Malibu, CA → Santa Barbara, CA · Short-haul move
About 71 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,690–$2,510, delivery in 1–2 days, 7 carriers on the Malibu side and 27 in Santa Barbara.
Moving from Malibu to Santa Barbara is a short-haul move of roughly 71 road miles, heading northwest within California.
Because the two cities are close together, most companies quote this move by the hour: a crew of two to four movers plus a truck, with the drive of about 1 h 55 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,690 and $2,510, before packing or storage.
On the Malibu side there are 7 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (2 of them authorized for interstate work), and 27 around Santa Barbara (9 interstate). For an in-state move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Santa Barbara.
Malibu has a population of about 10,000 and Santa Barbara about 88,000. Santa Barbara is the denser city (4,549 people per square mile versus 537 in Malibu), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.
| Home size | Crew | Hours | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers | 3–5 h | $950 | $1,150 | $1,410 |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 movers | 4–6 h | $1,080 | $1,320 | $1,610 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 3 movers | 5–8 h | $1,690 | $2,060 | $2,510 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 4 movers | 7–10 h | $2,550 | $3,110 | $3,790 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 5 movers | 9–13 h | $3,730 | $4,550 | $5,550 |
$220–$310
One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.
$1,080–$1,590
Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.
$1,690–$2,510
Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.
Distance is pre-filled for Malibu, CA → Santa Barbara, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.
Typical full-service range.
Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.
Legal name: Success Trucking INC
Legal name: Malibu Demolition INC
Legal name: Aussie Moving INC
Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC
Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation
Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell
Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC
Legal name: Miguel A Barrios
Typical full-service estimates for this route are $950 to $1,410 for a studio, $1,080 to $1,610 for a one-bedroom, $1,690 to $2,510 for a two-bedroom, $2,550 to $3,790 for a three-bedroom and $3,730 to $5,550 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.
About 71 road miles (60 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 1 h 55 min.
For a move this short, loading and delivery normally happen on the same day. Most crews finish a two-bedroom home in 5 to 8 hours plus the drive.
No. Because both Malibu and Santa Barbara are in California, this is an intrastate move regulated by the state rather than the FMCSA. Still, choosing a carrier with an active USDOT number is the easiest way to confirm the company is a registered motor carrier with insurance on file.
A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $220 to $310 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,080 to $1,590. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.
Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Malibu–Santa Barbara corridor.