Best San Francisco to Seattle Movers

How Much Do San Francisco to Seattle Movers Cost?

Moving 811 miles from San Francisco, CA to Seattle, WA will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 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 Seattle that already have a booked job heading from Seattle to San Francisco. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Seattle from San Francisco entirely empty. If you can find a Seattle moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

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

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 33 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the San Francisco and Seattle areas.

From these 33 companies, we analyzed a total of 14,378 reviews dating all the way back to August 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 21 state and federal moving licenses from these 33 companies and 166 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~14,000 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 3,049 San Francisco to Seattle 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 Seattle Moves & More) vs older more established companies (like Careful Movers).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.57/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 8,883 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.38/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 3,317 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.51/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 1,611 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.78/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 3,544 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.80/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 1,385 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.82/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 4,223 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.16/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 5,202 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.29/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 8,849 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.46/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 5,139 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.81/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 951 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.32/10 avg (San Francisco & Seattle combined) from 4,484 reviews

From San Francisco to Seattle: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Mission District in San Francisco & Capitol Hill in Seattle are both known for their vibrant nightlife & street art
• San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood & Seattle's South Lake Union both share a tech hub & modern high-rises
• If you're moving from Castro, check out Capitol Hill in the Seattle area for the LGBTQ-friendly community & nightlife
• Do you enjoy Haight-Ashbury's bohemian vibes & public art? You're sure to love Fremont
• Move from North Beach to Ballard and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: waterfront dining & historic charm
• Pacific Heights & Queen Anne are both known for their upscale homes & scenic views
• San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood & Seattle's Belltown neighborhood both have restaurant row & boutique hotels
• If you're moving from Sunset District, look into West Seattle for family-friendly options & beach access
• Do you cherish living in Richmond District's diverse cuisine & residential feel? Move into Beacon Hill for something similar
• The similar vibes of Financial District & South Lake Union are both known for corporate high-rises & office space

Pros and Cons of Moving from San Francisco to Seattle

ConsSan Francisco, CA

• High living costs
• Dense traffic
• Foggy weather

ProsSeattle, WA

• More affordable
• Less congestion
• More greenery

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Seattle, WA

• Rainy days
• Less sunshine
• Smaller tech scene

San Francisco, CA

• Vibrant tech scene
• Iconic landmarks
• Cultural diversity

Pros of moving from San Francisco to Seattle

• Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to more affordable
• Look forward to moving away from dense traffic and moving to Seattle with less congestion
• Swap the foggy weather of San Francisco for more greenery in Seattle

Cons of moving from San Francisco to Seattle

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant tech scene in San Francisco to live with rainy days in Seattle
• You'll lose out on the pro of iconic landmarks and have to settle for the con of less sunshine
• Time to bid farewell to cultural diversity and get used to a smaller tech scene in Seattle

San Francisco vs. Seattle: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from San Francisco to Seattle, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of San Francisco for the equally delicious Salmon of Seattle. And while the locals in San Francisco rave about their flavorful Cioppino and sumptuous Mission Burrito, Seattle residents know they have tasty Teriyaki and Hot Dog 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 Pho of Seattle. 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 Nopalito. After the boxes are unpacked in Seattle, don't wait too long before making your way to Seattle's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and Loulay Kitchen & Bar.

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

Discover Seattle Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Seattle 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 Chez Panisse, Zuni Café, and Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco, we're sure you'll love Canlis, Poppy, and The Walrus and the Carpenter in Seattle. See our Seattle 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 Tartine Bakery, head to Bakery Nouveau on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between San Francisco and Seattle

• The Victorian and Edwardian architecture that San Francisco is known for will be replaced with the Contemporary and Craftsman architecture typical of Seattle.
• Compared to San Francisco's real estate listings that commonly reference bay views and rooftop decks, Seattle real estate listings often highlight features like park access and green technology.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Seattle is less walkable than San Francisco.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Seattle is less bike-friendly than San Francisco.
• Seattle has less of an urban feel than San Francisco.
• Seattle housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in San Francisco, with a median home price of $879,412 compared to San Francisco’s $1,290,678.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Seattle have increased by 20% compared to a 4% decrease in San Francisco.
• Rent in Seattle is 33.03% more affordable than in San Francisco.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle, WA

1. Ballard : You'll appreciate the walkability and numerous pet-friendly cafes and parks, like the popular Golden Gardens Park, perfect for walks by the beach with your furry friend.
2. Capitol Hill : This vibrant neighborhood is known for its many pet-friendly apartments and businesses, as well as off-leash dog parks where your pet can socialize and play.
3. West Seattle : You will love the expansive Alki Beach and Lincoln Park, both offering beautiful views and plenty of open space for walking and playing with your pet.

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

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from San Francisco to Seattle. Seattle gets 41% fewer sunshine days than San Francisco.
• Seattle has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to San Francisco.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and fog in San Francisco, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Seattle.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Seattle is 7 degrees warmer than in San Francisco.
• The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in San Francisco.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Seattle. Seattle receives 13.8 more inches of rain compared to San Francisco.

Financial & Community Snapshot: San Francisco and Seattle

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Seattle tend to earn about 9% less than those in San Francisco
• The COLI in Seattle is 26% lower than what you are used to living in San Francisco
• Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
• The affluence in Seattle is high compared to that in San Francisco
• The poverty level is moderate in Seattle compared to low in San Francisco
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in San Francisco and significant in Seattle

Political and Religious Climate in San Francisco vs. Seattle

• San Francisco tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
• Seattle, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
• Seattle's religious environment can be described as diverse with a significant presence of Christianity, Buddhism, and non-religious groups
• San Francisco's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, including Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and others

San Francisco vs. Seattle Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 18% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Seattle compared to your daily drive in San Francisco. That's an annual savings of 3,120 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Seattle to be better than it is in San Francisco.
• Public transit is less readily available in Seattle.