Best San Francisco to Los Angeles Movers

How Much Do San Francisco to Los Angeles Movers Cost?

Moving 382 miles from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 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 Los Angeles that already have a booked job heading from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Los Angeles from San Francisco entirely empty. If you can find a Los Angeles moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper San Francisco to Los Angeles moving option

Hire local San Francisco 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 Los Angeles movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this San Francisco to Los Angeles 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles 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 San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the San Francisco to Los Angeles moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 203 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas.

From these 203 companies, we analyzed a total of 88,733 reviews dating all the way back to August 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 55 state and federal moving licenses from these 203 companies and 722 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~88,000 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 38,935 San Francisco to Los Angeles 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 Sweet Lemon Moving Services) vs older more established companies (like Pure Moving Company).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.78/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 61,822 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.59/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 22,809 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.16/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 14,572 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.17/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 22,758 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.13/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 8,576 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.97/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 32,582 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.11/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 33,401 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.60/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 61,065 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.66/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 33,041 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.18/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 5,255 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.54/10 avg (San Francisco & Los Angeles combined) from 32,201 reviews

From San Francisco to Los Angeles: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• SoMa in San Francisco & Arts District in Los Angeles are both known for their: tech startups & loft living
• San Francisco's Mission District neighborhood & Los Angeles' Echo Park both share: Latino culture, murals & nightlife
• If you're moving from Hayes Valley, check out Venice in the Los Angeles area for the: boutiques, cafés & artsy vibe
• Do you enjoy Pacific Heights' upscale homes & scenic streets? You're sure to love Brentwood
• Move from Chinatown to Chinatown and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: historic district & cultural eateries
• Nob Hill & Los Feliz are both known for their: historic charm & hillside views
• San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood & Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills neighborhood both have: steep terrain & city vistas
• If you're moving from Marina District, look into Marina del Rey for the: waterfront living & boating scene
• Do you cherish living in Castro's lgbtq+ friendly & vibrant nightlife? Move into West Hollywood for something similar
• The similar vibes of Noe Valley & Sherman Oaks are both known for: family-friendly & tree-lined streets

Pros and Cons of Moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles

ConsSan Francisco, CA

• Higher Cost of Living
• Cooler Climate
• Smaller Beaches
• Steep Hills
• Less Diverse Cuisine

ProsLos Angeles, CA

• More Affordable
• Warmer Weather
• Larger Beaches
• Flatter Terrain
• More Diverse Cuisine

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Los Angeles, CA

• Less Tech Opportunities
• More Spread Out
• Varied Nightlife
• Fewer Historic Sites
• Car-Dependent

San Francisco, CA

• Lively Tech Scene
• Tight-knit Communities
• Bustling Nightlife
• Iconic Landmarks
• Extensive Public Transit

Pros of moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles

• Say goodbye to higher Cost of Living and hello to more Affordable
• Look forward to moving away from cooler Climate and moving to Los Angeles with warmer Weather
• Swap the smaller Beaches of San Francisco for larger Beaches in Los Angeles
• Get ready for flatter Terrain in Los Angeles

Cons of moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lively Tech Scene in San Francisco to live with fewer Tech Opportunities in Los Angeles
• You'll lose out on the pro of tight-knit Communities and have to settle for the con of more Spread Out
• Time to bid farewell to bustling Nightlife and get used to the varied Nightlife in Los Angeles
• Swap iconic Landmarks for fewer Historic Sites

San Francisco vs. Los Angeles: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of San Francisco for the equally delicious Street Tacos of Los Angeles. And while the locals in San Francisco rave about their flavorful Crab Louie and sumptuous Mission Burrito, Los Angeles residents know they have tasty Korean BBQ and Tacos Al Pastor to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Plant-based Burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tacos of Los Angeles. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic San Francisco eateries like Tartine Bakery, Swan Oyster Depot, and Zuni Café. After the boxes are unpacked in Los Angeles, don't wait too long before making your way to Los Angeles' acclaimed eateries like Pizzeria Mozza, Guelaguetza, and In-N-Out Burger.

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

Discover Los Angeles Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Los Angeles is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old San Francisco favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Zuni Café, Tartine Bakery, and Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco, we're sure you'll love Osteria Mozza, Republique, and Connie and Ted's in Los Angeles. See our Los Angeles restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished San Francisco hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Nopa, head to A.O.C. on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between San Francisco and Los Angeles

• The Victorian and Edwardian architecture that San Francisco is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Spanish Revival architecture typical of Los Angeles.
• Compared to San Francisco's real estate listings that commonly reference bay views and rooftop decks, Los Angeles real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and outdoor entertainment areas.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Los Angeles is less walkable than San Francisco.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike as Los Angeles is less bike-friendly than San Francisco.
• Los Angeles has less of an urban feel than San Francisco.
• Los Angeles housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in San Francisco with a median home price of $974,105 compared to San Francisco’s $1,290,678.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Los Angeles have increased by 37% compared to a 4% decrease in San Francisco.
• Rent in Los Angeles is 14.75% more affordable than in San Francisco.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Los Angeles, CA

1. Silver Lake: You and your pet will love Silver Lake's many dog-friendly cafes and the vast green spaces of the Silver Lake Reservoir.
2. West Hollywood: Your furry friend can roam freely in this neighborhood's dog parks and join you in pet-welcoming shops and restaurants.
3. Santa Monica: Enjoy the ocean breeze with your pet as you explore pedestrian-friendly streets and beach paths where dogs are welcome.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between San Francisco and Los Angeles

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Los Angeles gets 10% more sunshine days than San Francisco.
• Los Angeles has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to San Francisco.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and fog in San Francisco and be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Los Angeles.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Los Angeles is 17 degrees warmer than in San Francisco.
• The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in San Francisco.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Los Angeles as it receives 8.9 fewer inches of rain compared to San Francisco.

Financial & Community Snapshot: San Francisco and Los Angeles

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Los Angeles tend to earn about 42% less than in San Francisco
• The COLI in Los Angeles is 17% lower than what you are used to living in San Francisco
• There's no change in state income tax between San Francisco and Los Angeles
• The affluence in Los Angeles is moderate compared to high in San Francisco
• The poverty level is high in Los Angeles compared to moderate in San Francisco
• In terms of homelessness, it is severe in San Francisco and severe in Los Angeles

Political and Religious Climate in San Francisco vs. Los Angeles

• San Francisco tends to lean strongly liberal in its political climate
• Los Angeles, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
• Los Angeles' religious environment can be described as N/A
• San Francisco's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as N/A

San Francisco vs. Los Angeles Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 12% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Los Angeles compared to your San Francisco daily drive. That's an annual savings of 2,080 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Los Angeles to be worse than it is in San Francisco.
• Public transit is less readily available in Los Angeles.