Moving from Raleigh, NC to San Jose, CA
About 2,777 miles across a state line, from North Carolina into California, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Raleigh, NC to San Jose, CA covers about 2,777 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $12,497 – $16,662 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 500 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,777 miles from North Carolina to California. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $12,497 – $16,662 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 6 days on the road (about 50 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Raleigh to San Jose
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,372 – $12,497 | $6,748 – $8,997 | $4,499 – $5,998 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,247 – $14,996 | $8,098 – $10,797 | $5,398 – $7,198 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,497 – $16,662 | $8,997 – $11,997 | $5,998 – $7,998 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,371 – $19,161 | $10,347 – $13,796 | $6,898 – $9,197 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,245 – $21,661 | $11,697 – $15,596 | $7,798 – $10,397 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $18,745 – $24,993 | $13,496 – $17,995 | $8,997 – $11,997 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,777 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Raleigh to San Jose
2,777 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $13,885. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $12,497 to $16,662, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Raleigh to San Jose
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 500 people a year (±274) moved from Wake County, NC, home to Raleigh, to Santa Clara County, CA, home to San Jose. Going the other way: about 477 people a year (±316). Movers from Wake County make up 0.6% of the 78,912 people a year who moved into Santa Clara County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 8,873 people a year (±2,194) moving from North Carolina to California and about 18,428 people a year (±4,002) from California to North Carolina — a net gain for North Carolina of about 9,555 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Durham County, NC | 4,673 ±905 |
| Johnston County, NC | 4,404 ±1,159 |
| Orange County, NC | 1,930 ±364 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 1,862 ±413 |
| Pitt County, NC | 1,860 ±427 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 8,231 ±986 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 6,043 ±854 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,413 ±752 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 3,735 ±605 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 2,272 ±673 |
Licensed movers at each end
56 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Raleigh (110 counting those licensed only inside North Carolina). 26 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 28.8% of their 66 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All American RelocationUSDOT 917428 | Raleigh · 6 mi | 41 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Zippy ShellUSDOT 2574332 | Wake Forest · 15 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Trosa MovingUSDOT 675014 | Durham · 21 mi | 32 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Miracle Movers RaleighUSDOT 3139734 | Durham · 16 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | — |
| Movin on MoversUSDOT 4017538 | Fuquay-Varina · 20 mi | 19 trucks | 0 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of RaleighUSDOT 906054 | Raleigh · 12 mi | 16 trucks | 1 | 100.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Jose end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Jose: Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLC (Union City, 25 trucks), Nor-Cal Moving Services (Hayward, 23 trucks), Ontrack Moving LLC (Hayward, 20 trucks), Moving Solutions Inc (Newark, 18 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from North Carolina into California, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Raleigh to San Jose
Insist on a survey
Over 2,777 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 2,777 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Jose
A local move inside San Jose later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Jose are Fremont (about 13 mi), Oakland (about 45 mi), San Francisco (about 49 mi).
Other routes from Raleigh
All routes from Raleigh, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh to Durham, NC | ~24 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Chapel Hill, NC | ~29 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Fayetteville, NC | ~60 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Greensboro, NC | ~79 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Winston-Salem, NC | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
| Raleigh to Charlotte, NC | ~151 mi | $680 – $906 |
| Raleigh to Myrtle Beach, SC | ~168 mi | $756 – $1,008 |
| Raleigh to Virginia Beach, VA | ~193 mi | $869 – $1,158 |
Also moving to San Jose: from Fremont, CA, from San Francisco, CA, from Modesto, CA, from Stockton, CA.
Raleigh to San Jose moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Raleigh to San Jose?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,777 miles cost about $9,372 – $12,497 for a studio, $12,497 – $16,662 for a two-bedroom home and $14,371 – $19,161 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Raleigh to San Jose take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 50 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Raleigh to San Jose?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $5,998 – $7,998 for a two-bedroom home, against $12,497 – $16,662 with full-service movers; a moving container is $8,997 – $11,997.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Raleigh to San Jose?
Yes. Raleigh is in North Carolina and San Jose is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 56 listed movers within 30 miles of Raleigh hold it.
How many people move from Raleigh to San Jose each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 500 people a year (margin of error ±274) moved from Wake County, which contains Raleigh, to Santa Clara County, which contains San Jose.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.