Best San Francisco to Des Moines Movers

How Much Do San Francisco to Des Moines Movers Cost?

Moving 1,841 miles from San Francisco, CA to Des Moines, IA will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 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 Des Moines that already have a booked job heading from Des Moines to San Francisco. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Des Moines from San Francisco entirely empty. If you can find a Des Moines moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper San Francisco to Des Moines 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 Des Moines movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this San Francisco to Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines, IA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 15 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the San Francisco and Des Moines areas.

From these 15 companies, we analyzed a total of 4,314 reviews dating all the way back to August 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 5 state and federal moving licenses from these 15 companies and 69 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~4,000 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 1,475 San Francisco to Des Moines 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 OCD Moving Services LLC) vs older more established companies (like Best Move Inc).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.69/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 2,425 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.37/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 1,008 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.72/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 523 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.43/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 1,121 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.99/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 426 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.04/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 1,101 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.28/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 1,469 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.51/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 2,385 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.70/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 1,490 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.57/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 227 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.52/10 avg (San Francisco & Des Moines combined) from 1,380 reviews

From San Francisco to Des Moines: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Mission District in San Francisco & East Village in Des Moines are both known for their vibrant street art & murals
• San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood & Des Moines' Sherman Hill both share historic Victorian homes & a bohemian vibe
• If you're moving from North Beach, check out Court Avenue District in the Des Moines area for vibrant nightlife & restaurants
• Do you enjoy Nob Hill's boutique shops & trendy dining? You're sure to love East Village
• Move from Marina District to Gray's Lake and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: waterfront parks & boating activities
• Sunset District & Beaverdale are both known for their quiet residential atmosphere & family-friendly environment
• San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood & Des Moines' Downtown neighborhood both have modern high-rises & an urban core

Pros and Cons of Moving from San Francisco to Des Moines

ConsSan Francisco, CA

• High Cost of Living
• Dense Population
• Heavy Traffic
• Less Seasonal Weather

ProsDes Moines, IA

• More Affordable
• Less Crowded
• Lighter Traffic
• Distinct Seasons

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Des Moines, IA

• Less Diversity
• Fewer Tech Jobs
• Colder Winters
• Fewer Landmarks

San Francisco, CA

• Diverse Culture
• Tech Hub
• Marine Climate
• Iconic Landmarks

Pros of moving from San Francisco to Des Moines

• Say goodbye to high Cost of Living and hello to more Affordable
• Look forward to moving away from dense Population and moving to Des Moines with less Crowded
• Swap the heavy Traffic of San Francisco for lighter Traffic in Des Moines
• Get ready for distinct Seasons in Des Moines

Cons of moving from San Francisco to Des Moines

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from diverse Culture in San Francisco to live with less Diversity in Des Moines
• You'll lose out on the pro of tech Hub and have to settle for the con of fewer Tech Jobs
• Time to bid farewell to marine Climate and get used to colder Winters in Des Moines
• Swap iconic Landmarks for fewer Landmarks

San Francisco vs. Des Moines: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from San Francisco to Des Moines, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of San Francisco for the equally delicious Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines. And while the locals in San Francisco rave about their flavorful Cioppino and sumptuous Mission Burrito, Des Moines residents know they have tasty Iowa Chops and 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 Vegan Corn Dogs of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines, don't wait too long before making your way to Des Moines' acclaimed eateries like Aria, Fong's Pizza, and Centro.

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

Discover Des Moines Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Des Moines 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 Quince, Tartine Bakery, and State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, we're sure you'll love Aposto, La Mie Bakery, and Harbinger in Des Moines. See our Des Moines 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 Zuni Café, head to Centro on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between San Francisco and Des Moines

• The Victorian and Modern architecture that San Francisco is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Des Moines.
• Compared to San Francisco's real estate listings that commonly reference views and tech-ready features, Des Moines real estate listings often highlight aspects like family-friendly amenities and spacious backyards.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Des Moines is less walkable than San Francisco.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Des Moines is less bike-friendly than San Francisco.
• Des Moines has less of an urban feel compared to San Francisco.
• Des Moines housing costs are 85% less expensive than they are in San Francisco, with a median home price of $199,739 compared to San Francisco’s $1,290,678.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Des Moines have increased by 38% compared to a 4% decrease in San Francisco.
• Rent in Des Moines is 67.37% more affordable than in San Francisco.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Des Moines, IA

1. Beaverdale: You’ll love the abundance of parks and walking trails that make it easy to keep your furry friends active and happy.
2. Ingersoll Park: With pet-friendly cafes and easy access to local dog parks, you and your pet can enjoy everything the community has to offer.
3. Waveland Park: You’re never far from open spaces and trails, making it convenient for daily walks and outdoor pet activities.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between San Francisco and Des Moines

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from San Francisco to Des Moines. Des Moines gets 21% fewer sunshine days than San Francisco.
• Des Moines has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to San Francisco.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes in San Francisco, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Des Moines.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Des Moines is 19 degrees warmer than in San Francisco.
• The average winter lows in Des Moines are 28 degrees colder than those in San Francisco.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Des Moines. Des Moines receives 15.4 more inches of rain compared to San Francisco.

Financial & Community Snapshot: San Francisco and Des Moines

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Des Moines tend to earn about 50% less than those in San Francisco
• The COLI in Des Moines is 45% lower than what you are used to living in San Francisco
• The state income tax in IA is 8.53 compared to 13.3 in CA
• The affluence in Des Moines is moderate compared to very high in San Francisco
• The poverty level is lower in Des Moines compared to low in San Francisco
• In terms of homelessness, it is high in San Francisco and lower in Des Moines

Political and Religious Climate in San Francisco vs. Des Moines

• San Francisco tends to lean Liberal in its political climate
• Des Moines, on the other hand, is often described as more balanced with a mix of liberal and conservative views
• Des Moines' religious environment can be described as having higher religiosity and a Christian majority
• San Francisco's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as more secular with diverse religious communities

San Francisco vs. Des Moines Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 44% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Des Moines compared to your San Francisco daily drive. That's an annual savings of 7,800 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Des Moines to be better than it is in San Francisco.
• Public transit is less readily available in Des Moines.