Moving from Texas to California: Costs, Distance & What to Know
Last reviewed 2026-09-07 · Next review due 2026-10-05
A typical 3-bedroom move from Texas to California 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 (2022 ACS 1-year estimates (fullest corroborated breakdown)), about 45,400 people made this exact move — from Texas to California.
Moving from Texas to California? 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 Texas and California moving cost hubs for the full picture of who moves in and out of each state, not just this one corridor.
- Texas → California
- 45,400
- California → Texas
- 77,200
Data year: 2022 ACS 1-year estimates (fullest corroborated breakdown)
Side by side
| Texas | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,709,821 | 39,529,000 |
| Major metro | Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington | Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim |
| Income tax | No personal 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). |
See the full Texas moving cost hub and California 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 Texas-to-California-specific pricing — the same benchmarks used across every state hub and route page on this site. Once enough priced Texas↔California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
Live city-to-city routes
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to move from Texas to California?
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 Texas-California-specific figure — use the moving cost calculator for a number based on your actual move.
- How many people move from Texas to California each year?
About 45,400 people made this move in 2022 ACS 1-year estimates (fullest corroborated breakdown), per Census Bureau state-to-state migration data.
- Do I need a new driver's license after moving from Texas to California?
New CA residents must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of establishing residency.
- What's the income tax difference between Texas and California?
Texas: No personal income tax. California: Highest top marginal rate in the country: 13.3% combined (12.3% top bracket + 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1M)..