Colorado to California
Moving from Colorado to California
Reviewers who moved from Colorado to California paid a median $3,785. 15,781 people made the move in 2024, and 19,717 went the other way. Denver to Los Angeles, the most common run in our file, is 1,018 miles.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Reviewers paid
$3,785
median, 58 priced reviews
Moved last year
15,781
CO to CA, 2024
Typical drive
1,018 mi
Denver to Los Angeles
Cost of living
+7.4%
CA vs CO, US = 100
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026 (reviewer-reported); US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, 2024; OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (driving route); BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
What it costs
Colorado to California moving cost
Across 58 priced reviews of moves from Colorado to California, the median was $3,785 and the middle half paid $3,000 to $4,759. Home sizes and distances are mixed; the table below is by size.
Planning ranges for 1,000–2,000 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 | $2,200–$4,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,000–$5,200 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,000–$7,200 |
| 3 bedroom | $5,400–$9,400 |
| 4+ bedroom | $7,000–$12,000 |
Source: Haulest research bands, September 2026 (band set by the Denver to Los Angeles drive).
Live numbers: US on-highway diesel $5.60 per gallon for the week of 2026-08-31 (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 Colorado to California run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from Colorado to California. Sorted by how many matching reviews each mover has, not by rating. Corpus as of 21 Sept 2026. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.
| Mover | Based | Record | Matching reviews | All reviews | Median reported, this run | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower Transit LLC | Lake Worth, FL | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3305291 | 3 | 1133.8 mean, dated | $3,695 | 26 Sept 2022 |
| Boost Express Van Lines | Piscataway, NJ | CarrierUSDOT 2453637 | 3 | 803.6 mean, dated | $3,875 | 29 Nov 2021 |
| 1st Choice Moving & Storage Inc | Denver, CO | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1582341 | 3 | 774.9 mean, dated | $4,863 | 30 Aug 2022 |
| Executive Moving and Storage | Las Vegas, NV | No FMCSA match | 2 | 692.1 mean, dated | $5,500 | 30 Jul 2019 |
| AEY Logistics | Palm Beach, FL | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3401754 | 2 | 564.2 mean, dated | $4,712 | 14 Jul 2021 |
| National Moving System | Denver, CO | No FMCSA match | 2 | 321.8 mean, dated | $9,000 | 27 Sept 2015 |
| American Moving Systems | Colorado Springs, CO | No FMCSA match | 2 | 271.7 mean, dated | $2,600 | 9 Nov 2015 |
| Star Van Lines LLC | Spokane, WA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3950550 | 2 | 253.6 mean, dated | $4,450 | 21 Dec 2022 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved Colorado to California
1 of 5 · 21 Apr 2026 · reported $10,000
“This company is a scam and lies about everything. Employees use fake names. Ask for proof of ID before booking. Along with asking why they have over 900 fake reviews. This company is up to something shady make sure to do your homework.”
5 of 5 · 20 Mar 2026 · reported $3,999
“I just want to say thank to mark and his team for the great service during my move from Colorado to California. Everything was handled professionally, safely, and on time. I really appreciate your hard work and would definitely recommend your company. Thanks again!✅???”
5 of 5 · 16 May 2024 · reported $3,255
“5-star company! When we had to pack and move the belongings of a recently dead loved one halfway across the nation, the team helped us get through a very trying moment. I wholeheartedly suggest them. Loved them!”
What went wrong on this run: of 58 reviews, 33% mention damage and 22% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Who makes this move
More people left California for Colorado than left Colorado for California.
Census puts the flow at 15,781. ACS 2024 counts 15,781 people who moved from Colorado to California, with a margin of plus or minus 3,397. That is the official headcount for this direction in the year, and it is a count of people, not of trucks or households.
The return lane is larger. In the same ACS 2024 release, 19,717 people moved from California to Colorado. More people left California for Colorado than left Colorado for California. The two figures sit side by side and do not say why either group packed a truck.
Prices and wage tax differ at each end. BEA price parity for 2024, with the US at 100, is 103.1 in Colorado and 110.7 in California. Both states tax wages. Haulest does not quote a rate, and a mover's bill is separate from either tax.
What the job looks like
Of 58 reviews, 33% mention damage and 22% mention a delay or a no-show.
The common run is Denver to Los Angeles. That pair is the most common in our file, covering 1,018 miles and about 18 hours of driving. Treat those hours as the driving piece. The days on the road are the delivery window written on the order, not a promise of one arrival hour.
Price follows weight and miles. Long-distance moves are priced by weight and miles, and our file mixes home sizes and distances. Across 58 priced reviews the median reported price is $3,785, with the middle half from $3,000 to $4,759. One reported price is not your quote.
Damage and delay show up in the file. Of 58 reviews, 33% mention damage and 22% mention a delay or a no-show. Those shares are reports from this run, not a forecast for your house. Ask for the delivery window in writing before the truck leaves.
Before you book
On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate.
Check the USDOT number and the authority. An interstate household move needs a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Look the number up before you sign, using a license lookup. Haulest is not a carrier and does not haul the load.
Get the estimate type in writing. Ask whether the price is binding or a not-to-exceed figure, and read how to read a moving estimate. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. That cap is the 110 percent rule.
Put the window and the deposit on the order. Delivery is a window set on the order for service, so get those dates in writing. Deposit terms belong in the same packet. Read the deposit guide before you send money, and keep a copy of what you signed.
Leaving Colorado, arriving in California.
| Colorado | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 103.1 | 110.7 |
| Median home sale price | $617,000 | $887,400 |
| Median days on market | 35 | 33 |
| State income tax on wages | Taxes wages | Taxes wages |
| People who moved in 2024 | 19,717 arrived from California | 15,781 arrived from Colorado |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, read 22 Sept 2026; State revenue departments (wage tax, 2026); US Census Bureau, ACS, 2024.
When to go: in Colorado, the busiest month for home sales over the last year was Jun 2025 and the quietest was Jan 2026. Movers fill up on the same calendar. Check your date.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage (Colorado homes sold by month).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How many people moved from Colorado to California?
- ACS 2024 counts 15,781 people moving Colorado to California, with a margin of plus or minus 3,397. The reverse count is 19,717 people moving California to Colorado. The tables do not record a reason for either move.
- How far is the most common Colorado to California run?
- In our file the most common run is Denver to Los Angeles, at 1,018 miles. Driving time is about 18 hours. A mover still prices the job by weight and miles, and delivery is a window on the order.
- What do reviews report for price on this lane?
- Our file has 58 reviews, and 58 of them include a price. The median reported price is $3,785, and the middle half runs from $3,000 to $4,759. Those prices mix home sizes and distances, so the median is not a quote.
- How often do reviews mention damage or a delay?
- Of the 58 reviews, 33% mention damage and 22% mention a delay or a no-show. Read both shares as reports from this run. They are not a forecast for your house.
- What should I confirm before I book an interstate mover?
- The mover needs an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate, and the delivery window should be written on the order. Agree deposit terms before you send money.
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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 Colorado to California quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
+1 (866) 961-9682Free quote, a person answersHaulest is not a carrier. We connect you to movers.
Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.