Best Madison to Oakland Movers

How Much Do Madison to Oakland Movers Cost?

Moving 2,101 miles from Madison, WI to Oakland, CA 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 Oakland that already have a booked job heading from Oakland to Madison. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Oakland from Madison 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 Madison to Oakland moving option

Hire local Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison, WI to Oakland, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 27 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Madison and Oakland areas.

From these 27 companies, we analyzed a total of 6,324 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 24 state and federal moving licenses from these 27 companies and 131 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 2,095 Madison 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 The Go To Guys, LLC) vs older more established companies (like OCD Moving Services LLC).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Madison 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.

8.69/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 3,964 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.26/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 1,353 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.97/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 820 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.65/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 1,701 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.70/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 617 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.87/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 1,693 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.11/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 2,370 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.34/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 3,946 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.52/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 2,362 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.27/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 404 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.13/10 avg (Madison & Oakland combined) from 1,993 reviews

From Madison to Oakland: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Downtown in Madison & Uptown in Oakland are both known for their arts district with nightlife and live music
• Madison's Willy Street neighborhood & Oakland's Temescal both share a hip neighborhood with local eateries and cafes
• If you're moving from Shorewood Hills, check out Montclair in the Oakland area for the diverse community with murals and working-class roots
• Do you enjoy Maple Bluff's lakefront setting with scenic views and walking paths? You're sure to love Lake Merritt
• Move from Nakoma to Rockridge and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: tree-lined streets with bungalows and a family focus
• Tenney-Lapham & Grand Lake are both known for their community-oriented vibe with a farmers market and cafes
• Madison's Westmorland neighborhood & Oakland's Elmhurst neighborhood both have a quiet suburban feel with affordable family homes
• If you're moving from Dudgeon-Monroe, look into Fruitvale for the diverse community with murals and working-class roots

Pros and Cons of Moving from Madison to Oakland

ConsMadison, WI

• Harsh winters
• Smaller job market
• Less diverse cuisine
• Limited nightlife
• Lower cultural diversity

ProsOakland, CA

• Mild climate
• Greater job opportunities
• World-class dining
• Vibrant nightlife
• Rich cultural diversity

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Oakland, CA

• High living costs
• Higher traffic
• Urban sprawl
• Less green space
• Adapting to change

Madison, WI

• Affordable housing
• Compact city
• Close-knit communities
• Scenic nature
• Vibrant local culture

Pros of moving from Madison to Oakland

• Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild climate
• Look forward to moving away from smaller job market and moving to Oakland with greater job opportunities
• Swap the less diverse cuisine of Madison for world-class dining in Oakland
• Get ready for vibrant nightlife in Oakland

Cons of moving from Madison to Oakland

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable housing in Madison to live with high living costs in Oakland
• You'll lose out on the pro of a compact city and have to settle with the con of higher traffic
• Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to urban sprawl in Oakland
• Swap scenic nature for less green space

Madison vs. Oakland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Madison to Oakland, you will be trading the iconic cheese curds of Madison for the equally delicious sourdough bread of Oakland. And while the locals in Madison rave about their flavorful bratwurst and sumptuous food cart tacos, Oakland residents know they have tasty Korean BBQ and taco trucks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegan pastries of Madison's sourdough that they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Shojin ryori (Japanese vegan cuisine) of Oakland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Madison eateries like Lombardino's, Old Sugar Distillery, and Graze. After the boxes are unpacked in Oakland, don't wait too long before making your way to Oakland's acclaimed eateries like Shakewell, Commis, and Brown Sugar Kitchen.

When comparing lifestyles, Oakland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Madison. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oakland compared to what you are used to in Madison. 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 Madison favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved L’Etoile, Graze, and Salvatore's Tomato Pies in Madison, we're sure you'll love Commis, Shakewell, and Boot and Shoe Service in Oakland. See our Oakland restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Madison hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Mint Mark, head to Cholita Linda on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Madison and Oakland

• The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Madison is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Modern architecture typical of Oakland.
• Compared to Madison's real estate listings that commonly reference lake views and proximity to the university, Oakland real estate listings often highlight features like access to public transit and downtown vicinity.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Oakland is more walkable than Madison.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Oakland is less bike-friendly than Madison.
• Oakland has more of an urban feel than Madison.
• Oakland housing costs are 111% more expensive than in Madison, with a median home price of $803,291 compared to Madison’s $380,800.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oakland have increased by 7% compared to a 44% increase in Madison.
• Rent in Oakland is 61.50% more expensive than in Madison.

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 Madison and Oakland

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Madison to Oakland. Oakland gets 36% more sunshine days than Madison.
• Oakland has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Madison.
• Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold waves in Madison, 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 7 degrees colder than in Madison.
• The average winter lows are 28 degrees warmer than they are in Madison.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Oakland. Oakland receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Madison.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Madison and Oakland

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oakland tend to earn about 22% more than in Madison
• The COLI in Oakland is 45% higher than what you are used to living in Madison
• The state income tax in CA is 9.3 compared to 6.27 in WI
• The affluence in Oakland is high compared to moderate in Madison
• The poverty level is moderate in Oakland compared to low in Madison
• In terms of homelessness, it is low in Madison and high in Oakland

Political and Religious Climate in Madison vs. Oakland

• Madison tends to lean Liberal in its political climate
• Oakland, on the other hand, is often described as very Liberal
• Oakland's religious environment can be described as diverse with a significant non-religious population
• Madison's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with a slight leaning towards non-religious

Madison vs. Oakland Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 45% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Oakland compared to your Madison commute. That's 5200 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Oakland to be worse than it is in Madison.
• Public transit is more readily available in Oakland.