Los Angeles, California to New York City, New York
Moving from Los Angeles to New York City
Reviewers on this lane paid a median $3,400. It is 2,794 miles, about 50 hours of driving. 31,367 people made the California to New York move in 2024.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Drive
2,794 mi
about 50 hours at the wheel
Reviewers paid
$3,400
median, 15 priced reviews, this lane
Moved last year
31,367
California to New York, 2024
Cost of living
-2.5%
New York vs California, US = 100
Sources: OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (driving route), read 1 Oct 2026; Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 3 Nov 2026 (reviewer-reported); US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, 2024; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
What it costs
Los Angeles to New York City moving cost
On this lane, reviewers reported a median of $3,400 across 15 priced reviews. The middle half paid $1,895 to $5,000. Those prices mix home sizes; the table below is by size.
Planning ranges for 2,000+ miles moves, by home size, as of September 2026. Research fallback, not a first-party median and not a bid.
| Home size | Full-service range |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,800 to $5,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,600 to $6,400 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,800 to $8,600 |
| 3 bedroom | $6,400 to $11,200 |
| 4+ bedroom | $8,200 to $14,500 |
Source: Haulest research bands, September 2026 (chosen by the driving distance above).
We do not print container or rental-truck prices for this lane: nobody publishes them with a source. Ask for them in writing if you are comparing.
Live numbers: US on-highway diesel $6.29 per gallon for the week of 2026-11-02 (EIA weekly US on-highway diesel via FRED GASDESW). A fuel surcharge on a long lane follows the diesel line; ask how the mover sets it.
From the review file
Movers with reviews on the California to New York run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from California to New York. Sorted by how many matching reviews each mover has, not by rating. Corpus as of 3 Nov 2026. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.
| Mover | Based | Record | Matching reviews | All reviews | Median reported, lane reviews | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California New York Express | South San Francisco, CA | CarrierUSDOT 795816 | 6 | 655.0 mean, dated | $3,100 | 14 Aug 2020 |
| Roadway Moving | New York, NY | CarrierUSDOT 1854436 | 2 | 6715.0 mean, dated | $5,500 | 15 Aug 2026 |
| D & J Moving LLC | Davie, FL | CarrierUSDOT 3000931 | 2 | 352.0 mean, dated | $8,000 | 27 Jun 2019 |
| Alpha & Omega Moving and Storage | Sun Valley, CA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1135941 | 2 | 342.0 mean, dated | $12,000 | 19 Sept 2014 |
| Royal Relocation Systems | Brooklyn, NY | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1815073 | 2 | 231.0 mean, dated | $4,000 | 27 Jun 2013 |
| Civic Van Lines DBA Shleppers Moving & Storage | North Hollywood, CA | CarrierUSDOT 2306227 | 2 | 172.0 mean, dated | $2,359 | 14 Jul 2014 |
| Moovers, Inc | Pittsburg, CA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1176313 | 2 | 73.0 mean, dated | $4,057 | 3 Dec 2011 |
| NYC Great Movers | New York, NY | CarrierUSDOT 2180117 | 2 | 45.0 mean, dated | $1,800 | 30 Dec 2020 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 3 Nov 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved California to New York
5 of 5 · 15 Oct 2026 · reported $5,600
“They approached their responsibilities with professionalism and dedication, ensuring that each task was handled carefully and efficiently. Their positive attitude and commitment helped create a well-organized environment and contributed to making the overall moving experience satisfactory.”
5 of 5 · 23 Sept 2026 · reported $7,520
“My experience was very very good with Illinois Movers. It was stressful time and they gave fix price and went above and beyond to handle my extra stuff. Reached on time and finished well before anticipated completion. Very professional and good in communication. Moved some extra stuff at my new…”
5 of 5 · 15 Aug 2026 · reported $5,500
“My experience with Roadway was amazing! From start to finish, they made me feel like a priority, ease the stress of my move, and were absolute professionals. They packed up my apartment, efficiently and quickly! I would absolutely use their service again, and I recommend anyone looking to move,…”
What went wrong on this run: of 98 reviews, 33% mention damage and 19% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Loading in Los Angeles
Street parking in many neighborhoods is the accessorial.
Loading depends on the street. Los Angeles is a collection of loading problems connected by I-10 and the 405. A 2-bed in a valley apartment with a loading dock is a different job from a hillside house in Silver Lake or Mount Washington, where the truck stops two bends below and the crew carries. Street parking in many neighborhoods is the accessorial.
Paper before the truck. HOAs in newer buildings want a COI and a weekday window. Friday of a holiday weekend is how you donate hours to traffic. A truck that cannot climb or turn on a Silver Lake street gets swapped for a shuttle. You pay for both clocks.
Ask for the numbers before the deposit. California household movers are licensed under the Household Movers Act (BHGS). Interstate work still needs FMCSA. Ask for the Cal-T or BHGS number and the USDOT. Do not hand over a large cash deposit to a crew that only has a van and a verbal number. Check the record on the license lookup before you book.
What is the drive like?
It is priced by weight and miles and delivered inside a window written on the order for service.
Several days at the wheel. Driving distance is 2,794 miles, about 50 hours. A long-distance move on this pair is an interstate household-goods job, so the mover needs an active USDOT number and FMCSA authority. It is priced by weight and miles and delivered inside a window written on the order for service.
