If you’re planning a move from California to Idaho, expect to spend anywhere from $700 to $5,800.
How much you have to fork over on your move to the Gem State will vary depending on several factors, including how much stuff you have and when you plan to move. The way you decide to move from California — whether full-service, DIY, or somewhere in between — also affects pricing.
In this guide, I break down the key factors that impact the cost of an California to Idaho move so you can budget realistically. I also share tips to keep your costs low and help you avoid surprise fees if you hire Idaho movers.
Going the other way? Check out our moving from Idaho to California guide.
It’s time to haul your furniture, photos, and memories 909 miles from California to a new home in Idaho.
Hiring movers to handle the heavy lifting from Idaho to California ranges from $700 to $5,800.
California movers charge $123 per hour on average to pack, securely load, and safely haul your belongings to your new home.
The chart below will give you an estimate for your move to the Gem State.
Move size | Moving company | Rental truck |
---|---|---|
Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,170 – $4,458 | $606 – $1,145 |
2 – 3 bedrooms | $2,401 – $5,837 | $654 – $1,362 |
4+ bedrooms | $4,008 – $7,838 | $821 – $1,654 |
The main things that affect your costs for moving from California to Idaho are:
Making an interstate move from California to Idaho can be stressful, to say the least.
Hiring a reliable, affordable moving company you can trust makes all the difference in having as headache-free an experience as possible.
After extensive research, I found these top-rated movers to be the very best for relocating from California to Idaho based on reputation, customer reviews, and service quality.
Getting accurate estimates from moving companies is crucial to budgeting and planning your interstate move from California to Idaho. A quick read-through of moving company reviews will show you how often inaccurate estimations of move size and pricing quotes can lead to dissatisfaction and surprise costs. Avoid vague ballpark estimates that could end up costing you more than expected.
To get a realistic quote for your California to Idaho move:
California | Idaho | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,586 | $887 |
Average home cost | $746,055 | $434,224 |
Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $70,214 |
Cost of living index | 100 | 100 |
Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 3.2% |
Average sales tax | 8.68% | 6.03% |
State income tax | 13.3% | 5.8% |
Idaho | California | |
---|---|---|
Summer high | 85ºF | 87ºF |
Winter low | 17ºF | 59ºF |
Annual rain | 18″ | 22″ |
Annual snow | 47″ | 7″ |
Idaho | California | |
---|---|---|
Population | 1,939,033 | 39,029,342 |
Political leaning | Republican 64-33 | Democratic 63-34 |
Crime index | 12.95 | 27.88 |
Some of the benefits of moving from California to Idaho
include .
For interstate moves, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency that oversees all safety regulations for moving companies that handle moves out of California.
The FMCSA also makes sure all moving companies are registered through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and maintain a USDOT number.
The worst time to move to Idaho is during the summer months, when the weather is at its hottest and moving costs are at their highest due to the peak season.
You should book your move from California to Idaho as far in advance as possible, but the rule of thumb is between three and six months ahead of moving day.
This will help ensure you get the moving date you want, and some companies may even offer an early-bird discount for booking early.
It’s a lot easier to get an online estimate for your move from California to Idaho, but this could cost you in the long run.
Taking a little extra time for an in-home or virtual walkthrough of your home will help ensure your mover accurately quotes you a price based on the amount of items you have and the size and layout of your home.
The cheapest way to move from California to Idaho is likely to rent a moving truck and handle the move yourself.
While this can save you some money, keep in mind that a DIY move means you’ll be doing the heavy lifting and driving on your own.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of moving, a full-service company, while more expensive, might be the better option.
Moving is more than just getting your stuff from California to Idaho. You also need to handle logistics to settle into your new home.
Here’s what to add to your to-do list for a seamless move: