($915+) McAllen, TX to San Diego, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from McAllen, TX to San Diego, CA

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,515-mile move from McAllen, Texas, to San Diego, California, with prices running from $2,254 - $9,536. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $323 - $2,152 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between McAllen and San Diego are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, McAllen movers tend to run around $160 as a base rate plus $80/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from McAllen to San Diego:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,254 - $5,533
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,071 - $7,116
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,668 - $9,536

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 McAllen to San Diego.

Specialty moving services from McAllen, TX to San Diego, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 57% of McAllen movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Diego, 100% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from McAllen to San Diego?

All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Moving container costs from McAllen, TX to San Diego, CA

Moving containers from McAllen, Texas, to San Diego, California, cost between $1,474 and $4,954. 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 McAllen typically runs around $55/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from McAllen to San Diego:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,474 - $2,791
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,810 - $3,710
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,463 - $4,954

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both McAllen, TX and San Diego, CA. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
• Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $753 in McAllen, TX, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $81 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $161 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
• Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.

What are the best moving containers McAllen to San Diego?

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

Moving truck rental costs from McAllen, TX to San Diego, CA

A rental truck for this 1,515-mile move from McAllen, Texas, to San Diego, California, costs between $982 and $2,603. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $519 - $593
• Daily insurance: $32/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
• McAllen daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.69

These are typical moving truck rental costs from McAllen to San Diego based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $982 - $1,882
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,062 - $2,152
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,285 - $2,603

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $519 - $593 for the 1,515-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in McAllen, Texas, for about 5 hours typically costs around $753.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 1,515-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $161 per night, adding $323 - $484 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $54 and $323.

What are the best moving truck rentals from McAllen to San Diego?

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 McAllen, TX to San Diego, CA

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from McAllen, Texas, to San Diego, California, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.

What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,552 and $2,877.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from McAllen to San Diego:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,262 - $2,560
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,552 - $2,877
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,092 - $4,165

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In McAllen, Texas, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $753.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $81 - $161 per additional foot to your total.
• Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from McAllen to San Diego?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
3. Royal Freight Lp (4.66/5 stars): Royal Freight Lp is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.

Cost of living: McAllen, TX vs San Diego, CA

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

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.