---
title: "Moving from Sacramento to Colorado: Costs, Movers & What to Expect"
description: "Real cost ranges, top Sacramento mover reviews, and a Sacramento vs. Colorado cost of living breakdown to help you plan your move."
author: Sean Sullivan
keywords: ["moving from Sacramento to Colorado", "Sacramento to Colorado movers", "Sacramento to Colorado moving cost", "Sacramento Colorado cost of living", "long distance movers Sacramento", "Sacramento moving companies", "California to Colorado move"]
---
If you're moving from Sacramento to Colorado, you're looking at roughly 1,170 miles — far enough that who you hire will make or break this thing. Before you sign anything, here's what you actually need to know: who's worth calling, what it costs, and what life looks like on the other side of the state line.
## Top Sacramento Movers for Your Colorado Move
Out of 26 Sacramento-area movers capable of handling interstate moves, these five stand out on the Sacramento-to-Colorado route:
1. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK — 4.62 / 5
2. Mother Lode Van & Storage Inc. — 4.42 / 5
3. A Better Moving — 4.48 / 5
4. Sierra Valley Moving & Storage — 4.42 / 5
5. Yolo Transfer Moving & Storage — 4.52 / 5
---
### TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
**8362 Galena Ave, Sacramento, CA 95828**
**72% positive | 27% negative** across 570+ reviews
[Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/two-men-and-a-truck-sacramento-sacramento-2) (374 reviews) · [Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=two+men+and+a+truck+sacramento+ca) (815 reviews) · [BBB: A+](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/sacramento/profile/moving-services/two-men-and-a-trucksacramento-1156-40001034)
State license #: 0190058 · DOT #: 2527384 · 20 years in business
The day-of experience here is usually solid. Crews move fast, handle items carefully, and communicate clearly — that's what's driving the 72% positive rate across a large review pool. Where things get messier is on the back end: billing surprises are the most common complaint, and the claims process gets criticized when damage actually happens. Before you book, get specifics on how they handle damage claims and ask for a written explanation of how the final price is calculated.
**Services:** Local, interstate, packing, unpacking, pianos, storage, safes. Credit cards accepted.
---
### Mother Lode Van & Storage Inc.
**333 University Ave #200, Sacramento, CA 95825**
**83% positive | 15% negative** across 124 reviews
[Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/mother-lode-van-and-storage-sacramento-3) (44 reviews) · [Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Mother+Lode+Van+%26+Storage%2C+Inc.+sacramento+ca) (77 reviews) · [BBB: A+](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/gold-river/profile/moving-and-storage-companies/mother-lode-van-storage-inc-1156-17003309)
State license #: 189243 · DOT #: 070851 · 69 years in business
Mother Lode has been running moves since the mid-1950s, and that experience shows up in how organized the process feels. At 83% positive — the highest satisfaction rate on this list — customers consistently mention professional crews, thoughtful handling, and smooth communication. They operate as an agent of [North American Van Lines](/company/north-american-van-lines), which means access to a broader network for complex or large interstate moves. The recurring issue is price accuracy: some customers found the final bill meaningfully higher than the quote. Push for a binding estimate here.
**Services:** Local, interstate, international, packing, unpacking, offices, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks, crating, storage, full-valuation coverage. Credit cards accepted; deposit required.
---
### A Better Moving
**6640 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael, CA 95606**
**81% positive | 19% negative** across 156 reviews
[Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/a-better-moving-carmichael) (95 reviews) · [Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=A+Better+Moving+6640+Fair+Oaks+Blvd+Carmichael) (67 reviews) · [BBB: A+](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/carmichael/profile/moving-and-storage-companies/a-better-moving-and-storage-co-inc-1156-2000234)
State license #: 0170373 · DOT #: 528679 · 43 years in business
A Better Moving earns repeat mentions for energetic, detail-oriented crews that work quickly without getting careless with furniture. Several customers noted that their rates came in below competing quotes — a legitimately useful differentiator for a budget-conscious move. The 19% negative feedback circles around damage to belongings, charges that exceeded estimates, and a handful of crew-conduct incidents. None of that's unusual for the industry, and the ratio of strong recommendations to warnings here is better than you typically see.
**Services:** Local, interstate, packing, offices, pianos, hot tubs, crating, storage, safes. Credit cards accepted.
---
### Sierra Valley Moving & Storage
**5071 Kelton Way #200, Sacramento, CA 95838**
**82% positive | 9% negative** across 45 reviews
[Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/sierra-valley-moving-and-storage-sacramento) (16 reviews) · [Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Sierra+Valley+Moving+%26+Storage+sacramento+ca) (20 reviews) · [BBB: A+](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/sacramento/profile/office-movers/sierra-valley-moving-storage-1156-40000599)
State license #: 0190332 · DOT #: 786470 · 26 years in business
Lower review count, but the signal is clean: 82% positive and only 9% negative. Customers consistently describe focused, polite movers who take property seriously. The complaints that do exist are mostly about pricing running higher than competitors and occasional overpromising. I'd treat this one as a strong contender but still get at least one competing quote before committing.
