Santa Clara, CA → Santa Cruz, CA · Local move
About 32 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,450–$2,160, delivery in 0–1 days, 292 carriers on the Santa Clara side and 27 in Santa Cruz.
The route from Santa Clara, CA to Santa Cruz, CA covers roughly 32 miles by road, a south-bound trip that falls into the local move category for pricing purposes.
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 counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,450 and $2,160, before packing or storage.
On the Santa Clara side there are 292 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (77 of them authorized for interstate work), and 27 around Santa Cruz (6 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 Cruz.
Santa Clara has a population of about 133,446 and Santa Cruz about 62,000. Santa Clara is considerably denser (6,975 people per square mile versus 4,942), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination.
| Home size | Crew | Hours | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers | 3–5 h | $770 | $940 | $1,150 |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 movers | 4–6 h | $910 | $1,100 | $1,350 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 3 movers | 5–8 h | $1,450 | $1,770 | $2,160 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 4 movers | 7–10 h | $2,250 | $2,750 | $3,350 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 5 movers | 9–13 h | $3,370 | $4,120 | $5,020 |
$180–$260
One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.
$1,050–$1,540
Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.
$1,450–$2,160
Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.
Distance is pre-filled for Santa Clara, CA → Santa Cruz, 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: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC
Legal name: Shefali Toor
Legal name: Bill Lambert
Legal name: Delivertron LLC
Legal name: Robert D Joseph
Typical full-service estimates for this route are $770 to $1,150 for a studio, $910 to $1,350 for a one-bedroom, $1,450 to $2,160 for a two-bedroom, $2,250 to $3,350 for a three-bedroom and $3,370 to $5,020 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.
About 32 road miles (27 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 1 h.
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 Santa Clara and Santa Cruz 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 $180 to $260 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,050 to $1,540. 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 Santa Clara–Santa Cruz corridor.