BLS OES · modeled moving cost · CA
Moving to & from California
Modeled average moving costs in California, computed from BLS OES 2023 mover wages and route distance.
- Avg 2BR cost
- $879
- Cost rank
- #3/32
- Metros tracked
- #1/32
- Popular lanes
- 5
The state verdict
According to PlainMove's state corpus, California ranks #3 of 32 tracked states by modeled average 2-bedroom moving cost (highest USD = #1) and #1 of 32 by number of metros in the PlainMove city matrix (most tracked cities = #1). Modeled average 2BR moving cost is $879, from BLS OES 2023 mover wages and route distance.
- $879
- Avg 2BR cost (modeled)
- #3/32
- State cost rank (highest=#1)
- #1/32
- Metros tracked (most=#1)
Statewide averages are planning anchors from the BLS wage model, not binding carrier quotes.
HHG bill of lading stub
Modeled estimate ST-CA California
$879 · rank #3/32 · avg lane 2551 mi
- COST $879
- RANK #3/32
- LANES 5
- MI 2,551 mi
- CPM $1.95/mi
- BOOK #1/32
- PHOTO Alaska
- VS-AVG +9%
Photo peer: Alaska ($879)
California's modeled 2BR average of $879 sits next to Alaska ($879) on the cost neighbourhood, peer NAMES stay; the stub VALUES are this state's. Read with Los Angeles →
California vs all states by modeled 2BR moving cost
Where this state's BLS-wage regional band sits among every tracked state on PlainMove
$879 1st of 32 higher than 22 of 32 states
Tracked states, banded by modeled average 2-bedroom moving cost
Each bar is a $0.001K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS OES 2023 mover wages × route distance model · 2023 wage vintage
Popular corridors involving California
Modeled 2-bedroom costs on the busiest lanes touching this state. Distinct from the statewide band chart above: corridor prices, not the state average.
What a move costs in California
California's modeled average cost for a 2-bedroom move is $879, computed from Bureau of Labor Statistics OES 2023 wage data (SOC 53-7062) with regional wage adjustments. PlainMove does not publish carrier records. Confirm any carrier you hire directly at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov: active operating authority, cargo and liability insurance, and a published USDOT number on every estimate.
Geography shapes both cost and availability. The top origin market tracked in our data for California is Los Angeles, which generates a disproportionate share of outbound moving demand with Los Angeles appearing among the leading inbound destinations. Before booking any interstate move to or from California, consumers should (1) confirm each mover’s DOT number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, (2) check that HHG authority is active rather than out-of-service, (3) request written proof of current cargo and liability insurance, and (4) review the mover’s complaint history and last safety rating date. The statewide average of $879 is a planning anchor, not a quote, because actual pricing depends on the specific route, season, access conditions, and binding-estimate structure negotiated with the carrier.
Major Cities in California
States with similar moving-cost profiles
Two cohort peer sets: modeled average 2BR cost and tracked-metro coverage. Distinct from the corridor chart above (specific lanes, not statewide averages).
Similar average 2BR cost
Similar metro coverage
Read our methodology - how these estimates are sourced, modeled, and verified.
What to do with California's numbers
Use the model as a starting range, then get quotes
- Los Angeles is the busiest origin metro on this page. Open its city page for a metro-level cost breakdown.
- This state's modeled 2BR average is $879 (#3 of 32 states). Household size and distance change the real figure, see the size and distance breakdowns above.
- Get at least three binding estimates from FMCSA-registered carriers before booking. PlainMove does not publish carrier records. See methodology for how these estimates are built.
Source: BLS OES 2023 mover wages + route distance model BLS OES 2023 (SOC 53-7062) wages applied to a route-distance cost model · 2023/… Costs on this page are MODELED from BLS OES 2023 mover wages and route distance, not quoted prices or survey data.