California than in Massachusetts.
- Income taxes are 48% higher in California than in Massachusetts.
How life is different in California vs. Massachusetts
California | Massachusetts | |
---|---|---|
Population | 39,029,342 | 7,001,399 |
Political leaning | Democratic 59-41 | Democratic 61.5-36.3 |
Summer high | 87ºF | 82ºF |
Winter low | 59ºF | 16ºF |
Annual rain | 22" | 49" |
Annual snow | 7" | 47" |
Crime index | 28.43 | 13.92 |
- The population of California is approximately 457% greater than the population of Massachusetts.
- In the last presidential election, California voted Democratic and Massachusetts voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in California is 87ºF and in Massachusetts, it’s 82ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, California reaches the temperature of 59ºF and Massachusetts gets down to 16ºF.
- You can expect about 22 inches of annual rainfall in California versus 49 inches of rainfall in Massachusetts.
- In California, it snows about 7 inches annually versus 47 inches of snow in Massachusetts.
- California has a higher crime rate than Massachusetts with a crime index of 28.43 vs. 13.92.
Comparing the pros of Massachusetts vs. California
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in California compared to Massachusetts.
Pros of living in Massachusetts | Pros of living in California |
---|---|
Natural beauty | Ample economic opportunity |
Excellent education system | Pleasant weather |
Delicious seafood | Abundant recreational options |
Bountiful recreational opportunities | High quality of life |
Home to Boston | Fresh and healthy foods |
Comparing the cons of living in Massachusetts vs. California
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 Massachusetts for California.
Cons of living in Massachusetts | Cons of living in California |
---|---|
Bad traffic | High cost of living |
Poor driving conditions | Heavy tax burdens |
Harsh winter weather | Natural disasters |
High cost of living | Terrible traffic |
Peculiar liquor laws | Strange laws |