Moving From California to South Carolina: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

With skyrocketing property values, ridiculous rents, and a steep cost of living with little to show for it except for more bums on your front porch, it’s easy to see why so many people are getting out of California.

South Carolina may not be as glitzy or glamorous as California, but California’s not glitzy or glamorous anymore, anyways. If you’re ready to head out east to the Palmetto State, you’re in good company - and iMoving can help you find the right moving company while you’re at it.

When you use iMoving, you’re getting access to a whole marketplace of vetted and verified moving companies. We handpick the best in the business, and we make it easier than ever to shop, compare prices, and book your cross country move with a carrier from our network. Of course, if you still need some convincing, we’ve got some insider info about your CA-SC move.

It’ll cost you from $2,500 to $6,000 to book your move from California to South Carolina, although we’ve seen some moves that cost a little more or a little less. It all comes down to how much you’re hauling, and how far you’re traveling.

You can’t do much about the distance. California and South Carolina are about as far apart as you can get. Fortunately, you can always downsize to reduce your load and save a few bucks. 

We always recommend selling, giving away, donating, or otherwise disposing of your old and unwanted items. This way, you won’t be carrying around a bunch of stuff you don’t want, and you’ll end up with a cheaper estimate, too. Just remember, a smaller move isn’t necessarily a faster move…

Your California to South Carolina relocation will take between 5 and 21 days. When it comes to long distance moving, truck drivers aren’t allowed to clock more than 400 miles of interstate transport per day - but there’s other factors at play when you’re trying to figure out your duration.

Moving companies don’t like to send half-empty trucks all over the place, especially if they’re looking at a cross-country move.

It’s just inefficient. Instead, your movers will bundle your move with several others in the same truck (keeping everything safe, secure, and separated of course). This means less wasted space, but more time for pickups and dropoffs along the way.

The upside? If you have a lot of stuff and you somehow manage to fill an entire truck with just your belongings, your movers will deliver direct. After all, with no empty space, where are they going to fit other customers’ moves?

There’s a lot that goes into your final price when you’re moving from California to South Carolina. Here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind when you’re budgeting for the big day:

1. Distance

When long distance movers give you a quote, the distance between point A and point B is arguably the most important factor.

A longer haul means more money, and unfortunately California and South Carolina are about 2,000 miles away at the closest. 

2. Volume

We say distance is “arguably” the most important factor behind your price, because the actual size of your move is also a major player. Some movers go by pound, some go by cubic feet.

Whatever the metric, more stuff means a higher price. Fortunately, you can downsize ahead of time to save some serious cash.

3. Packing/Unpacking

Packing up all your stuff can be a huge pain, and so can unpacking once you finally get to your new place. Thankfully, most movers offer complete packing and unpacking services so you don’t have to deal with it. It’s an extra expense, but it’s totally worth it if you value your mental health.

4. Furniture Disassembly/Reassembly

This one goes hand-in-hand with your packing and unpacking. Some stuff is just too bulky to fit in a neat little box. In these cases, your movers will take specialty tools to disassembly your largest pieces of furniture. It’s an extra step, an extra fee, and an extra wait - but it’s unavoidable.

5. Specialty Handling

If you have antiques, artwork, or otherwise fragile or awkward items, your movers will charge you a bit extra for the extra TLC.

It’s a small price to pay for added peace of mind, and if your movers break out the custom crating for all your high-value items, you’ll really see where your money’s going.

6. Insurance

It’s rare (especially with all the custom packing available), but accidents do happen. Most moving companies offer a bare minimum level of compensation that’s good for just $0.60 per pound of items lost, damaged, or destroyed. If you want to be reimbursed the full value, you’ll have to pay extra for full-value coverage.

7. Access Fees

Access fees get added to your quote if there are any additional obstacles for your moving team, such as long hallways/driveways, extra flights of stairs, elevators, et cetera.

It’s a good idea to talk your mover through your place ahead of time so there’s no unpleasant surprises on either end.

8. Shuttle Fees

Some cities are a little more restrictive than others. In certain cases, your movers won’t be allowed to park their big semi truck outside your front door. Instead, they’ll have to leave the semi in a staging area, and take multiple trips with a box truck to get your items to and from the main truck. Not fun, not convenient, not cheap - but not avoidable, either. Thank your city council.

9. Gratuity

You’re in California, so you’ve probably seen those ridiculous tip options when you grab your coffee. (20%, 25%, 30%? You gotta be kidding.)

Fortunately, the tipping scene isn’t so crazy in the moving industry, although tips are both accepted and expected. We recommend tipping 15% - 20% of the total cost of your move, to be divided between your whole moving team.

Lots of people are making the move out of California, but what’s drawing so many people to the Palmetto State? Here’s why you might want to consider a California to South Carolina move:

• Price: Yep, this one was a given, especially since California is so expensive. South Carolina enjoys a much lower cost of living, and if you’re somehow able to hold on to your California paycheck by working remote, you’ll be able to live VERY comfortably.

• Southern hospitality: Dear LA people: You don’t have to be a complete jerk to strangers. South Carolina embraces the whole “southern hospitality” thing, so get over yourself and try to make some friends.

• Good weather: California does not have a monopoly on good weather. It doesn’t have a monopoly on good beaches, either. South Carolina has a mild climate all year round, and while it may be a little more humid than SoCal, it’s still more palatable than New York.

• Slower pace: California can be a little chaotic, to say the least. On the other hand, South Carolina takes things slow. You don’t have to be rushing, rushing, rushing - unless you really want to, for some reason.

• Politics: We’re going to put this as diplomatically as possible so we don’t offend anyone: California is very blue, and South Carolina is very red. Some people are fed up with how California handles things, so they’re moving out.

California is really hard to beat in terms of cool activities and things to see. But don’t discount the Palmetto State just yet. Here are some of the most popular activities in South Carolina, organized in no particular order:

• Hiking: If you want to get all Cheryl Strayed in your new state, you can hike the Blue Ridge Mountains and really get in touch with nature. South Carolina has plenty of natural beauty, so outdoors enthusiasts can always find something worth exploring.

• Golf: There’s over 350 golf courses to choose from, all throughout South Carolina. With famously mild weather, you’ll have plenty of time to hit the links (or just get sauced up at the clubhouse).

• Charleston: Find some old southern charm in a relatively bustling city. Charleston has a really neat old town, complete with gas lamps and historic buildings. There are also lots of museums if you feel like stretching your brain a little.

• Myrtle Beach: Californian beaches are hard to beat, but they’re getting dirty, overcrowded, and full of annoying Bakersfield people. Myrtle Beach is pretty popular, but it’s nowhere near as big a tourist trap as Venice or Santa Monica.

• Historical Landmarks: South Carolina has seen some of the most major events of American history, from the country’s foundation to the Civil War and beyond. Check out Fort Sumter, Drayton Hall, and the South Carolina State Museum, too!

You’ve seen our top movers, and you’ve learned a little more about the Palmetto State. Now, all you have to do is pick your moving company, and hit the road.

If you’re ready to make the move from California to South Carolina, iMoving is here to help. Give us a few more details, and let’s get you in touch with your coast to coast movers today!