($950+) Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA Movers
Moving from Sioux Falls, SD, to Long Beach, CA, runs anywhere from $950 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,816 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,648 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 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 $2,635, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $11,816 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,458 - $5,141, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $950 - $2,628.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Sioux Falls, SD, to Long Beach, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,498 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA
Moving options from Sioux Falls to Long Beach 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 $3,498 - $8,412 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 46% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 71% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,648 miles and typically takes 4 to 15 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,648-mile route from Sioux Falls to Long Beach, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,635 - $6,031, container $1,458 - $2,772, rental truck $950 - $1,899, freight trailer $1,326 - $2,375.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $3,498 - $8,412, container $1,884 - $3,615, rental truck $1,008 - $2,106, freight trailer $1,536 - $2,981.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $6,302 - $11,816, container $2,544 - $5,141, rental truck $1,257 - $2,628, freight trailer $2,055 - $3,952.
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 Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Long Beach, California, costs between $2,635 and $11,816. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,648-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $358 - $2,388, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Sioux Falls and Long Beach. For a rough baseline, movers based in Sioux Falls tend to start around $424 plus $182/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Sioux Falls to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,635 - $6,031
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,498 - $8,412
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,302 - $11,816
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 Sioux Falls to Long Beach.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from South Dakota to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 50% of Sioux Falls movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Long Beach, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing71% of local movers | $597 - $5,970 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready50% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $239 - $1,433/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $358 - $2,866 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage7% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs29% of local movers | $1,194 - $3,582 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,985 - $11,940 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $894 - $1,699 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% nationallyTop pick: Action Moving & Storage, Inc. | $1,194 - $2,985 |
| Piano | Any piano type21% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $955 - $4,179 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $358 - $1,791 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $776 - $2,388 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $358 - $17,910+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $358 - $4,179+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Sioux Falls to Long Beach?
Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Sioux Falls, SD. 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 Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA
Moving containers from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Long Beach, California, cost between $1,458 and $5,141. 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 Sioux Falls typically runs around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Sioux Falls to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,458 - $2,772
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,884 - $3,615
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,544 - $5,141
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 $836 in Sioux Falls, SD. 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 $90 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $179 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 Long Beach, CA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a South Dakota 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 $1,458. 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 $1,884 - $3,615.
What are the best moving containers Sioux Falls to Long Beach?
- 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 Sioux Falls 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 Sioux Falls:
- Movin' On Out Inc (4.4/5), 22 years in business
- Mini Movers Inc (4.0/5), 35 years in business
- MICHAEL JUNK- Junk Removal Services
Moving truck rental costs from Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,648 miles from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Long Beach, California, running $950 - $2,628. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $626 - $716
- Daily insurance: $36/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
- Sioux Falls daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Sioux Falls to Long Beach based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $950 - $1,899
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,008 - $2,106
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,257 - $2,628
Pro tip: A rental truck from Sioux Falls to Long Beach looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $950 - $2,628. But once you factor in fuel ($626 - $716), overnight lodging ($179/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $90 and $418.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $179.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $626 and $716 for the 1,648-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $836 for 2 movers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Sioux Falls to Long Beach?
- 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 Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA
If you're moving a larger household from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Long Beach, California.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,536 and $2,981.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Sioux Falls to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,326 - $2,375
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,536 - $2,981
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,055 - $3,952
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $90 - $179 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for about five hours typically runs $836.
What are the best freight companies from Sioux Falls to Long Beach?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Long Beach 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: Sioux Falls, SD vs Long Beach, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Long Beach, side by side with Sioux Falls on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Sioux Falls, SD | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 91 | 162 |
| Average rent | $1,100/mo | $2,075/mo |
| Median home value | $272,355 | $762,188 |
| Average income | $74,714/yr | $83,969/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 38/100 | 73/100 |
| Safety index | 57.17/100 | 41.42/100 |
| Air quality | Good | 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 Long Beach, CA to Sioux Falls, SD guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from South Dakota 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 27 movers in our South Dakota network to compare for this 1,648-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,648-mile route from Sioux Falls, SD, to Long Beach, CA, run $2,635 - $11,816 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,458 - $5,141, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $950 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,498, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include UTi Worldwide and Molina Healthcare.
FAQs: Moving from Sioux Falls, SD, to Long Beach, 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 is the best time of year to move from Sioux Falls, SD to Long Beach, CA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($626 - $716), daily insurance ($36/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $24) on top. Overnight stops can add another $179/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Long Beach?
Long Beach has a walkability score of 73 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 70, compared to 38 and 46 in Sioux Falls. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Sioux Falls movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 21% of movers in Sioux Falls handle piano moves, compared to 41% nationally.