Best Boston to Oakland Movers

How Much Do Boston to Oakland Movers Cost?

Moving 3,228 miles from Boston, MA to Oakland, CA will typically cost between $4,500 and $11,000 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 Oakland that already have a booked job heading from Oakland to Boston. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Oakland from Boston 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 Boston to Oakland moving option

Hire local Boston 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 Boston 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 Boston 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 Boston, MA to Oakland, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 55 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Boston and Oakland areas.

From these 55 companies, we analyzed a total of 21,589 reviews dating all the way back to July 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 55 state and federal moving licenses from these 55 companies and 273 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~21,000 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 8,735 Boston 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 Stairhopper Movers).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Boston 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.

9.17/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 14,775 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.99/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 5,904 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.61/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 4,165 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.59/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 5,860 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.83/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 2,497 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.27/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 7,532 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.48/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 7,856 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.96/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 14,596 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

9.15/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 8,362 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.64/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 1,167 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.88/10 avg (Boston & Oakland combined) from 7,686 reviews

From Boston to Oakland: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Back Bay in Boston & Rockridge in Oakland are both known for their upscale retail & brownstone-style streets
• Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood & Oakland's Montclair both share historic homes in a hilltop setting
• If you're moving from South End, check out Uptown in the Oakland area for the arts district with nightlife venues
• Do you enjoy Charlestown's waterfront area with maritime history? You're sure to love Jack London Square
• Move from Allston to Uptown and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: student scene & vibrant bar culture
• Brighton & Fruitvale are both known for their affordable housing & diverse communities
• Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood & Oakland's Lake Merritt neighborhood both have extensive parks & community events
• If you're moving from Dorchester, look into Bushrod for the working-class roots & growing redevelopment

Pros and Cons of Moving from Boston to Oakland

ConsBoston, MA

• Harsh winters
• Higher living costs
• Smaller tech scene

ProsOakland, CA

• Milder climate
• More affordable housing
• Thriving tech industry

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Oakland, CA

• Lesser historic sites
• Dependent on cars
• Fewer top-tier colleges

Boston, MA

• Rich history
• Excellent public transit
• Renowned universities

Pros of moving from Boston to Oakland

• Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
• Look forward to moving away from higher living costs and moving to Oakland with more affordable housing
• Swap the smaller tech scene of Boston for a thriving tech industry in Oakland

Cons of moving from Boston to Oakland

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Boston to live with lesser historic sites in Oakland
• You'll lose out on the pro of excellent public transit and have to settle for the con of being dependent on cars
• Time to bid farewell to renowned universities and get used to fewer top-tier colleges in Oakland

Boston vs. Oakland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Boston to Oakland, you will be trading the iconic Clam Chowder of Boston for the equally delicious Sourdough of Oakland. And while the locals in Boston rave about their flavorful Lobster Roll and sumptuous Fried Clams, Oakland residents know they have tasty BBQ Brisket and Street Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad 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 Boston eateries like Legal Sea Foods, Neptune Oyster, and Union Oyster House. 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, Shakewell, and Commis.

When comparing lifestyles, Oakland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Boston. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oakland compared to what you are used to in Boston. 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 Boston favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Neptune Oyster, Oleana, and Pizza Regina in Boston, we're sure you'll love Rockridge Fish & Oyster, Dyafa, and Nick's Pizza in Oakland. See our Oakland restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Boston hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Toro, head to Calavera on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Boston and Oakland

• The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Boston is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Oakland.
• Compared to Boston's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to universities and historic significance, Oakland real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to San Francisco and views of the bay.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Oakland is less walkable than Boston.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Oakland is less bike-friendly than Boston.
• Oakland has an equally urban feel to Boston.
• Oakland housing costs are 8% more expensive than in Boston with a median home price of $803,291 compared to Boston’s $741,153.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oakland have increased by 7% compared to a 16% increase in Boston.
• Rent in Oakland is 23.71% more affordable than in Boston.

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 Boston and Oakland

• Breakout the sunglasses for your move from Boston to Oakland. Oakland gets 31% more sunshine days than Boston.
• Oakland has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Boston.
• Say goodbye to the possible nor'easters and blizzards in Boston, 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 9 degrees colder than in Boston.
• The average winter lows are 22 degrees warmer than they are in Boston.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Oakland. Oakland receives 21 fewer inches of rain compared to Boston.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Boston and Oakland

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oakland tend to earn about 4% more than those in Boston
• The COLI in Oakland is 5% higher than what you are used to living in Boston
• The state income tax in CA is 9.3 compared to 5 in MA
• The affluence in Oakland is varied compared to moderately affluent in Boston
• The poverty level is moderate in Oakland compared to low in Boston
• In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Boston and significant in Oakland

Political and Religious Climate in Boston vs. Oakland

• Boston tends to lean Liberal and Democratic-leaning in its political climate
• Oakland, on the other hand, is often described as very liberal and strongly Democratic-leaning
• Oakland's religious environment can be described as diverse with significant Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim communities
• Boston's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic with a significant Jewish and Muslim presence

Boston vs. Oakland Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 7% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Oakland compared to your Boston commute. That's 1040 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Oakland to be better than it is in Boston.
• Public transit is less readily available in Oakland.