Moving from Los Angeles, California to San Francisco, California — Cost & Distance (2026)
Los Angeles, California → San Francisco, California · ~434 modeled miles one-way. Full-service, container, and DIY estimates, plus what to check before you book.
Three ways to make this move
| Option | Typical 2-BR cost | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service movers (2–3 BR, ~5,000–7,500 lb) | $665–$2,076 | Load, transport, unload; packing extra. |
| Moving container (load yourself) | $1,374–$3,139 | Container dropped at door, transported, delivered. |
| DIY rental truck | $584–$821 | You drive; add fuel stops, meals, hotels. |
Full-service cost breakdown (2-bedroom)
| Line item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Linehaul transport (434 mi @ $0.5–$1.2/mi) | $217–$521 |
| Fuel surcharge (4% of linehaul, EIA diesel) | $9–$21 |
| Load & unload labor (est. 5,000 lb shipment) | $439–$1,534 |
| Total | $665–$2,076 |
Interstate move estimate for ~5,000 lb. Excludes packing, FVP insurance, and storage. Fuel uses EIA national on-highway diesel (methodology.json).
Seasonality & money-saving levers
- Book mid-month, mid-week — Tuesday–Thursday starts cost 15–25% less on high-volume lanes like this one.
- Declutter before you weigh — interstate rates are per-pound; every 500 lb saved cuts roughly $300–$500.
- Pack yourself — full packing adds 20–30% to the bill on long-distance moves.
- Vehicle shipping — open-carrier auto transport on this lane runs about $900–$1,400 (published 2026 benchmark), often cheaper than adding mileage to a rental truck.
License & regulation check (both states)
Interstate: every carrier needs a USDOT number — verify at safer.fmcsa.gov and check complaints via FMCSA (1-888-368-7238).
California: California Department of Consumer Affairs — Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) — full California moving guide →
California: California Department of Consumer Affairs — Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) — full California moving guide →
Moving within the destination city
Once you arrive in San Francisco, a local in-town move is priced by the hour. See the dedicated local estimate: San Francisco, California local moving costs →.
Other moves from Los Angeles
- Move from Los Angeles to New York City, New York →
- Move from Los Angeles to Chicago, Illinois →
- Move from Los Angeles to Houston, Texas →
- Move from Los Angeles to Phoenix, Arizona →
- Move from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania →
- Move from Los Angeles to San Antonio, Texas →
Your move-day essentials
8-Week Moving Checklist → · Long-Distance Budget Worksheet → · Moving Scam Card →
● Modeled estimates · data retrieved 2026-08-29
Distance shown is a modeled estimate (great-circle × 1.25 road factor) for planning only; actual driving distance varies by route. Cost figures are model estimates from public data (BLS, EIA, FMCSA, Census), not quotes. City coordinates from the U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (approximate metropolitan-area centroids). Distances are computed as great-circle (haversine) and scaled by a 1.25 road-detour factor to approximate driving distance; they are MODELED estimates for planning only and are labeled as such on every page. No moving-cost figures are invented — all dollar amounts use ReloFig's transparent pricing model (BLS/EIA) with the destination city's real region/COL tier.