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If you're moving from Austin to Los Angeles, you already know this isn't a short haul. At 1,379 miles, it's a commitment — in time, money, and logistics. The cost-of-living shift alone deserves a hard look before you book anyone. But let's start with who's actually worth hiring and what to realistically budget.
Finding an Austin-based mover with real long-distance moving capability on the Austin-to-LA corridor takes more than a quick Google search. I reviewed 32 movers operating out of Austin that handle long-distance runs, weighting pricing, service range, and verified customer feedback after the fact.
These five earned the top spots:
720 Bastrop Hwy, Austin, TX 78741 Rating: 4.6 / 5 | 80% positive, 19% negative (469 reviews) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB profile — Grade A
State license: 007743472C | DOT #: 2378173 | In business: 6 years
Services: Local moves, packing, unpacking, office moves, storage; accepts credit cards
College Hunks shows up well in most reviews — crews that arrive on time, work fast, and treat belongings carefully. Plenty of customers note that the final bill actually came in under the quote, which isn't something you hear often. The problem area is that persistent 19%: damaged items, charges that came in above estimate, and a few no-shows. Billing transparency is the recurring sore spot. I'd document everything at quote time and do a walkthrough with the crew before they leave your new place.
2021 Guadalupe St, Suite 260, Austin, TX 78705 Rating: 4.5 / 5 | 93% positive, 7% negative (43 reviews) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB profile — Grade A+
State license: 009181943C | DOT #: 1836576 | In business: 30 years
Services: Local and interstate moves, international, packing/unpacking, office moves, pianos, art, antiques, crating, full-valuation coverage, storage; accepts cash and credit
Thirty years in the business and a 93% positive rate is a legitimate track record. Customers consistently call out careful handling, pre-move communication, and crews that move efficiently without cutting corners. The 7% of negative reviews are more troubling than the percentage suggests — missing items, unresolved damage claims, and communication that went cold after delivery. If you're moving anything irreplaceable, press them specifically on the claims process before you sign.
9201 Brown Ln #180, Austin, TX 78754 Rating: 4.6 / 5 | 95% positive, 6% negative (110 reviews) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB profile — Grade A+
State license: 006252715C | In business: 24 years
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, office moves, pianos, crating, storage; accepts credit cards
A 94.5% positive rate across 110 reviews is a high floor. What stands out isn't just the score — it's what customers keep mentioning: responsive booking, transparent pricing, and crews that actually protect furniture in transit. The small negative slice mostly involves furniture damage and billing discrepancies on the back end. Greater Austin Moving's pre-move communication gets mentioned repeatedly as better than competitors, which tracks with what I've seen from their reviews.
1800 W Howard Ln, Austin, TX 78728 Rating: 4.72 / 5 | 91% positive, 8% negative (241 reviews) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB profile — Grade A+
State license: 007074263C | DOT #: 2783472 | In business: 22 years
Services: Local moves, packing/unpacking, office moves, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks, crating, full-valuation coverage, storage, fragile-only packing, safes; accepts money order, cash, and credit; DOD certified; deposit required
The highest-rated company on this list. Out of 241 reviews, 91% are positive — with transparent pricing and furniture protection coming up again and again. Most jobs finish on time or early. The 8% negative reviews flag item damage and some inconsistency in crew experience, which is worth noting but proportionally small. The DOD certification and specialty item range — pianos, pool tables, safes, grandfather clocks — make this the most versatile option if you're moving more than standard household goods.
1005 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 Rating: 4.5 / 5 | 93% positive, 7% negative (273 reviews) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB profile — Grade A+
State license: 000534796B | DOT #: 1914113 | In business: 40 years
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, office moves, pianos, storage, safes; accepts credit cards
Forty years of operation is a real signal. Across 273 reviews, 93% are positive — fast crews, careful handling, reliable arrival times. The 7% negative reviews include broken items without adequate compensation and crews that dragged on jobs where speed was promised. What I'd tell a friend: confirm the specifics of your move in writing before the truck rolls, and do a full walkthrough before the team signs off.
The 1,379-mile run from Austin to LA puts this squarely in long-haul territory. Use the moving cost calculator for a personalized estimate, but here's what the numbers typically look like based on move size and method:
| Move Size | Full-Service Movers | Moving Containers | Rental Truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 BR | $1,106 – $4,870 | $948 – $2,190 | $839 – $1,529 |
| 2 – 3 BR | $2,581 – $6,433 | $1,678 – $3,225 | $829 – $1,746 |
| 4+ BR | $4,642 – $8,403 | $2,101 – $4,336 | $1,055 – $2,266 |
Ranges reflect the 1,379-mile Austin to Los Angeles route as of January 2026. Actual costs vary with shipment weight, extra services, fuel rates, access conditions, and timing. Get quotes from multiple movers before committing.
