Moving from Austin, TX to San Francisco, CA
1,760 miles across a state line, from Texas 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 Austin, TX to San Francisco, CA covers 1,760 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $7,920 – $10,560 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 204 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,760 miles from Texas 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 $7,920 – $10,560 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 32 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 Austin to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,940 – $7,920 | $4,277 – $5,702 | $2,851 – $3,802 |
| 1 bedroom | $7,128 – $9,504 | $5,132 – $6,843 | $3,421 – $4,562 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,920 – $10,560 | $5,702 – $7,603 | $3,802 – $5,069 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,108 – $12,144 | $6,558 – $8,744 | $4,372 – $5,829 |
| 4 bedrooms | $10,296 – $13,728 | $7,413 – $9,884 | $4,942 – $6,589 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $11,880 – $15,840 | $8,554 – $11,405 | $5,702 – $7,603 |
Transport only, for 1,760 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, Austin to San Francisco
1,760 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $8,800. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $7,920 to $10,560, 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 Austin to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 204 people a year (±112) moved from Travis County, TX, home to Austin, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 580 people a year (±260). Movers from Travis County make up 0.4% 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 45,447 people a year (±6,640) moving from Texas to California and about 77,161 people a year (±9,059) from California to Texas — a net gain for Texas of about 31,714 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Williamson County, TX | 16,454 ±1,845 |
| Hays County, TX | 5,639 ±1,063 |
| Harris County, TX | 3,974 ±791 |
| Bexar County, TX | 3,130 ±757 |
| Bastrop County, TX | 2,447 ±809 |
| 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
51 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Austin (323 counting those licensed only inside Texas). 24 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 26.4% of their 110 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MovingUSDOT 3538096 | Austin · 9 mi | 185 trucks | 37 | 23.5% of 17 |
| Next Stop Moving & StorageUSDOT 3756197 | Taylor · 30 mi | 18 trucks | 56 | 31.3% of 32 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Austin LLCUSDOT 902281 | Pflugerville · 15 mi | 12 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Unicorn Moving and StorageUSDOT 3592100 | Austin · 9 mi | 11 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Heavenly Care MovingUSDOT 3429695 | Austin · 12 mi | 11 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Quality Van Lines IncUSDOT 2292865 | Round Rock · 20 mi | 10 trucks | 24 | 30.0% of 10 |
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 Texas 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 Austin to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 1,760 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 1,760 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 Austin
All routes from Austin, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin to San Antonio, TX | ~86 mi | $445 – $733 |
| Austin to Houston, TX | 162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Austin to Dallas, TX | 196 mi | $882 – $1,176 |
| Austin to Fort Worth, TX | ~202 mi | $909 – $1,212 |
| Austin to Arlington, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Austin to Corpus Christi, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Austin to McKinney, TX | ~247 mi | $1,112 – $1,482 |
| Austin to Laredo, TX | ~251 mi | $1,130 – $1,506 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Austin to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Austin to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over 1,760 miles cost about $5,940 – $7,920 for a studio, $7,920 – $10,560 for a two-bedroom home and $9,108 – $12,144 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Austin to San Francisco take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 32 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 Austin to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,802 – $5,069 for a two-bedroom home, against $7,920 – $10,560 with full-service movers; a moving container is $5,702 – $7,603.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Austin to San Francisco?
Yes. Austin is in Texas and San Francisco is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 51 listed movers within 30 miles of Austin hold it.
How many people move from Austin to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 204 people a year (margin of error ±112) moved from Travis County, which contains Austin, 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.