Swapping California prices for Austin’s tech jobs, live-music culture, and no state income tax? Quick Ship Van Lines runs the Los Angeles to Austin route weekly with licensed, insured carriers, transparent cubic-footage pricing, a dedicated relocation coordinator, and an estimated 8–12 day delivery window straight across the I-10.
Distance
1,375 mi
Transit time
8–12 days
Service
Weekly
No obligation · Response in 30–60 minutes
Overview
Moving from Los Angeles to Austin puts you on the country’s busiest migration corridor, California to Texas — drawn by Austin’s booming “Silicon Hills” tech economy, no state income tax, and a creative, live-music culture that feels familiar to anyone leaving LA. Quick Ship Van Lines coordinates this roughly 1,375-mile route weekly with licensed, carefully selected carriers who handle both ends — canyon traffic and narrow hillside pickups on the LA side, and tight downtown streets or fast-growing tech suburbs like Round Rock on delivery. You get upfront cubic-footage pricing, a dedicated coordinator, and a realistic delivery window, with most quotes back in 30–60 minutes.
Route Details
~1,375 miles
8–12 business days
I-10 E across Arizona & New Mexico into West Texas, then US-290 / I-35 into Austin
California · Arizona · New Mexico · Texas
Pacific → Central (+2 hours)
May – September (busiest and hottest — plan around Austin summer heat)
Demand for California-to-Texas moves peaks May through September, which is also when Austin’s heat is at its most intense — highs regularly top 100°F. Spring and fall bring better rates and far more comfortable move-in weather. Mid-month, weekday pickups are usually cheaper than Friday or month-end dates. On this busy corridor, booking 3–4 weeks ahead is recommended, and even earlier if you’re moving during SXSW or ACL festival weeks, when Austin logistics tighten up.
For most Los Angeles movers, the math is the motivation — though Austin is the priciest metro in Texas, it still lands well below LA. Here’s how the two compare on the factors that matter most in a relocation:
Factor | Los Angeles, CA | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
State income tax | Up to 13.3% (highest in the U.S.) | None (0%) |
Housing costs | Among the highest in the nation | High for Texas, but well below LA |
Property taxes | Lower rate, but on very high home values | Higher rate (≈1.8–2.2%) — Travis County runs near the top of the state |
Overall cost of living | Baseline (very high) | Noticeably lower, though the priciest TX metro |
Climate | Mild, dry coastal | Hot, humid summers; mild winters |
The honest caveat: Texas trades income tax for higher property taxes, and Austin’s Travis County sits near the top of the state. If you buy an expensive home, factor that in — it’s the one line that surprises California transplants. For renters and most buyers, LA-to-Austin is still a clear net savings. A tax professional can confirm your specifics.
Pricing
Real-world estimates by home size, based on the cubic footage your inventory takes on the truck. Your final price depends on inventory, access, and specialty items — get an accurate upfront quote in about 60 seconds.
$2,400 – $4,300
~250 cubic ft of inventory
$4,000 – $6,900
Couple or small family
Most common
$6,000 – $9,600
Average family home
$8,600 – $13,200+
Larger homes / specialty items
What affects your Los Angeles to Houston moving cost
Final pricing may vary if inventory or service requirements change prior to pickup.
Real-World Examples
Three representative scenarios based on typical moves on this route.
Devon
Move
Silver Lake, CA → East Austin, TX
Inventory
Queen bed, sofa, home office, 25 boxes — a typical 1-bedroom
$3,300
9 days
“Relocating for a UX role at an Austin startup; coordinator timed pickup around the start date and arranged a narrow-street shuttle for a tight East Austin block.“
The Whitfield Family
Move
Pasadena, CA → Round Rock (Austin), TX
Inventory
3-bedroom home — full household, kids’ rooms, garage, 70+ boxes
$7,400
11 days
“Traded an LA rental for a single-family home near the tech-suburb school corridor; delivery timed to the school-year start.“
Marcus & Priya
Move
Long Beach, CA → Mueller, Austin, TX
Inventory
2-bedroom — curated furniture, 45 boxes, partial pack
$5,600
10 days
“A cost-of-living move to a walkable, planned community; coordinator kept both ends aligned around the lease start.“
Austin is the tech-and-culture play among the big Texas cities. Its economy runs on “Silicon Hills” — Tesla, Oracle, Apple, Dell, and a wall of startups keep hiring — while the University of Texas, a deep film and music scene (SXSW, Austin City Limits), and a fast-growing healthcare sector round it out. Pair that with no state income tax and housing that, while the priciest in Texas, still runs far below LA, and a lot of Angelenos find they can trade a cramped Westside apartment for real space without leaving behind the creative energy they moved to LA for in the first place.
