Best Oakland to San Diego Movers

How Much Do Oakland to San Diego Movers Cost?

Moving 491 miles from Oakland, CA to San Diego, CA will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in San Diego that already have a booked job heading from San Diego to Oakland. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to San Diego from Oakland entirely empty. If you can find a San Diego moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Oakland to San Diego moving option

Hire local Oakland movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire San Diego movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Oakland to San Diego move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Oakland to San Diego movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Oakland, CA to San Diego, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Oakland to San Diego moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 145 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Oakland and San Diego areas.

From these 145 companies, we analyzed a total of 52,492 reviews dating all the way back to December 2006.

We also reviewed a total of 36 state and federal moving licenses from these 145 companies and 570 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~52,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 16,407 Oakland to San Diego moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Little Guy Big Truck Moving) vs older more established companies (like OCD Moving Services LLC).

Hire Trusted Movers

The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Oakland to San Diego moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.54/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 36,857 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.37/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 14,976 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.98/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 9,728 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.85/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 15,760 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.81/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 5,855 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.66/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 18,480 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.02/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 19,910 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.29/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 37,024 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.41/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 20,136 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.87/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 4,206 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.25/10 avg (Oakland & San Diego combined) from 19,074 reviews

From Oakland to San Diego: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Rockridge in Oakland & University Heights in San Diego are both known for their upscale shopping & eateries near campus
• Oakland's Temescal neighborhood & San Diego's North Park both share an artsy vibe & trendy restaurants
• If you're moving from Montclair, check out Rancho Bernardo in the San Diego area for a hilly suburban area with family homes
• Do you enjoy Lake Merritt's waterfront park with outdoor activities? You're sure to love Mission Bay
• Move from Uptown to Gaslamp Quarter and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: bustling nightlife & entertainment district
• Jack London Square & Seaport Village are both known for their historic waterfront dining & shops
• Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood & San Diego's Barrio Logan neighborhood both have vibrant Latino culture & street art
• If you're moving from Grand Lake, look into Little Italy for the popular farmers market & dining scene
• Do you cherish living in Glenview's quiet residential streets with bungalows? Move into Kensington for something similar
• The similar vibes of Pill Hill & Hillcrest are both known for a cluster of medical centers & clinics

Pros and Cons of Moving from Oakland to San Diego

ConsOakland, CA

• Higher crime rates
• More expensive housing
• Less sunny days
• Cooler summers

ProsSan Diego, CA

• Lower crime rates
• More affordable housing
• More sunny days
• Warmer beaches

---

San Diego, CA

• Smaller art scene
• Less diversity
• Less tech opportunities
• More laid-back vibe

Oakland, CA

• Vibrant art scene
• Diverse culture
• Access to tech jobs
• Lively urban vibe

Pros of moving from Oakland to San Diego

• Say goodbye to higher crime rates and hello to lower crime rates
• Look forward to moving away from more expensive housing and moving to San Diego with more affordable housing
• Swap the less sunny days of Oakland for more sunny days in San Diego
• Get ready for warmer beaches in San Diego

Cons of moving from Oakland to San Diego

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant art scene in Oakland to live with a smaller art scene in San Diego
• You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse culture and have to settle for the con of less diversity
• Time to bid farewell to access to tech jobs and get used to fewer tech opportunities in San Diego
• Swap a lively urban vibe for a more laid-back vibe

Oakland vs. San Diego: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Oakland to San Diego, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of Oakland for the equally delicious California Burrito of San Diego. And while the locals in Oakland rave about their flavorful BBQ Brisket and sumptuous Tacos, San Diego residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Fish Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of San Diego. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oakland eateries like Shakewell, Comal, and Souley Vegan. After the boxes are unpacked in San Diego, don't wait too long before making your way to San Diego's acclaimed eateries like Phil's BBQ, Las Cuatras Milpas, and Kindred.

When comparing lifestyles, San Diego shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oakland. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in San Diego compared to what you are used to in Oakland. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in San Diego.

Discover San Diego Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to San Diego is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Oakland favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Commis, Shakewell, and Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, we're sure you'll love Addison, Juniper & Ivy, and Waypoint Public in San Diego. See our San Diego restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Oakland hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at La Farine Bakery, head to Bread & Cie Bakery on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oakland and San Diego

• The Victorian and Modern architecture that Oakland is known for will be replaced with the Spanish and Modern architecture typical of San Diego.
• Compared to Oakland's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to San Francisco and views, San Diego real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to beaches and outdoor living spaces.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; San Diego is less walkable than Oakland.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike; San Diego is more bike-friendly than Oakland.
• San Diego has an equally urban feel to Oakland.
• San Diego housing costs are 27% more expensive than they are in Oakland, with a median home price of $1,021,655 compared to Oakland’s $803,291.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in San Diego have increased by 57% compared to a 7% increase in Oakland.
• Rent in San Diego is 20% more expensive than in Oakland.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in San Diego, CA

1. Ocean Beach : You'll love the dog-friendly atmosphere with a dedicated dog beach where your furry friend can splash and play off-leash.
2. North Park : This hip neighborhood offers many pet-welcoming cafes and parks, making it easy for you to enjoy outings with your pets.
3. Hillcrest : Known for its inclusive culture, you'll find numerous pet-friendly restaurants and bars, along with a welcoming community for your pets.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oakland and San Diego

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oakland to San Diego. San Diego gets 4% more sunshine days than Oakland.
• San Diego has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oakland.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes in Oakland, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in San Diego.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in San Diego is 5 degrees warmer than in Oakland.
• The average winter lows are 5 degrees warmer than they are in Oakland.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in San Diego. San Diego receives 10.8 fewer inches of rain compared to Oakland.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Oakland and San Diego

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in San Diego tend to earn about 13% more than in Oakland
• The COLI in San Diego will be 5% lower than what you are used to living in Oakland
• There's no change in state income tax between Oakland and San Diego
• The affluence in San Diego is high compared to moderate in Oakland
• The poverty level is low in San Diego compared to moderate in Oakland
• In terms of homelessness, it is high in Oakland and moderate in San Diego

Political and Religious Climate in Oakland vs. San Diego

• Oakland tends to lean strongly Democratic in its political climate
• San Diego, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
• San Diego's religious environment can be described as diverse with a significant Catholic presence
• Oakland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and more

Oakland vs. San Diego Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 22% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in San Diego compared to your Oakland daily drive. That's an annual savings of 3,640 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in San Diego to be better than it is in Oakland.
• Public transit is less readily available in San Diego.