Moving from McAllen, TX to Los Angeles, CA
About 1,526 miles across a state line, from Texas 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 McAllen, TX to Los Angeles, CA covers about 1,526 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $6,867 – $9,156 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 100 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,526 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 $6,867 – $9,156 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 28 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 McAllen to Los Angeles
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,150 – $6,867 | $3,708 – $4,944 | $2,472 – $3,296 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,180 – $8,240 | $4,450 – $5,933 | $2,967 – $3,955 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,867 – $9,156 | $4,944 – $6,592 | $3,296 – $4,395 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,897 – $10,529 | $5,686 – $7,581 | $3,791 – $5,054 |
| 4 bedrooms | $8,927 – $11,903 | $6,428 – $8,570 | $4,285 – $5,713 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $10,301 – $13,734 | $7,416 – $9,888 | $4,944 – $6,592 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,526 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, McAllen to Los Angeles
1,526 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $7,630. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $6,867 to $9,156, 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 McAllen to Los Angeles
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 100 people a year (±70) moved from Hidalgo County, TX, home to McAllen, to Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles. Going the other way: about 77 people a year (±68). Movers from Hidalgo County make up 0.0% 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 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 |
|---|---|
| Bexar County, TX | 2,105 ±631 |
| Harris County, TX | 1,515 ±558 |
| Nueces County, TX | 1,459 ±698 |
| Cameron County, TX | 1,219 ±964 |
| Lubbock County, TX | 840 ±673 |
| 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
1 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of McAllen (18 counting those licensed only inside Texas). 0 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moving Made EasyUSDOT 4252773 | Mission · 6 mi | 1 truck | 0 | — |
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 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 McAllen to Los Angeles
Insist on a survey
Over 1,526 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 1,526 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 McAllen
All routes from McAllen, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| McAllen to Corpus Christi, TX | ~138 mi | $621 – $828 |
| McAllen to Laredo, TX | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| McAllen to San Antonio, TX | ~258 mi | $1,161 – $1,548 |
| McAllen to Austin, TX | ~328 mi | $1,476 – $1,968 |
| McAllen to Houston, TX | ~351 mi | $1,580 – $2,106 |
| McAllen to Arlington, TX | ~531 mi | $2,390 – $3,186 |
| McAllen to Dallas, TX | ~537 mi | $2,417 – $3,222 |
| McAllen to Lubbock, TX | ~643 mi | $2,894 – $3,858 |
Also moving to Los Angeles: from Anaheim, CA, from Lancaster, CA, from Oxnard, CA, from Moreno Valley, CA.
McAllen to Los Angeles moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from McAllen to Los Angeles?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,526 miles cost about $5,150 – $6,867 for a studio, $6,867 – $9,156 for a two-bedroom home and $7,897 – $10,529 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from McAllen to Los Angeles take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 28 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 McAllen to Los Angeles?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,296 – $4,395 for a two-bedroom home, against $6,867 – $9,156 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,944 – $6,592.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for McAllen to Los Angeles?
Yes. McAllen is in Texas and Los Angeles is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 1 listed movers within 30 miles of McAllen hold it.
How many people move from McAllen to Los Angeles each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 100 people a year (margin of error ±70) moved from Hidalgo County, which contains McAllen, 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.