For a studio or one-bedroom, expect somewhere between $1,106 and $4,870. That's a wide range — shipment weight, timing, and which company you use all move the needle significantly. A two- or three-bedroom home runs $2,581 to $6,433. If you're relocating a large four-bedroom home, budget $4,642 to $8,403.
Those upper numbers aren't outliers. A heavy household moving cross-country in peak summer can easily push past $8,000.
Moving containers land in the middle on both price and effort. You pack and unpack yourself, which cuts labor costs but adds time on both ends. A studio or one-bedroom runs $948 to $2,190. Two to three bedrooms cost $1,678 to $3,225. A four-bedroom-plus move comes in at $2,101 to $4,336.
Renting a truck is the cheapest option on paper, but you're the one driving 1,379 miles. A studio or one-bedroom truck runs $839 to $1,529. For two or three bedrooms, expect $829 to $1,746. Larger homes land at $1,055 to $2,266. These estimates account for average fuel costs — they don't account for the physical toll of a multiday cross-country drive.
Plan for a real financial adjustment after the move. California is considerably more expensive than Texas across almost every category, and Los Angeles sits above California's average.
Singles spend around $5,833 per month in LA versus $3,345 in Austin. Families of four pay $12,720 compared to $7,815. Here's the full breakdown:
| Austin | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Average 1 BR rent | $2,208 | $2,603 |
| Average 3 BR rent | $3,827 | $4,443 |
| Average home value | $508,841 | $2,368,088 |
| Average income (per capita) | $68,258 | $74,993 |
| Cost of living (single) | $3,345 | $5,833 |
| Cost of living (family of 4) | $7,815 | $12,720 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 10.6% |
| Sales tax | 8.25% | 9.5% |
| State income tax | 0.0% | 13.3% |
Sources: World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, BLS, Tax Foundation
A few of those numbers deserve a closer look:
For day-to-day costs, here's how the two cities compare:
| Expense | Austin | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities | $181.48 | $192.54 |
| Cell phone plan | $61.16 | $62.50 |
| Dozen eggs | $4.35 | $7.02 |
| Loaf of bread | $3.50 | $4.58 |
| Fast food / casual meal | $20.00 | $25.00 |
| Dinner for 2 (mid-range) | $77.50 | $100.00 |
| Gym membership | $62.38 | $47.76 |
The one category where LA actually wins: gym memberships are cheaper there. Everything else on that list costs more.
| Austin | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 974,447 | 3,820,914 |
| Public transit score | 5 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Walkability score | 42 / 100 | 69 / 100 |
| Bike-friendliness score | 54 / 100 | 59 / 100 |
| Crime index | 42.91 | 53.81 |
| Safety index | 59.87 | 46.19 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
Sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow
LA's public transit score of 8 out of 10 is genuinely better than Austin's 5 — and walkability is significantly higher (69 vs. 42). If you've been car-dependent in Austin, that changes in LA, though traffic famously offsets a lot of the gain. Crime is higher in LA, safety scores are lower, and air quality drops from Good to Moderate. None of that should be a surprise going in, but it's worth building into your neighborhood search.
Run through our moving checklist in the weeks before your move to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
LA rewards getting out. A few highlights by category:
Source: AttractionsofAmerica
Spring and fall. Weather is reasonable in both cities, demand is lower than summer, and you have more pricing leverage with movers. If the timing is flexible, those windows are where I'd aim.
Winter. It's the slow season for movers, which means more room to negotiate rates and find availability. January and February are typically the softest months for pricing.
Transit on the 1,379-mile route typically runs three to eight days with most carriers. Some Austin movers offer expedited delivery if your timeline is tight — that usually costs more. If you need flexibility on the receiving end, ask about short-term storage options in LA before you book.
Some movers in Austin offer discounted rates for specific groups. At least two provide military discounts and two offer reduced rates for seniors. These programs vary and aren't always advertised clearly — confirm directly with the mover before you assume they apply.
Not from every company. In Austin, 18 movers handle piano relocations and 13 are equipped for antique transport. Texas as a whole has 179 piano movers and 124 antique movers. Nationwide, there are roughly 2,299 and 1,464, respectively. Always confirm a mover's specific experience with your item type before booking — and ask how they'll pack and secure it.
Get quotes from at least three movers before committing. On a 1,379-mile move, the spread between providers can run into hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars depending on your shipment weight, timeline, and the services you add. Compare using the moving cost calculator and confirm licensing before you hand over a deposit.