**Services:** Local, interstate, packing, unpacking, offices, pianos, storage. Credit cards accepted.
---
### Yolo Transfer Moving & Storage
**1680 Tide Ct, Woodland, CA 95776**
**77% positive | 23% negative** across 94 reviews
[Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/yolo-transfer-woodland) (38 reviews) · [Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=yolo+transfer+moving+and+storage+woodland+ca) (51 reviews) · [BBB: A+](https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/woodland/profile/moving-and-storage-companies/yolo-transfer-moving-and-storage-1156-90038868)
State license #: 0189819 · DOT #: 2256609 · 13 years in business
Yolo Transfer gets consistent credit for fast, professional crews and pricing that sometimes beats expectations. The 23% negative rate is worth flagging — a disproportionate share of it involves damaged or missing items and slow resolution on claims. If you go this route, make sure your valuation coverage is clearly documented before the truck leaves.
**Services:** Local, interstate, packing, unpacking, offices, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, crating, full-valuation coverage, storage, safes. Cash, money order, and credit cards accepted; deposit required.
---
## Sacramento Mover Specialty Services at a Glance
If your move involves more than boxes and furniture, here's how the Sacramento mover pool breaks down on specialty add-ons across 26 interstate-capable companies:
- **Interstate moves:** 22 (84.62%)
- **Small moves:** 10 (38.46%)
- **Antiques:** 17 (65.38%)
- **Art:** 15 (57.69%)
- **Pianos:** 22 (84.62%)
- **Fragile-only packing:** 4 (15.38%)
## Cost to Move from Sacramento to Colorado
Here are the expected ranges across three service types for this roughly 1,170-mile move. Use these as a planning baseline — not a guarantee. To get a sharper number for your home size and situation, use our [moving cost calculator](/calculator).
| Move size | Moving company | Moving containers | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,158 – $4,439 | $875 – $2,139 | $737 – $1,375 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $2,579 – $5,900 | $1,462 – $3,140 | $751 – $1,540 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,300 – $8,240 | $2,100 – $3,873 | $914 – $1,955 |
*Based on a ~1,172-mile move from Sacramento, CA to Colorado using rate data current as of January 2026. Fuel costs are factored into rental truck estimates. Your actual cost depends on home size, timing, access conditions, and added services.*
### Cost to Hire Movers from Sacramento to Colorado
Full-service movers for a studio or one-bedroom typically run $1,158–$4,439. A two- or three-bedroom move falls in the $2,579–$5,900 range. Four bedrooms or more puts you at $4,300–$8,240.
Those ranges are wide because pricing genuinely varies that much between companies. For [long-distance movers](/best/long-distance-movers) on a route this long, getting at least three quotes before you commit isn't optional — it's how you avoid overpaying by thousands.
### Cost of Moving Containers from Sacramento to Colorado
[Moving containers](/best/moving-containers) let you pack on your own schedule while the container company handles the transport — a good middle ground if you need flexibility on timing. A small move runs $875–$2,139. Two to three bedrooms: $1,462–$3,140. Four-plus bedrooms: $2,100–$3,873. Pricing is competitive as long as you're not locked into a tight delivery date.
### Cost of Renting a Moving Truck from Sacramento to Colorado
[Truck rentals](/best/truck-rentals) are the lowest sticker price, but you're paying in other ways — you load it, you drive it 1,170 miles through mountain passes, you unload it. A studio or one-bedroom runs $737–$1,375. Two to three bedrooms: $751–$1,540. Four-plus bedrooms: $914–$1,955. Add up lodging, food, and the value of your time before deciding this is the better deal.
## What Drives Moving Costs on This Route
Three variables account for most of the spread in these numbers:
- **Move size.** More rooms, more stuff, bigger truck, more hours on both ends. The single largest cost driver.
- **Time of year.** Summer is peak season across [California](/movers/california) — prices go up and availability gets tight. If you're moving June through August, book early and expect to pay for it.
- **DIY vs. full-service.** The cost gap is real. So is the difference in effort, risk, and what happens if something goes wrong at mile 900.
## What to Know Before Moving from Sacramento to Colorado
Sacramento is one of the more expensive cities in the state, so [moving to Colorado](/movers/colorado) often looks like a financial upgrade — but it's not universally cheaper. Here's the full breakdown.
### Cost of Living: Sacramento vs. Colorado
| Category | Sacramento, CA | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $1,899 | $1,594 |
| Average home cost | $476,699 | $541,072 |
| Per capita income | $78,954 | $87,598 |
| Cost of living index | 127 | 91 |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% | 4.1% |
| State income tax | 13.3% | 5.49% |
*Sacramento sources: World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, BLS, Tax Foundation. Colorado sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo.*
- **Rent** is about 16% lower in Colorado — noticeable if you've been renting in Sacramento.
- **Home prices** run roughly 14% higher in Colorado. If you're buying, adjust your budget expectations accordingly.
- **Income** averages 11% higher in Colorado, which helps offset higher ownership costs.
- **Overall cost of living** is approximately 28% lower in Colorado — that's a real, felt difference month to month.
