Moving from California to Texas: Costs, Distance & What to Know
Last reviewed 2026-09-07 · Next review due 2026-10-05
A typical 3-bedroom move from California to Texas runs about $4,200-$6,720 nationally (use the calculator for a number based on your actual move). In the most recent Census-based year available (2023 ACS 1-year (net); 2024 ACS 1-year, secondary-sourced (state breakdown)), about 77,200 people made this exact move — from California to Texas.
Moving from California to Texas? Compare quotes from licensed interstate movers.
Get free quotesWho is making this move
Directional flow counts and rankings here are drawn directly from each state's own already-published, Census-sourced migration snapshot — see the California and Texas moving cost hubs for the full picture of who moves in and out of each state, not just this one corridor.
- California → Texas
- 77,200
- Texas → California
- 45,400
Data year: 2023 ACS 1-year (net); 2024 ACS 1-year, secondary-sourced (state breakdown)
Side by side
| California | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,529,000 | 31,709,821 |
| Major metro | Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim | Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington |
| Income tax | Highest top marginal rate in the country: 13.3% combined (12.3% top bracket + 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1M). | No personal income tax |
See the full California moving cost hub and Texas moving cost hub for each state’s complete migration, cost and relocation picture.
Typical moving costs
These are national moving-industry planning ranges scaled by home size, not California-to-Texas-specific pricing — the same benchmarks used across every state hub and route page on this site. Once enough priced California↔Texas city-pair corridors are live, this table can be replaced with a real corridor-specific range.
| Home size | Local | Long-distance |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $600-$1,050 | $1,250-$2,000 |
| 1 Bedroom | $800-$1,400 | $2,000-$3,200 |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,100-$1,925 | $3,000-$4,800 |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,400-$2,450 | $4,200-$6,720 |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,800-$3,150 | $5,500-$8,800 |
| 5+ Bedroom | $2,200-$3,850 | $7,000-$11,200 |
For a number tailored to your actual move, use the moving cost calculator.
New-resident deadlines
| State | Topic | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| California | Driver's license | New CA residents must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of establishing residency. |
| California | Vehicle registration | Out-of-state vehicles must be registered within 20 days of becoming a resident. |
| Texas | Driver's license | New residents can drive on a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days, then must get a Texas DL. |
| Texas | Vehicle registration | Must register and title within 30 days of moving; requires inspection and TX-minimum liability insurance. |
Live city-to-city routes
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to move from California to Texas?
National planning ranges for a long-distance move run $4,200-$6,720 for a 3-bedroom home, scaling down to $1,250-$2,000 for a studio. These are the same national benchmarks used across every route on this site, not a California-Texas-specific figure — use the moving cost calculator for a number based on your actual move.
- How many people move from California to Texas each year?
About 77,200 people made this move in 2023 ACS 1-year (net); 2024 ACS 1-year, secondary-sourced (state breakdown), per Census Bureau state-to-state migration data.
- Do I need a new driver's license after moving from California to Texas?
New residents can drive on a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days, then must get a Texas DL.
- What's the income tax difference between California and Texas?
California: Highest top marginal rate in the country: 13.3% combined (12.3% top bracket + 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1M).. Texas: No personal income tax.