Moving from Salt Lake City, UT to San Diego, CA
About 732 miles across a state line, from Utah 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 Salt Lake City, UT to San Diego, CA covers about 732 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $3,294 – $4,392 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 338 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 732 miles between Utah and California, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $3,294 – $4,392 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Salt Lake City to San Diego
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,471 – $3,294 | $1,779 – $2,372 | $1,186 – $1,581 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,965 – $3,953 | $2,135 – $2,846 | $1,423 – $1,897 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,294 – $4,392 | $2,372 – $3,162 | $1,581 – $2,108 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,788 – $5,051 | $2,727 – $3,637 | $1,818 – $2,424 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,282 – $5,710 | $3,083 – $4,111 | $2,055 – $2,741 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,941 – $6,588 | $3,558 – $4,743 | $2,372 – $3,162 |
Transport only, for an estimated 732 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, Salt Lake City to San Diego
732 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $3,660. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $3,294 to $4,392, 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 Salt Lake City to San Diego
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 338 people a year (±151) moved from Salt Lake County, UT, home to Salt Lake City, to San Diego County, CA, home to San Diego. Going the other way: about 415 people a year (±166). Movers from Salt Lake County make up 0.3% of the 132,807 people a year who moved into San Diego County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 8,564 people a year (±2,267) moving from Utah to California and about 13,734 people a year (±3,517) from California to Utah — a net gain for Utah of about 5,170 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Utah County, UT | 9,919 ±1,024 |
| Davis County, UT | 6,567 ±1,253 |
| Weber County, UT | 2,099 ±552 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 2,075 ±621 |
| Tooele County, UT | 1,959 ±628 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA | 10,436 ±1,312 |
| Orange County, CA | 8,261 ±1,298 |
| Riverside County, CA | 8,201 ±1,135 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 5,342 ±857 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,074 ±756 |
Licensed movers at each end
32 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Salt Lake City (82 counting those licensed only inside Utah). 14 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 15.4% of their 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Other Side MoversUSDOT 2834693 | Salt Lake City · 1 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Equus Long DistanceUSDOT 2893666 | Lehi · 24 mi | 30 trucks | 0 | — |
| Best of Utah Moving Company LLCUSDOT 2920944 | Sandy · 13 mi | 19 trucks | 10 | 14.3% of 7 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 3356449 | Salt Lake City · 7 mi | 15 trucks | 2 | 50.0% of 2 |
| Quick Transportation LLCUSDOT 1157455 | West Valley City · 5 mi | 14 trucks | 0 | — |
| Rocky Mountain MoversUSDOT 4509308 | Salt Lake City · 7 mi | 12 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Diego end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Diego: Mills Van Lines (San Diego, 108 trucks), Corovan Moving & Storage Co (Poway, 88 trucks), Republic Moving & Storage (Chula Vista, 21 trucks), Ackley Moving Services (Poway, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Utah 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 Salt Lake City to San Diego
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 732 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in San Diego
A local move inside San Diego 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 Diego are Chula Vista (about 12 mi), Irvine (about 88 mi), Santa Ana (about 95 mi).
Other routes from Salt Lake City
All routes from Salt Lake City, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City to Ogden, UT | ~38 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Salt Lake City to Provo, UT | ~45 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Salt Lake City to Saint George, UT | ~315 mi | $1,418 – $1,890 |
| Salt Lake City to Boise, ID | ~345 mi | $1,553 – $2,070 |
| Salt Lake City to Fort Collins, CO | ~417 mi | $1,877 – $2,502 |
| Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, NV | ~423 mi | $1,904 – $2,538 |
| Salt Lake City to Denver, CO | ~432 mi | $1,944 – $2,592 |
| Salt Lake City to Reno, NV | ~498 mi | $2,241 – $2,988 |
Also moving to San Diego: from Moreno Valley, CA, from Anaheim, CA, from Fontana, CA, from Los Angeles, CA.
Salt Lake City to San Diego moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Salt Lake City to San Diego?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 732 miles cost about $2,471 – $3,294 for a studio, $3,294 – $4,392 for a two-bedroom home and $3,788 – $5,051 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Salt Lake City to San Diego take?
The drive is 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Salt Lake City to San Diego?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,581 – $2,108 for a two-bedroom home, against $3,294 – $4,392 with full-service movers; a moving container is $2,372 – $3,162.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Salt Lake City to San Diego?
Yes. Salt Lake City is in Utah and San Diego is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 32 listed movers within 30 miles of Salt Lake City hold it.
How many people move from Salt Lake City to San Diego each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 338 people a year (margin of error ±151) moved from Salt Lake County, which contains Salt Lake City, to San Diego County, which contains San Diego.
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.