($1,450) Cost of Moving From Maryland to California
Quick answer: The average cost to move from Maryland to California ranges from $1,966 to $8,871 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 Maryland guide.
Our track record
The best Maryland to California full-service movers
Moving from Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc.: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- 495 Movers, Inc: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Helix Transfer and Storage: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Olympia Moving & Storage: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Von Paris Moving & Storage: 4.86 out of 5 stars
Zip Moving And Storage, Inc.

DOT #: 3306591
Pricing: $125/hr
Years in Business: 9
20 Southlawn CT, STE A, Rockville, MD 20850Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. has been a trusted provider of local residential moving services in Gaithersburg, MD, since 2016. Renowned for their exceptional customer service, they boast an average 4.5-star rating on Yelp and 4.8 stars on Google, alongside an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They offer comprehensive services, including packing, unpacking, and crating, and can handle delicate items like pianos, art, and antiques. With a competitive rate of $125 per hour for local moves, Zip Moving And Storage stands out among nearby competitors for their reliability and wide-ranging expertise.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 3306591
- State license #: 2586700
495 Movers, Inc

DOT #: 1893270
Years in Business: 15
640 Lofstrand Ln, Rockville, MD 20850495 Movers, Inc, based in Rockville, MD, has been offering reliable local residential moving services since 2010. Renowned for their professionalism and efficiency, they outrank many nearby competitors with outstanding consumer feedback, boasting a 4.1-star average on Yelp and an impressive 4.7 on Google, alongside an A+ BBB rating. Apart from local moves, they also provide office moving, packing and unpacking services, and are capable of handling specialty items like pianos and antiques. Accepting various payment methods and requiring no deposit, they further ensure peace of mind with full valuation insurance coverage and shipment tracking.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1893270
- State license #: 1893270
- DOD certified
Helix Transfer and Storage

DOT #: 2358272
Years in Business: 12
8425 Helgerman Ct, Gaithersburg, MD 20877Helix Transfer and Storage has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Gaithersburg, MD since 2013. With glowing consumer reviews—averaging 4.4 stars on Yelp and 4.9 stars on Google—this company stands out for its reliability and professionalism. Helix offers comprehensive services, including local and long-distance moves, packing and unpacking services, and even specialized moving for items like pianos and antiques. With a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, Helix Transfer and Storage surpasses many nearby moving companies in customer satisfaction and service breadth.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2358272
- State license #: 2358272
Alternative Business Names
- Helix Transfer and Storage Northern Virginia
Olympia Moving & Storage

DOT #: 70719
Years in Business: 32
4814 Frolich Ln, Hyattsville, MD 20781Olympia Moving & Storage has been a trusted provider of local residential moving services in and around Hyattsville, MD, since 1994. With a solid reputation backed by 149 Yelp reviews averaging 4.1 stars, 326 Google reviews averaging 4.6 stars, and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, they stand out among nearby competitors. In addition to local moves, they offer packing and unpacking services, storage options, and the capability to move delicate items like pianos and antiques. Olympia Moving & Storage accepts credit cards and offers full valuation insurance coverage, ensuring peace of mind throughout the moving process.
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
Von Paris Moving & Storage

DOT #: 070851
Years in Business: 133
8691 Larkin Road, Savage, MD 20763Von Paris Moving & Storage has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Savage, MD since 1893. While their Yelp reviews are mixed, with an average rating of 2.5, their Google My Business profile boasts a strong 4.7-star average from 265 reviews, complemented by an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Compared to other nearby moving companies, Von Paris stands out with its long history and a wide array of services, including office moving, packing, and specialized moving services for pianos and antiques. Additionally, they offer convenient payment options and do not require a deposit, making them a flexible choice for local moves.
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
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 070851
Alternative Business Names
- Von Paris Moving & Storage, Inc.
- Von Paris Moving & Storage
- B Von Paris Moving & Storage
- Commercial Relocation Systems
- CRS
Local Associations
The best Maryland 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 Maryland and drop it off at your new home in California.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
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The best Maryland to California moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland to California:
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How we chose the best moving companies for your MD to CA move
How much does it cost to move from Maryland to California?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Maryland to California for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,450 - $5,990 | $1,713 - $4,353 | $1,797 - $3,702 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,508 - $8,871 | $3,069 - $6,345 | $1,966 - $4,320 |
4+ bedrooms | $7,977 - $13,885 | $4,191 - $9,089 | $2,613 - $5,356 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,783 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 Maryland to California
Cost of moving containers from Maryland to California
Cost of moving truck rentals from Maryland to California
Factors affecting the cost of moving from MD to CA
What to know before moving from MD to CA
If you’re moving to California from Maryland, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: Maryland vs. California
Maryland | California | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,598 | $1,856 |
Average home cost | $418,438 | $771,057 |
Average income (per capita) | $98,461 | $91,905 |
Cost of Living Index | 100 | 134 |
Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 5.4% |
Average Sales Tax | 6.0% | 8.68% |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 13.3% |
- Rent is about 16% more expensive in California than in Maryland.
- Home prices are about 84% higher in California than in Maryland.
- The average income is about 7% lower in California than in Maryland.
- Cost of living is 34% lower in California than in Maryland.
- California has a higher unemployment rate than Maryland by about 80%.
- Sales taxes are 45% higher in California than in Maryland.
- Income taxes are 131% higher in California than in Maryland.
How life is different in California vs. Maryland
California | Maryland | |
---|---|---|
Population | 39,029,342 | 6,180,253 |
Political leaning | Democratic 59-41 | Democratic 63-34.4 |
Summer high | 87ºF | 87ºF |
Winter low | 59ºF | 25ºF |
Annual rain | 22" | 44" |
Annual snow | 7" | 19" |
Crime index | 28.43 | 20.34 |
- The population of California is approximately 532% greater than the population of Maryland.
- In the last presidential election, California voted Democratic and Maryland voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in California is 87ºF and in Maryland, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, California reaches the temperature of 59ºF and Maryland gets down to 25ºF.
- You can expect about 22 inches of annual rainfall in California versus 44 inches of rainfall in Maryland.
- In California, it snows about 7 inches annually versus 19 inches of snow in Maryland.
- California has a higher crime rate than Maryland with a crime index of 28.43 vs. 20.34.
Comparing the pros of Maryland 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 Maryland.
Pros of living in Maryland | Pros of living in California |
---|---|
Delicious food | Ample economic opportunity |
Ample economic opportunity | Pleasant weather |
Diverse outdoor activities | Abundant recreational options |
Beautiful coastline | High quality of life |
Rich history | Fresh and healthy foods |
Comparing the cons of living in Maryland 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 Maryland for California.
Cons of living in Maryland | Cons of living in California |
---|---|
High cost of living | High cost of living |
Bad traffic | Heavy tax burdens |
High crime | Natural disasters |
High homelessness | Terrible traffic |
Peculiar alcohol laws | Strange laws |