Moving from Jersey City, NJ to Los Angeles, CA
About 2,849 miles across a state line, from New Jersey 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 Jersey City, NJ to Los Angeles, CA covers about 2,849 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $12,821 – $17,094 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 761 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,849 miles from New Jersey 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 $12,821 – $17,094 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 52 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 Jersey City to Los Angeles
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,615 – $12,821 | $6,923 – $9,231 | $4,615 – $6,154 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,538 – $15,385 | $8,308 – $11,077 | $5,538 – $7,385 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,821 – $17,094 | $9,231 – $12,308 | $6,154 – $8,205 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,744 – $19,658 | $10,615 – $14,154 | $7,077 – $9,436 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,667 – $22,222 | $12,000 – $16,000 | $8,000 – $10,667 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $19,231 – $25,641 | $13,846 – $18,462 | $9,231 – $12,308 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,849 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, Jersey City to Los Angeles
2,849 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $14,245. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $12,821 to $17,094, 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 Jersey City to Los Angeles
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 761 people a year (±266) moved from Hudson County, NJ, home to Jersey City, to Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles. Going the other way: about 323 people a year (±195). Movers from Hudson County make up 0.4% of the 201,481 people a year who moved into Los Angeles County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 9,653 people a year (±2,769) moving from New Jersey to California and about 8,021 people a year (±2,510) from California to New Jersey — a net gain for California of about 1,632 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Bergen County, NJ | 5,699 ±939 |
| Essex County, NJ | 3,452 ±721 |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 3,213 ±778 |
| Union County, NJ | 2,930 ±718 |
| New York County, NY | 2,368 ±577 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | 23,839 ±1,290 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 15,590 ±1,301 |
| Riverside County, CA | 10,232 ±1,091 |
| San Diego County, CA | 8,898 ±761 |
| Ventura County, CA | 6,625 ±810 |
Licensed movers at each end
521 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Jersey City (937 counting those licensed only inside New Jersey). 319 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 15.0% of their 1,843 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piece of Cake MovingUSDOT 3066988 | New York City · 4 mi | 340 trucks | 383 | 10.2% of 246 |
| Roadway MovingUSDOT 1854436 | New York City · 12 mi | 190 trucks | 236 | 12.0% of 166 |
| Budd Van Lines IncUSDOT 185771 | Somerset · 30 mi | 124 trucks | 107 | 7.1% of 56 |
| Great Moving IncUSDOT 2180117 | Staten Island · 7 mi | 70 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Great Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 3547419 | South Plainfiel · 22 mi | 70 trucks | 20 | 21.4% of 14 |
| Oz Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1058063 | Yonkers · 18 mi | 35 trucks | 27 | 13.3% of 15 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Los Angeles end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Los Angeles: Move Happy Acme (Los Angeles, 31 trucks), Best California Movers (North Hollywood, 22 trucks), Wetzel & Sons Moving & Storage Inc (Pacoima, 17 trucks), Altar Boys Moving (Pacoima, 15 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from New Jersey 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 Jersey City to Los Angeles
Insist on a survey
Over 2,849 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 2,849 miles of handling.
Arriving in Los Angeles
A local move inside Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles are Long Beach (about 23 mi), Santa Clarita (about 34 mi), Santa Ana (about 35 mi).
Other routes from Jersey City
All routes from Jersey City, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey City to New York City, NY | ~3 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Jersey City to Newark, NJ | ~8 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Jersey City to Paterson, NJ | ~17 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Jersey City to Mount Vernon, NY | ~20 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Jersey City to Bridgeport, CT | ~64 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Jersey City to Philadelphia, PA | ~92 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Jersey City to Wilmington, DE | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| Jersey City to Providence, RI | ~183 mi | $824 – $1,098 |
Also moving to Los Angeles: from Anaheim, CA, from Lancaster, CA, from Oxnard, CA, from Moreno Valley, CA.
Jersey City to Los Angeles moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Jersey City to Los Angeles?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,849 miles cost about $9,615 – $12,821 for a studio, $12,821 – $17,094 for a two-bedroom home and $14,744 – $19,658 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Jersey City to Los Angeles take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 52 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 Jersey City to Los Angeles?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,154 – $8,205 for a two-bedroom home, against $12,821 – $17,094 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,231 – $12,308.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Jersey City to Los Angeles?
Yes. Jersey City is in New Jersey and Los Angeles is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 521 listed movers within 30 miles of Jersey City hold it.
How many people move from Jersey City to Los Angeles each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 761 people a year (margin of error ±266) moved from Hudson County, which contains Jersey City, to Los Angeles County, which contains Los Angeles.
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.