Best San Francisco to Madison Movers

How Much Do San Francisco to Madison Movers Cost?

Moving 2,106 miles from San Francisco, CA to Madison, WI will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 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 Madison that already have a booked job heading from Madison to San Francisco. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Madison from San Francisco entirely empty. If you can find a Madison moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

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

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 26 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the San Francisco and Madison areas.

From these 26 companies, we analyzed a total of 6,270 reviews dating all the way back to August 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 23 state and federal moving licenses from these 26 companies and 123 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~6,000 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 2,161 San Francisco to Madison 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 The Go To Guys, LLC) 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 Madison 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 (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 3,942 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.25/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 1,468 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.82/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 814 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.79/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 1,644 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.66/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 603 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.85/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 1,782 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.04/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 2,320 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.31/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 3,906 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.41/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 2,300 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.81/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 371 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.16/10 avg (San Francisco & Madison combined) from 2,055 reviews

From San Francisco to Madison: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Pacific Heights in San Francisco & Shorewood Hills in Madison are both known for their affluent residential, scenic hilltop views
• San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood & Madison's Shorewood Hills both share upscale homes, elevated topography
• If you're moving from Marina District, check out Maple Bluff in the Madison area for waterfront living, luxury properties
• Do you enjoy Russian Hill's elevated views and exclusive residences? You're sure to love Maple Bluff
• Move from Noe Valley to University Hill Farms and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: family-oriented, suburban feel
• Inner Sunset & Nakoma are both known for their quiet residential atmosphere and proximity to parks
• San Francisco's Mission District neighborhood & Madison's Willy Street neighborhood both have vibrant local culture and eclectic eateries
• If you're moving from Castro, look into Willy Street for its LGBTQ+ friendly atmosphere and lively nightlife
• Do you cherish living in Haight-Ashbury's historic homes, indie shops, and breweries? Move into Tenney-Lapham for something similar
• The similar vibes of SoMa & Downtown are both known for their urban core and mixed-use tech and nightlife

Pros and Cons of Moving from San Francisco to Madison

ConsSan Francisco, CA

• High living costs
• Dense population
• Frequent fog
• Less green space

ProsMadison, WI

• More affordable housing
• Smaller community feel
• Four distinct seasons
• Abundant parks and lakes

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Madison, WI

• Smaller cultural scene
• Fewer tech opportunities
• Lesser-known attractions
• Quieter nightlife

San Francisco, CA

• Cultural diversity
• Tech job hub
• Iconic landmarks
• Vibrant nightlife

Pros of moving from San Francisco to Madison

• Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to more affordable housing
• Look forward to moving away from dense population and moving to Madison with a smaller community feel
• Swap the frequent fog of San Francisco for four distinct seasons in Madison
• Get ready for abundant parks and lakes in Madison

Cons of moving from San Francisco to Madison

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in San Francisco to live with a smaller cultural scene in Madison
• You'll lose out on the pro of being a tech job hub and have to settle for the con of fewer tech opportunities
• Time to bid farewell to iconic landmarks and get used to lesser-known attractions in Madison
• Swap vibrant nightlife for a quieter nightlife

San Francisco vs. Madison: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from San Francisco to Madison, you will be trading the iconic Sourdough Bread of San Francisco for the equally delicious Beer Cheese Soup of Madison. And while the locals in San Francisco rave about their flavorful Mission Burrito and sumptuous Food Trucks, Madison residents know they have tasty Bratwurst and Fried Cheese Curds 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 Vegan Cheese Options of Madison. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic San Francisco eateries like Tartine Bakery, Foreign Cinema, and Zuni Café. After the boxes are unpacked in Madison, don't wait too long before making your way to Madison's acclaimed eateries like Old Sugar Distillery, Graze, and Lombardino's.

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

Discover Madison Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Madison 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 Nopa in San Francisco, we're sure you'll love L'Etoile, Madison Sourdough, and Graze in Madison. See our Madison 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 La Taqueria, head to Taqueria Guadalajara on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between San Francisco and Madison

• The Victorian and Modern architecture that San Francisco is known for will be replaced with the Prairie Style and Modern architecture typical of Madison.
• Compared to San Francisco's real estate listings that commonly reference bay views and rooftop decks, Madison real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside views and spacious yards.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Madison is less walkable than San Francisco.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Madison is more bike-friendly than San Francisco.
• Madison has less of an urban feel than San Francisco.
• Madison housing costs are 70% less expensive than they are in San Francisco, with a median home price of $380,800 compared to San Francisco’s $1,290,678.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Madison have increased by 44% compared to a 4% decrease in San Francisco.
• Rent in Madison is 52.92% more affordable than in San Francisco.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Madison, WI

1. Willy Street : You'll love Willy Street for its numerous parks and open spaces perfect for walking or playing with your pets.
2. Schenk-Atwood : This neighborhood offers pet-friendly cafes and shops, making it easy for you to spend quality time with your furry friends.
3. Near West Side : With its extensive trails and proximity to Lake Mendota, you and your pets will enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures here.

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

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from San Francisco to Madison. Madison gets 27% fewer sunshine days than San Francisco.
• Madison has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to San Francisco.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in San Francisco, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Madison.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Madison is 15 degrees warmer than in San Francisco.
• The average winter lows are 30 degrees colder than they are in San Francisco.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Madison. Madison receives 12.9 more inches of rain compared to San Francisco.

Financial & Community Snapshot: San Francisco and Madison

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Madison tend to earn about 45% less than in San Francisco
• The COLI in Madison will be 42% lower than what you are used to living in San Francisco
• The state income tax in Wisconsin is 7.65 compared to 13.3 in California
• The affluence in Madison is moderate compared to high in San Francisco
• The poverty level is low in Madison compared to moderate in San Francisco
• In terms of homelessness, it is high in San Francisco and low in Madison

Political and Religious Climate in San Francisco vs. Madison

• San Francisco tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
• Madison, on the other hand, is often described as largely Democratic
• Madison's religious environment can be described as diverse with a significant Unitarian presence
• San Francisco's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse religious communities including <a href="https://www.sfzc.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">zen Center</a>

San Francisco vs. Madison Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 35% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Madison compared to your daily drive in San Francisco. That's an annual savings of 6,240 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Madison to be better than it is in San Francisco.
• Public transit is less readily available in Madison.