Plenty of households make this move. Census ACS counted 31,367 people who moved from California to New York in 2024, with a margin of plus or minus 4,875. BEA price parity for 2024 puts California at 110.7 and New York at 107.9, with the US at 100. The truck still bills weight and miles, inside the window on the order for service.
Put the spread on the order. The delivery window is written on the order for service before the truck leaves Los Angeles. Weight and miles set the price. If a shuttle was required on a Silver Lake street, both clocks belong on that paperwork. Use the estimate guide so the window, the weight, and the miles match what you signed.
Delivering in New York City
Photograph the inventory and the truck doors before anyone rolls.
NYC prices walk-ups, not floor plans. A 1-bed on a fifth floor with no elevator can cost more than a 2-bed with a reserved freight car. Co-ops and many rentals ask for a certificate of insurance, elevator pads, and a time window. Alternate Side rules and street-closure permits decide whether the truck sits in front of the stoop or a block away.
That block is a long-carry fee. Brooklyn brownstones often need a smaller truck plus a shuttle from a wider avenue. Crossing a borough or leaving for another state adds tolls and a possible waiting-time clock if the next building is late. NYSDOT household-goods authority covers in-state work. Interstate still needs FMCSA. Photograph the inventory and the truck doors before anyone rolls.
Late paperwork keeps the crew off the elevator. Buildings that want a certificate of insurance 72 hours ahead will not let the crew on the service elevator if the email landed at 4pm the day before. Have the COI, elevator pads, and the time window ready. Reviewer-reported median price on this city pair (Los Angeles to New York City) is $3,400 across 15 priced reviews, middle half $1,895 to $5,000.
Leaving Los Angeles, arriving in New York City.
| Los Angeles | New York City | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 110.7 | 107.9 |
| Median home sale price | $940,000 | $814,250 |
| Median days on market | 42 | 54 |
| Months of housing supply | 3.9 | 5.9 |
| State income tax on wages | Taxes wages | Taxes wages |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, read 1 Oct 2026; State revenue departments (wage tax, 2026).
When to go: in California, the busiest month for home sales over the last year was Oct 2025 and the quietest was Jan 2026. Movers fill up on the same calendar; a mid-month weekday outside May to August is the cheaper slot. Check your date.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage (California homes sold by month).
Doing it yourself
Driving a rental truck from Los Angeles to New York City
2,794 road miles, about 50 hours at the wheel (6 driving days at nine hours a day). Fuel below uses this week's EIA price and the low end of each brand's mpg, because a loaded truck does worse than the brochure.
- Studio10 to 12 ft truckFuel $994 to $1,491gasoline
- 1 or 2 bedroom15 to 16 ft truckFuel $994 to $1,988gasoline
- 3 bedroom20 to 22 ft truckFuel $1,193 to $1,365gas or diesel, by brand
- 4 bedroom26 ft truckFuel $1,365 to $2,218gas or diesel, by brand
For comparison: reviewers who hired full-service movers on Los Angeles to New York City paid a median $3,400 (15 priced reviews). The truck line above is fuel only: add the rental, mileage or days, coverage, equipment, tolls, a night on the road, and your time.
Sources: Brand spec pages (U-Haul, Penske, Budget) (mpg and fuel type); US EIA weekly retail prices (week of 26 Oct 2026); OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (road miles).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How long is the drive from Los Angeles to New York?
- Driving distance is 2,794 miles, about 50 hours at the wheel. Plan on several days, with delivery inside the window written on the order for service.
- Which authority does an interstate mover need?
- California household movers are licensed under the Household Movers Act (BHGS). Interstate work still needs an active USDOT number and FMCSA authority, so ask for the Cal-T or BHGS number and the USDOT.
- What do reviewers report paying on this lane?
- Reviewer-reported median price on this city pair (Los Angeles to New York City) is $3,400 across 15 priced reviews. The middle half is $1,895 to $5,000. The mover prices the job by weight and miles.
- What should be ready before a New York delivery?
- Co-ops and many rentals ask for a certificate of insurance, elevator pads, and a time window. Buildings that want a COI 72 hours ahead will not let the crew on the service elevator if the email landed at 4pm the day before. A truck parked a block from the stoop is a long-carry fee.
- Should I pay a large cash deposit to the loading crew?
- Do not hand over a large cash deposit to a crew that only has a van and a verbal number. Ask for the Cal-T or BHGS number and the USDOT before any money changes hands. The [deposit guide](/guides/moving-company-deposit) is the checklist for what to pay before the truck is loaded.
Next
Keep going
- New York City to Los AngelesThe same lane the other way.
- Moving to Los Angeles: costsLocal ranges and access at the loading end.
- Moving to New York City: costsLocal ranges and access at the delivery end.
- Movers in Los AngelesEvery mover there with dated reviews.
- Movers in New York CityEvery mover there with dated reviews.
- Moving in CaliforniaWho regulates the move, and the top-rated movers there.
- Moving in New YorkWho regulates the move, and the top-rated movers there.
- Long distance moversWeight, miles, and where the bill grows.
- What movers costWhat reviewers across the country reported paying.
- Truck fuel for 2,794 milesRoad miles and this week's EIA gas and diesel prices at each end.
- The 110% ruleWhat you can be made to pay on delivery day.
Other lanes from and to these cities
About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a written Los Angeles to New York City quote
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