Best Charleston to San Francisco Movers

How Much Do Charleston to San Francisco Movers Cost?

Moving 2,906 miles from Charleston, SC to San Francisco, 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 San Francisco that already have a booked job heading from San Francisco to Charleston. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to San Francisco from Charleston entirely empty. If you can find a San Francisco moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Charleston to San Francisco moving option

Hire local Charleston 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 San Francisco movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Charleston to San Francisco 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 Charleston to San Francisco 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 Charleston, SC to San Francisco, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 16 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Charleston and San Francisco areas.

From these 16 companies, we analyzed a total of 4,658 reviews dating all the way back to August 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 5 state and federal moving licenses from these 16 companies and 70 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 1,015 Charleston to San Francisco 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 Smooth Move Charleston).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.49/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 2,867 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.44/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 1,194 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.81/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 545 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.94/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 1,147 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.04/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 454 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.81/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 1,333 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.07/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 1,718 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.27/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 2,837 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.47/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 1,733 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.67/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 278 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.09/10 avg (Charleston & San Francisco combined) from 1,597 reviews

From Charleston to San Francisco: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Historic District in Charleston & North Beach in San Francisco are both known for their: historic architecture & tourist-friendly
• Charleston's West Ashley neighborhood & San Francisco's Sunset District both share: residential, suburban, family-focused
• If you're moving from James Island, check out Marina District in the San Francisco area for the: waterfront recreation & dining
• Do you enjoy Mount Pleasant's upscale residential & waterfront views? You're sure to love Pacific Heights
• Move from North Charleston to Bayview and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: industrial roots & emerging gentrification
• Daniel Island & Mission Bay are both known for their: master-planned waterfront development
• Charleston's Folly Beach neighborhood & San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood both have: laid-back beach vibe & surf culture
• If you're moving from Sullivan's Island, look into Marina District for the: upscale seaside community & views
• Do you cherish living in Cannonborough/Elliotborough's trendy, artsy & small-scale boutiques? Move into Hayes Valley for something similar
• The similar vibes of Wagener Terrace & Noe Valley are both known for: tree-lined streets & craftsman homes

Pros and Cons of Moving from Charleston to San Francisco

ConsCharleston, SC

• High humidity
• Hurricane risk
• Limited tech jobs
• Car dependency

ProsSan Francisco, CA

• Mild climate
• Seismic safety measures
• Thriving tech hub
• Public transport options

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San Francisco, CA

• Fast-paced lifestyle
• High living costs
• Frequent traffic jams
• Cooler beaches

Charleston, SC

• Southern charm
• Lower cost of living
• Historical sites
• Beach access

Pros of moving from Charleston to San Francisco

• Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a mild climate
• Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to San Francisco with seismic safety measures
• Swap the limited tech jobs of Charleston for a thriving tech hub in San Francisco
• Get ready for public transport options in San Francisco

Cons of moving from Charleston to San Francisco

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern charm in Charleston to live with a fast-paced lifestyle in San Francisco
• You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of high living costs
• Time to bid farewell to historical sites and get used to frequent traffic jams in San Francisco
• Swap beach access for cooler beaches

Charleston vs. San Francisco: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Charleston to San Francisco, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of Charleston for the equally delicious Sourdough Bread of San Francisco. And while the locals in Charleston rave about their flavorful She-Crab Soup and sumptuous Fried Oysters, San Francisco residents know they have tasty Mission Burrito and Street Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of San Francisco. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Charleston eateries like Hominy Grill, Poogan's Porch, and Hussey's Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in San Francisco, don't wait too long before making your way to San Francisco's acclaimed eateries like Zuni Café, Boulevard, and Tartine Bakery.

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

Discover San Francisco Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to San Francisco is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Charleston favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved FIG, Husk, and Leon’s Oyster Shop in Charleston, we're sure you'll love Zuni Café, Chez Panisse, and Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco. See our San Francisco restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Charleston hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Fleet Landing, head to Fog Harbor Fish House on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Charleston and San Francisco

• The Colonial and Georgian architecture that Charleston is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Modern architecture typical of San Francisco.
• Compared to Charleston's real estate listings that commonly reference historical charm and waterfront views, San Francisco real estate listings often highlight features like cityscape views and tech-friendly amenities.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. San Francisco is more walkable than Charleston.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. San Francisco is more bike-friendly than Charleston.
• San Francisco has more of an urban feel than Charleston.
• San Francisco housing costs are 135% more expensive than they are in Charleston, with a median home price of $1,290,678 compared to Charleston’s $550,371.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in San Francisco have decreased by 4% compared to a 64% increase in Charleston.
• Rent in San Francisco is 48.98% more expensive than in Charleston.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in San Francisco, CA

1. Pacific Heights : You'll love Pacific Heights for its abundance of parks and scenic walking trails perfect for you and your furry friend.
2. Noe Valley : Enjoy Noe Valley's welcoming community vibe and the pet-friendly stores and cafes that cater to every pet need.
3. The Mission District : Known for its vibrant and lively atmosphere, The Mission District offers numerous dog parks and pet-friendly patios for you and your pet to explore.

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

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Charleston to San Francisco. San Francisco gets 24% more sunshine days than Charleston.
• San Francisco has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Charleston.
• Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes in Charleston but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes in San Francisco.
• Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in San Francisco is 21 degrees cooler than in Charleston.
• The average winter lows are 8 degrees warmer than they are in Charleston.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in San Francisco. San Francisco receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Charleston.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Charleston and San Francisco

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in San Francisco tend to earn about 64% more than those in Charleston
• The COLI in San Francisco will be 67% higher than what you are used to living in Charleston
• The state income tax in CA is 13.3% compared to 7% in SC
• The affluence in San Francisco is high compared to moderate affluence in Charleston
• The poverty level is low in San Francisco compared to moderate poverty in Charleston
• In terms of homelessness, it is low in Charleston and high in San Francisco

Political and Religious Climate in Charleston vs. San Francisco

• Charleston tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
• San Francisco, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Progressive
• San Francisco's religious environment can be described as religiously Diverse
• Charleston's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian

Charleston vs. San Francisco Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 40% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in San Francisco compared to your Charleston commute. That's 5200 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in San Francisco to be worse than it is in Charleston.
• Public transit is more readily available in San Francisco.