Moving costs in Los Angeles
What a long-distance move out of Los Angeles, CA actually costs, by home size, by destination, and by the month you choose to move.
A typical 2-bedroom long-distance move from Los Angeles costs $3,700–$5,900: that is the figure for Austin, at 1,375 miles. Shorter moves start lower and cross-country runs higher. Moving in January rather than July saves about $1,650.
How much does it cost to move out of Los Angeles by home size?
Below is a full breakdown for the Los Angeles to Austin corridor at 1,375 miles, a representative mid-range long-distance move from this market.
| Home size | Typical volume | Full-service cost | Add full packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 300 cu ft | $1,850–$3,000 | +$150–$400 |
| 1 bedroom | 450 cu ft | $2,450–$3,950 | +$250–$600 |
| 2 bedrooms | 800 cu ft | $3,700–$5,900 | +$450–$1,100 |
| 3 bedrooms | 1,200 cu ft | $5,100–$8,150 | +$650–$1,600 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 1,700 cu ft | $6,250–$10,050 | +$950–$2,300 |
Planning estimates built from published industry cost ranges, not from completed-move records.
What does distance do to the price?
More than any other single factor. Here is the same 2-bedroom move to every common destination from Los Angeles.
| Route | Miles | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom | 4+ bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas | 270 | $2,900–$4,650 | $3,950–$6,400 | $4,900–$7,900 |
| Los Angeles to Phoenix | 372 | $2,900–$4,650 | $3,950–$6,400 | $4,900–$7,900 |
| Los Angeles to Dallas | 1,435 | $3,700–$5,900 | $5,100–$8,150 | $6,250–$10,050 |
| Los Angeles to Austin | 1,375 | $3,700–$5,900 | $5,100–$8,150 | $6,250–$10,050 |
| Los Angeles to Denver | 1,015 | $3,700–$5,900 | $5,100–$8,150 | $6,250–$10,050 |
| Los Angeles to Salt Lake City | 690 | $3,700–$5,900 | $5,100–$8,150 | $6,250–$10,050 |
| Los Angeles to Nashville | 2,000 | $4,200–$6,800 | $5,800–$9,400 | $7,150–$11,550 |
| Los Angeles to Tampa | 2,480 | $4,200–$6,800 | $5,800–$9,400 | $7,150–$11,550 |
When is the cheapest time to move from Los Angeles?
January, February, March and November are cheapest; May, June, July and August are the most expensive.
The reason is simply demand. Between May and September nearly every household with school-age children moves at once, while crew and trailer capacity stays fixed. If your dates are flexible by even a few weeks, shifting out of peak season is the largest single saving available to you, larger than any discount you will negotiate.
What makes a Los Angeles move cost more than the estimate?
Almost always access, volume or timing. The Los Angeles-specific access issues are worth knowing before you get quoted.
- Most Los Angeles residential streets require a temporary no-parking posting from LADOT before a moving truck can legally hold curb space, and it has to be put up days in advance. A carrier who has not raised this has not planned your move.
- The hillside neighborhoods, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Laurel Canyon and the Hollywood Hills, have narrow winding streets with no turnaround. A 53-foot trailer physically cannot reach most of these addresses, so a shuttle truck is the norm rather than an upcharge.
- Downtown, Century City and Westside high-rises require a reserved freight elevator and a certificate of insurance filed with building management, typically a week ahead.
- Santa Monica and Beverly Hills restrict commercial loading hours and enforce them. A crew that arrives outside the window waits, and you pay for the waiting.
- Crews schedule around the 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm traffic peaks. A load that would take four hours anywhere else routinely takes six here, and an honest quote says so up front.
Los Angeles moving costs: common questions
How much does a long-distance move from Los Angeles, CA cost?
Long-distance moves from Los Angeles, CA generally run from about $2,900 for a nearby state to well over $10,000 for a cross-country move with a large home. Cost is driven by three things: how much you are moving, how far it is going, and what month you move. The shortest common route from Los Angeles is to Las Vegas, at about 270 miles.
Where do most people move to from Los Angeles, CA?
The most common long-distance destinations from Los Angeles, CA are Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, AZ, Dallas, TX and Austin, TX. Housing costs, both purchase and rent, against states where the same money buys a paid-off house is the most frequently cited reason locally.
When is the cheapest time to move out of Los Angeles?
January, February, March and November are the cheapest months to move out of Los Angeles, and May, June, July and August the most expensive. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive month is around 25% on most routes, which on a typical long-distance move is worth well over a thousand dollars.
How do I check that a Los Angeles moving company is legitimate?
Ask for their USDOT number and look it up at the FMCSA carrier lookup before paying anything. Confirm the record says "Carrier" rather than "Broker", that operating status is authorised, and that the company name matches the one on your quote. A mover who will not give you a DOT number is not one to hire.
Do movers in Los Angeles charge extra for difficult access?
Yes, and it is the most common surprise on a Los Angeles move. Most Los Angeles residential streets require a temporary no-parking posting from LADOT before a moving truck can legally hold curb space, and it has to be put up days in advance. A carrier who has not raised this has not planned your move. Any quote given without asking about truck access at both ends is not a real quote.
Get a real Los Angeles moving quote
A binding estimate from a licensed carrier, not a broker handing your move to whoever bids lowest.