Best Oakland to Charleston Movers

How Much Do Oakland to Charleston Movers Cost?

Moving 2,892 miles from Oakland, CA to Charleston, SC will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,500 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 Charleston that already have a booked job heading from Charleston to Oakland. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Charleston from Oakland entirely empty. If you can find a Charleston moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Oakland to Charleston 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 Charleston movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Oakland to Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston, SC long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 17 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Oakland and Charleston areas.

From these 17 companies, we analyzed a total of 4,712 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 6 state and federal moving licenses from these 17 companies and 78 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 949 Oakland to Charleston 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 Upline Moving).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.72/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 2,889 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.43/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 1,079 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.05/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 551 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.70/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 1,204 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.08/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 468 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.85/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 1,244 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.17/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 1,768 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.33/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 2,877 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.64/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 1,795 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

3.93/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 311 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.05/10 avg (Oakland & Charleston combined) from 1,535 reviews

From Oakland to Charleston: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Rockridge in Oakland & Cannonborough/Elliottborough in Charleston are both known for their: boutique shops & eateries, walkable vibe
• Oakland's Temescal neighborhood & Charleston's Cannonborough/Elliottborough both share: local breweries, art galleries & street culture
• If you're moving from Lake Merritt, check out Downtown Charleston in the Charleston area for the: waterfront park & scenic promenades
• Do you enjoy Uptown's theaters, cultural venues & nightlife? You're sure to love Downtown Charleston
• Move from Montclair to Mount Pleasant and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: family-friendly suburbs with good schools
• Jack London Square & Mount Pleasant are both known for their: waterfront dining & marina recreation
• Oakland's Glenview neighborhood & Charleston's West Ashley neighborhood both have: affordable mid-century homes and leafy streets
• If you're moving from Fruitvale, look into North Charleston for the: diverse communities & accessible transit

Pros and Cons of Moving from Oakland to Charleston

ConsOakland, CA

• High cost of living
• Heavy traffic
• Earthquake risk
• High crime rates
• Foggy weather

ProsCharleston, SC

• Lower cost of living
• Less congested roads
• Milder natural disasters
• Lower crime rates
• Sunny, warm climate

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Charleston, SC

• Lesser cultural diversity
• Less food variety
• Fewer tech jobs
• Limited public transport
• No bay landscapes

Oakland, CA

• Diverse culture
• Renowned food scene
• Rich tech opportunities
• Public transport options
• Scenic bay views

Pros of moving from Oakland to Charleston

• Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
• Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Charleston with less congested roads
• Swap the earthquake risk of Oakland for milder natural disasters in Charleston
• Get ready for lower crime rates in Charleston

Cons of moving from Oakland to Charleston

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse culture in Oakland to live with lesser cultural diversity in Charleston
• You'll lose out on the pro of a renowned food scene and have to settle with the con of less food variety
• Time to bid farewell to rich tech opportunities and get used to fewer tech jobs in Charleston
• Swap public transport options for limited public transport

Oakland vs. Charleston: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Oakland to Charleston, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of Oakland for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of Charleston. And while the locals in Oakland rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Tacos, Charleston residents know they have tasty She-crab Soup and Hot Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Ramen they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard Greens of Charleston. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oakland eateries like Chez Panisse, Commis, and Homeroom. After the boxes are unpacked in Charleston, don't wait too long before making your way to Charleston's acclaimed eateries like Husk, The Macintosh, and FIG.

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

Discover Charleston Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Charleston 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, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and Homeroom in Oakland, we're sure you'll love FIG, Martha Lou's Kitchen, and The Macintosh in Charleston. See our Charleston restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Oakland hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Cholita Linda, head to Taco Boy on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oakland and Charleston

• The Craftsman and Modern architecture that Oakland is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Georgian architecture typical of Charleston.
• Compared to Oakland's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to public transit, Charleston real estate listings often highlight features like historic charm.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Charleston is less walkable than Oakland.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Charleston is less bike-friendly than Oakland.
• Charleston has less of an urban feel than Oakland.
• Charleston housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in Oakland, with a median home price of $550,371 compared to Oakland’s $803,291.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Charleston have increased by 64% compared to a 7% increase in Oakland.
• Rent in Charleston is 11.72% more affordable than in Oakland.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Charleston, SC

1. Mount Pleasant : You’ll love the abundance of parks and walking trails, perfect for enjoying quality time with your pet in a serene coastal environment.
2. West Ashley : Your furry friend will enjoy the spacious yards and proximity to numerous pet-friendly parks and open spaces.
3. North Charleston : You and your pets will appreciate the variety of pet-friendly apartments and the community's ongoing efforts to create welcoming environments for animals.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oakland and Charleston

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Oakland to Charleston. Charleston gets 18% fewer sunshine days than Oakland.
• Charleston has higher 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 hurricanes in Charleston.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Charleston is 16 degrees warmer than in Oakland.
• The average winter lows are 7 degrees colder than they are in Oakland.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Charleston. Charleston receives 26 more inches of rain compared to Oakland.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Oakland and Charleston

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Charleston tend to earn about 10% less than in Oakland
• The COLI in Charleston is 29% lower than what you are used to living in Oakland
• The state income tax in SC is 7% compared to 9.3% in CA
• The affluence in Charleston is moderate compared to the wealthy in Oakland
• The poverty level is moderate in Charleston compared to significant poverty in Oakland
• In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Oakland and low in Charleston

Political and Religious Climate in Oakland vs. Charleston

• Oakland tends to lean predominantly Liberal in its political climate
• Charleston, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Conservative
• Charleston's religious environment can be described as having a strong religious presence, mainly in Christian denominations
• Oakland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a notable secular and spiritual community

Oakland vs. Charleston Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 24% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Charleston compared to your daily drive in Oakland. That's an annual savings of 4160 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Charleston to be better than it is in Oakland.
• Public transit is less readily available in Charleston.