Moving from New York City, NY to San Francisco, CA
2,909 miles across a state line, from New York into California, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from New York City, NY to San Francisco, CA covers 2,909 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $13,091 – $17,454 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 1,816 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,909 miles from New York 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 $13,091 – $17,454 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 53 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 New York City to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,818 – $13,091 | $7,069 – $9,425 | $4,713 – $6,283 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,781 – $15,709 | $8,483 – $11,310 | $5,655 – $7,540 |
| 2 bedrooms | $13,091 – $17,454 | $9,425 – $12,567 | $6,283 – $8,378 |
| 3 bedrooms | $15,054 – $20,072 | $10,839 – $14,452 | $7,226 – $9,635 |
| 4 bedrooms | $17,018 – $22,690 | $12,253 – $16,337 | $8,168 – $10,891 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $19,636 – $26,181 | $14,138 – $18,850 | $9,425 – $12,567 |
Transport only, for 2,909 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, New York City to San Francisco
2,909 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $14,545. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $13,091 to $17,454, 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 New York City to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,816 people a year (±455) moved from New York County, NY, home to New York City, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 1,188 people a year (±456). Movers from New York County make up 3.5% of the 51,400 people a year who moved into San Francisco County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 24,927 people a year (±3,680) moving from New York to California and about 31,367 people a year (±4,875) from California to New York — a net gain for New York of about 6,440 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Kings County, NY | 21,743 ±1,419 |
| Bronx County, NY | 11,469 ±1,191 |
| Queens County, NY | 8,427 ±1,066 |
| Westchester County, NY | 5,727 ±831 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,267 ±746 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 5,296 ±738 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 4,693 ±747 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 4,278 ±657 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 4,003 ±458 |
| San Diego County, CA | 2,649 ±575 |
Licensed movers at each end
521 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of New York City (940 counting those licensed only inside New York). 317 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 15.2% of their 1,816 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 · 2 mi | 340 trucks | 383 | 10.2% of 246 |
| Roadway MovingUSDOT 1854436 | New York City · 11 mi | 190 trucks | 236 | 12.0% of 166 |
| Great Moving IncUSDOT 2180117 | Staten Island · 7 mi | 70 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Great Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 3547419 | South Plainfiel · 23 mi | 70 trucks | 20 | 21.4% of 14 |
| Oz Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1058063 | Yonkers · 17 mi | 35 trucks | 27 | 13.3% of 15 |
| Molloy Moving & StorageUSDOT 241034 | Farmingdale · 30 mi | 33 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Francisco end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Francisco: Air Container Transfer (Brisbane, 60 trucks), Waters Moving & Storage Inc (Martinez, 35 trucks), Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLC (Union City, 25 trucks), Nor-Cal Moving Services (Hayward, 23 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from New York 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 New York City to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 2,909 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 2,909 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Francisco
A local move inside San Francisco 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 Francisco are Oakland (about 9 mi), Fremont (about 38 mi), San Jose (about 49 mi).
Other routes from New York City
All routes from New York City, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| New York City to Jersey City, NJ | ~3 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to Newark, NJ | ~10 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to Mount Vernon, NY | ~19 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to Yonkers, NY | ~19 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to Paterson, NJ | ~19 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to New Rochelle, NY | ~21 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to Bridgeport, CT | ~62 mi | $515 – $845 |
| New York City to New Haven, CT | ~81 mi | $515 – $845 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
New York City to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from New York City to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over 2,909 miles cost about $9,818 – $13,091 for a studio, $13,091 – $17,454 for a two-bedroom home and $15,054 – $20,072 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from New York City to San Francisco take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 53 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 New York City to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,283 – $8,378 for a two-bedroom home, against $13,091 – $17,454 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,425 – $12,567.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for New York City to San Francisco?
Yes. New York City is in New York and San Francisco 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 New York City hold it.
How many people move from New York City to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,816 people a year (margin of error ±455) moved from New York County, which contains New York City, to San Francisco County, which contains San Francisco.
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.