Good to Know
Three things every Los Angeles to Austin mover should know before pickup day.
Texas requires you to register your vehicle, transfer your driver's license, and update voter registration within 90 days of establishing residency. In the Austin area, Travis County requires an emissions test as part of vehicle registration. There's no state income tax to file in Texas.
Austin summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly above 100°F — a big change from LA's dry coast. Wood furniture, electronics, candles, and leather benefit from climate-conscious packing and earlier delivery windows in peak months. Austin also relies on electronic tolls (TxTag) on roads like SH-130, 183A, and the MoPac express lanes, worth knowing if you're driving your own car behind the truck.
LA pickups have their quirks — traffic, hillside and canyon streets that can't fit a 53-foot trailer, walk-up buildings, and permit parking. When a full-size truck can't reach the door, we arrange a shuttle. Tell your coordinator the address and building type early and we'll plan access and permits in advance.
More Ways We Help
Rather than drive ~1,375 miles, many customers ship a car alongside the household move. Open transport on this route typically runs $850–$1,250 and enclosed transport for luxury or classic vehicles runs $1,450–$2,000, with vehicle transit usually 5–8 days.
Full or partial packing is available, along with short-term storage if your Austin move-in date falls after your Los Angeles move-out date. Ask your coordinator to build either into your quote.
Pianos, pool tables, antiques, artwork, home-gym equipment, and gun safes are handled by experienced crews, with custom crating available for fragile or high-value pieces making the long haul. Flag any specialty items when you request your quote so the right equipment and team are scheduled.
Why Quick Ship
Reviews
Rated 4.9★ by 500+ verified customers who chose Quick Ship Van Lines for professional, stress-free moves.
FAQs
Full-service moves typically range from $2,400 for a studio to $13,200+ for a 4+ bedroom home, based on the cubic footage of your inventory. LA pickup access can affect the low end. Get an exact number with a free quote in 30–60 minutes.
Plan on 8–12 business days depending on shipment size and whether your items travel on a dedicated or consolidated truck. Your coordinator confirms a delivery window before the truck leaves Los Angeles.
The big levers are income tax and housing: Texas has no state income tax (versus up to 13.3% in California), and even Austin — the priciest Texas metro — runs well below LA on housing. The trade-off is a higher Texas property-tax rate, especially in Travis County, so factor that in if you buy. For most movers it’s still a clear net savings. See the comparison table above.
Yes. Los Angeles is Pacific Time and Austin is Central Time — a 2-hour difference. When it’s 8 AM in LA, it’s 10 AM in Austin.
Most carriers take the I-10 East across Arizona and New Mexico into West Texas, then head north on US-290 / I-35 into Austin — about 1,375 miles. The exact path can vary with the carrier’s other stops and the season.
Yes. Open transport typically costs $850–$1,250, enclosed transport for luxury or classic vehicles runs $1,450–$2,000, and vehicle transit is usually 5–8 days. We can bundle it with your household move.
Fall through early spring (roughly October to April) is generally cheaper than the May–September summer peak, with more comfortable move-in weather. Mid-month, weekday dates are typically cheaper than month-end.
Yes. Full or partial packing is available, along with short-term storage if your move-in date falls after your move-out date. Ask your coordinator to build either into your quote.
Join 1,000+ families who chose Quick Ship Van Lines for a stress-free move. Request a quote and we’ll get back to you in 30–60 minutes with a free, no-obligation estimate.
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