Best Washington DC to Oakland Movers

How Much Do Washington DC to Oakland Movers Cost?

Moving 2,909 miles from Washington DC, DC to Oakland, CA will typically cost between $4,500 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 Oakland that already have a booked job heading from Oakland to Washington DC. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Oakland from Washington DC entirely empty. If you can find a Oakland moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Washington DC to Oakland moving option

Hire local Washington DC 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 Oakland movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Washington DC to Oakland 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 Washington DC to Oakland 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 Washington DC, DC to Oakland, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 31 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Washington DC and Oakland areas.

From these 31 companies, we analyzed a total of 13,489 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 8 state and federal moving licenses from these 31 companies and 159 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~13,000 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 3,467 Washington DC to Oakland 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 Bookstore Movers).

Hire Trusted Movers

The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

9.00/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 7,985 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.87/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 3,492 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.32/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 2,103 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.29/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 3,866 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.51/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 1,629 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.17/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 3,955 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.34/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 4,608 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.76/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 7,983 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.98/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 4,999 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.18/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 911 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.65/10 avg (Washington DC & Oakland combined) from 4,484 reviews

From Washington DC to Oakland: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Georgetown in Washington DC & Jack London Square in Oakland are both known for their historic waterfront & upscale dining
• Washington DC's Dupont Circle neighborhood & Oakland's Uptown Oakland both share local eateries & bustling nightlife
• If you're moving from Shaw, check out Temescal in the Oakland area for the eclectic shops & street murals
• Do you enjoy Logan Circle's lakeside park & walking paths? You're sure to love Lake Merritt
• Move from Capitol Hill to Piedmont Avenue and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: tree-lined streets & boutique shops
• Adams Morgan & Fruitvale are both known for their multicultural eateries & community events
• Washington DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood & Oakland's Grand Lake neighborhood both have weekly farmers markets & lakeside cafes
• If you're moving from Navy Yard, look into Jack London Square for the modern lofts & riverside views
• Do you cherish living in U Street Corridor's live music venues & urban vibe? Move into Uptown Oakland for something similar
• The similar vibes of Petworth & Rockridge are both known for craftsman homes & suburban village feel

Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington DC to Oakland

ConsWashington DC, DC

• High cost of living
• Humid summers
• Dense traffic
• Political saturation

ProsOakland, CA

• More affordable housing
• Milder climate
• Improved public transit
• Diverse cultural scene

---

Oakland, CA

• Less historical sites
• Fewer museums
• Less political presence
• Different culinary scene

Washington DC, DC

• Rich history
• Extensive museums
• Political center
• Global cuisine

Pros of moving from Washington DC to Oakland

• Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
• Look forward to moving away from humid summers and moving to Oakland with a milder climate
• Swap the dense traffic of Washington DC for improved public transit in Oakland
• Get ready for a diverse cultural scene in Oakland

Cons of moving from Washington DC to Oakland

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Washington DC to live with fewer historical sites in Oakland
• You'll lose out on the pro of extensive museums and have to settle with the con of fewer museums
• Time to bid farewell to the political center and get used to a less political presence in Oakland
• Swap global cuisine for a different culinary scene

Washington DC vs. Oakland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Washington DC to Oakland, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of Washington DC for the equally delicious Oakland-Style BBQ of Oakland. And while the locals in Washington DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings and sumptuous Jumbo Slice Pizza, Oakland residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Taco Trucks Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chickpea Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Oakland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and minibar by José Andrés. After the boxes are unpacked in Oakland, don't wait too long before making your way to Oakland's acclaimed eateries like Brown Sugar Kitchen, Commis, and Shakewell.

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

Discover Oakland Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Oakland is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Washington DC favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Le Diplomate, Bad Saint, and Rose's Luxury in Washington DC, we're sure you'll love Mägo, Lucky Three Seven, and Commis in Oakland. See our Oakland restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Washington DC hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Zaytinya, head to Oasis Food Market on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington DC and Oakland

• The Colonial and Federal architecture that Washington DC is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Oakland.
• Compared to Washington DC's real estate listings, which commonly reference proximity to monuments and historical sites, Oakland real estate listings often highlight features like access to parks and natural scenery.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away, as Oakland is less walkable than Washington DC.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike, as Oakland is less bike-friendly than Washington DC.
• Oakland has less of an urban feel than Washington DC.
• Oakland housing costs are 30% more expensive than they are in Washington DC, with a median home price of $803,291 compared to Washington DC’s $619,321.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oakland have increased by 7% compared to an 8% increase in Washington DC.
• Rent in Oakland is 2.25% more expensive than in Washington DC.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Oakland, CA

1. Rockridge : You’ll love the abundance of pet-friendly cafes and the scenic trails at nearby Lake Temescal for your daily walks.
2. Grand Lake : This vibrant neighborhood offers easy access to pet-welcoming parks and local markets where you can bring your furry friends.
3. Piedmont Avenue : Enjoy a welcoming community with plenty of pet-friendly establishments and beautiful tree-lined streets for leisurely strolls.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington DC and Oakland

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington DC to Oakland. Oakland gets 28% more sunshine days than Washington DC.
• Oakland has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington DC.
• Say goodbye to the possible storms and some flooding in Washington DC, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Oakland.
• Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Oakland is 14 degrees colder than in Washington DC.
• The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Washington DC.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Oakland. Oakland receives 19.8 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington DC.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington DC and Oakland

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oakland tend to earn about 9% less than those in Washington DC
• The COLI in Oakland is 1% lower than what you are used to living in Washington DC
• The state income tax in CA is 1.0 - 13.3% compared to 4.0 - 8.95% in DC
• The affluence in Oakland is moderate compared to moderately affluent in Washington DC
• The poverty level is higher than in Washington DC in Oakland compared to low in Washington DC
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Washington DC and more significant in Oakland

Political and Religious Climate in Washington DC vs. Oakland

• Washington DC tends to lean strongly Democratic in its political climate
• Oakland, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
• Oakland's religious environment can be described as having prevalent Christianity and a significant non-religious population
• Washington DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities

Washington DC vs. Oakland Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 15% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Oakland compared to your daily drive in Washington DC. That's an annual savings of 2,600 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Oakland to be better than it is in Washington DC.
• Public transit is less readily available in Oakland.