Virginia to California
Moving from Virginia to California
Reviewers who moved from Virginia to California paid a median $4,058. 18,100 people made the move in 2024, and 20,180 went the other way. Virginia Beach to San Diego, the most common run in our file, is 2,743 miles.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Reviewers paid
$4,058
median, 43 priced reviews
Moved last year
18,100
VA to CA, 2024
Typical drive
2,743 mi
Virginia Beach to San Diego
Cost of living
+9.5%
CA vs VA, 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
Virginia to California moving cost
Across 43 priced reviews of moves from Virginia to California, the median was $4,058 and the middle half paid $2,500 to $7,000. Home sizes and distances are mixed; 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–$5,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,600–$6,400 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,800–$8,600 |
| 3 bedroom | $6,400–$11,200 |
| 4+ bedroom | $8,200–$14,500 |
Source: Haulest research bands, September 2026 (band set by the Virginia Beach to San Diego 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 Virginia to California run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Van Lines | Washington Grove, MD | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2508651 | 3 | 111.4 mean, dated | $3,498 | 31 Aug 2020 |
| American National Van Lines | Hallandale, FL | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2416166 | 2 | 211.7 mean, dated | $10,000 | 2 Jun 2021 |
| Kyle State 2 State Moving | Clifton, NJ | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2533230 | 2 | 204.2 mean, dated | $12,800 | 19 Jul 2017 |
| Joe Moholland Moving | Woodbridge, VA | CarrierUSDOT 486221 | 2 | 174.0 mean, dated | $2,000 | 3 Dec 2020 |
| Hilldrup | Stafford, VA | Broker and carrierUSDOT 22302 | 2 | 161.8 mean, dated | $7,600 | 12 Jun 2021 |
| In and Out Movers | Pompano Beach, FL | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2724955 | 2 | 71.6 mean, dated | $2,500 | 13 Oct 2016 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved Virginia to California
5 of 5 · 24 Aug 2026 · reported $1,721
“I previously posted a negative review regarding several items that went missing during a small move from my home in Arlington, Virginia to San Francisco. I am delighted to be able to replace that review. Once Sean O’Malley became personally involved, the experience changed completely. Sean took…”
5 of 5 · 2 Feb 2026 · reported $4,100
“Unexpected weight distribution issues required a change mid-load. The team stopped and rebalanced strategically. G&J Moving handled it with clear reasoning. Their approach reduced strain and improved safety. Nothing was damaged or rushed. Experience was evident throughout.”
1 of 5 · 12 Aug 2025 · reported $20,000
“Absolutely one of the worst moving companies I’ve ever dealt with in my career. The employees are rude, unprofessional, incompetent, and lazy. They consistently cut corners, prioritized their time over the safety of my family. When questioned, they immediately became confrontational, lied to their…”
What went wrong on this run: of 44 reviews, 48% mention damage and 34% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Who makes this move
Read the parity figures as a cost comparison between the two states.
Census counts both directions. ACS 2024 records 18,100 people moving from Virginia to California, with a margin of plus or minus 4,368. The reverse count is 20,180 people moving from California to Virginia. Those two figures are the whole story the Census gives on who made this run.
Price levels sit above the US mark. BEA price parity for 2024 puts Virginia at 101.1 and California at 110.7, with the US set at 100. Virginia taxes wages, and California taxes wages. This page does not quote rates. Read the parity figures as a cost comparison between the two states.
What the job looks like
Long-distance moves are priced by weight and miles, so those prices mix home sizes and distances.
The common run is a long drive. In our file the most common trip is Virginia Beach to San Diego, 2,743 miles and about 48 hours of driving. Count those hours as days on the road once loading, fuel stops, and unloading sit in the plan. A long-distance move is priced as a haul, not a same-day shuttle.
Reviews on this run are mixed. Across 44 reviews, the median reported price is $4,058 from 43 priced reviews, with the middle half from $2,500 to $7,000. Long-distance moves are priced by weight and miles, so those prices mix home sizes and distances. 48% mention damage, and 34% mention a delay or a no-show. The boxes do not file those reviews. You do.
Delivery is a window, not a clock time. The mover sets the delivery window on the order for service, so the date on the paperwork is a span, not a promise of a single hour. Damage and delay notes in the reviews are why that window belongs in writing. Ask for the window before pickup, and keep a copy with the estimate.
Before you book
On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate.
Check the carrier before the quote. Interstate household moves need a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Haulest is not a carrier and does not book the truck. Look the number up in the license lookup before you send a deposit or sign anything.
Get the estimate type in writing. Ask whether the price is binding or a not-to-exceed figure, and keep the delivery window written on the order for service. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. Read that 110 percent rule before you treat a low quote as the final bill.
Deposit terms belong on the order. Ask what the deposit covers, when it is due, and whether it is refundable if the mover cancels or you do. Put those terms next to the written delivery window so the money and the dates sit in one place. The deposit guide walks through the questions worth asking before you pay.
Leaving Virginia, arriving in California.
| Virginia | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 101.1 | 110.7 |
| Median home sale price | $499,300 | $887,400 |
| Median days on market | 28 | 33 |
| State income tax on wages | Taxes wages | Taxes wages |
| People who moved in 2024 | 20,180 arrived from California | 18,100 arrived from Virginia |
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 Virginia, 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 (Virginia homes sold by month).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How many people moved from Virginia to California?
- ACS 2024 counts 18,100 people moving from Virginia to California, with a margin of plus or minus 4,368. The reverse flow is 20,180 people moving from California to Virginia. The Census figures do not say why anyone moved.
- How long is the most common run?
- In our file the most common trip is Virginia Beach to San Diego, 2,743 miles and about 48 hours of driving. That is driving time only, before loading and unloading. The move is priced by weight and miles.
- What is the median price in your reviews?
- Across 43 priced reviews the median reported price is $4,058, and the middle half runs from $2,500 to $7,000. The file has 44 reviews in all. Those prices mix home sizes and distances, so the median is not a quote for your shipment.
- How often do reviews mention damage or a delay?
- 48% of the reviews mention damage. 34% mention a delay or a no-show. Those shares come from 44 reviews in our file for this run.
- What should I confirm before I book?
- Confirm an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority, and get the delivery window in writing. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. Ask for deposit terms before you pay.
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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 Virginia to California quote
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Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.