- **Unemployment** is nearly half Sacramento's rate (4.1% vs. 7.7%), suggesting a stronger job market.
- **State income tax** drops from 13.3% (California's top rate) to 5.49% in Colorado. You'll see the difference in your first paycheck.
### Life in Sacramento vs. Colorado
| | Sacramento, CA | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 524,943 | 5,877,610 |
| Political leaning | Democrat 51–46 | Democrat 54–46 |
| Summer high | 93°F | 86°F |
| Winter low | 39°F | 13°F |
| Annual rain | 20" | 16" |
| Annual snow | 0" | 63" |
| Crime index | 49.21 | 36.4 |
*Sacramento sources: US Census Bureau, 270toWin, NeighborhoodScout, BestPlaces. Colorado sources: Wikipedia, NeighborhoodScout.*
- **Summers are cooler** — Colorado averages 86°F vs. Sacramento's 93°F. If you've been miserable through Sacramento's triple-digit stretches, you'll appreciate the difference.
- **Winters are a different story.** Average lows of 13°F in Colorado versus 39°F in Sacramento isn't a minor adjustment. Budget for winter gear, heating costs, and some adjustment time.
- **Snow.** Sacramento gets none. Colorado averages 63 inches per year. That means skiing and beautiful winters, but also shoveling, ice, and driving in conditions most Sacramento residents have never dealt with.
- **Crime is lower.** Colorado's index of 36.4 versus Sacramento's 49.21 is a meaningful gap — not a statistical footnote.
- **Politics are similar.** Both lean Democratic in presidential elections, though by nearly identical margins.
### Other Logistics to Handle Before You Move
A few things that catch Sacramento-to-Colorado movers off guard:
- **Colorado licensing:** The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (COPUC) regulates in-state movers. Verify any company's operating authority before you hand over a deposit.
- **HOA rules:** Get move-in regulations in writing before scheduling. Some communities have specific hours, parking restrictions, and elevator protocols.
- **Elevator reservation:** If you're moving into a Denver or Boulder high-rise, reserve the elevator in advance — most buildings require it.
- **Truck parking permits:** Some Colorado municipalities require permits for moving trucks parked on residential streets. Check with the city ahead of time to avoid move-day complications.
- **No statewide moving permit** is required in Colorado, but local parking ordinances still apply.
- **Change of address:** File your USPS change of address at least a week before your move date. You can set a future start date so forwarding kicks in on schedule.
- **Moving insurance:** Released Value Protection is included at no cost but only covers $0.60 per pound per item — a 10-pound laptop gets you $6 if it's destroyed. If that's not acceptable, talk to your mover about full-value coverage or look into third-party options before move day, not after.
- **Stay organized:** Our [moving checklist](/resources/moving-checklist) covers the pre-move tasks that are easy to overlook when you're trying to manage everything at once.
## Things to Do in Colorado
### Museums
- Denver Botanic Gardens
- Argo Mill and Tunnel
- Rosemount Museum
- Benson Park Sculpture Garden
- Denver Museum of Nature & Science
### Parks
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
### Sports Teams
- Denver Broncos (NFL)
- Denver Barbarians (RSL)
- Denver Nuggets (NBA)
- Colorado Rockies (MLB)
- Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
### Universities
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Colorado State University
- University of Denver
- United States Air Force Academy
- University of Colorado Denver
## FAQ
### How long does a move from Sacramento to Colorado take?
Most moves on this route take two to eight days depending on the company and service type. Summer moves are more susceptible to delays because movers are stretched across peak demand. Ask for a delivery window in writing before you book — not just an estimate, an actual commitment you can hold them to.
### How many Sacramento movers offer custom crating for art or antiques?
Twenty-one Sacramento movers offer custom crating for fragile, oversized, or irregularly shaped items — art, antiques, electronics, and similar pieces. If you have items that need specialty packaging, confirm with your mover before booking that they can handle your specific situation.
### What's the best way to get my car from Sacramento to Colorado?
[Auto transport](/best/car-shipping) is usually the right call for a move this long — driving your car behind or alongside a moving truck for 1,170 miles adds wear and complexity you don't need. Look for a carrier with verifiable FMCSA registration and solid insurance documentation. Use our [car shipping calculator](/calculator/car-shipping) to get a baseline price for your vehicle and route before you start calling companies.
### Why are people moving from Sacramento to Colorado?
The most common reasons: a lower income tax burden, strong job market, and direct access to world-class outdoor recreation — skiing, hiking, climbing, and a year-round active lifestyle that Sacramento's heat can't match. The cost-of-living shift is real, especially once you factor in California's 13.3% top income tax rate against Colorado's 5.49%.
### Can I pay for my Sacramento move with cash?
Seven Sacramento movers accept cash, but it's not the industry norm. Most reputable companies prefer traceable payment methods. Expect to pay a deposit upfront to lock your date, with the balance due at pickup or delivery. Confirm the exact timing and accepted payment types with your mover before you sign anything.
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*Compare quotes from Sacramento movers for your Colorado move using our [moving cost calculator](/calculator) — it takes about two minutes and gives you a realistic range before you start talking to anyone.*
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