California Local Expert
Jessica Montes
“A born-and-raised Angeleno attempting quadrilingualism, one alphabet at a time.”
See full bio
JourneysMoving Journeys|From CAMoving from California|To NJMoving to New Jersey|California → New Jersey
Your California to NJ Relocation Guide: What It Really Costs
Trading Pacific sunsets for the Garden State is a bigger lifestyle shift than most people anticipate. California and New Jersey sit on opposite ends of the country, and that distance shows up in everything from your cost of living and commute habits to the weather greeting you on the other side of the moving truck. Sun soaked suburbs and laid back West Coast culture give way to dense neighborhoods, four full seasons, and a pace of life that runs on East Coast time. Our Snappy Scout team (Jessica & Diane) dug into the real costs, logistics, and daily adjustments you should plan for before you load up that first box.
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Who's Behind This Guide
CA to NJ Mileage by the Numbers
Average distance
2,850miles
Typical route
I-80 E and I-78 E
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Los Angeles, CA → Newark, NJ
~2800 miles
San Francisco, CA → Newark, NJ
~2900 miles
San Diego, CA → Trenton, NJ
~2850 miles
Sacramento, CA → Jersey City, NJ
~2950 miles
San Jose, CA → Camden, NJ
~2900 miles
Should You Move From California to New Jersey Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to New Jersey from California is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
What's the Going Cost to Move from CA to NJ?
Moving 2,850 miles from California to New Jersey will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
5–12days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
That's the average.
What about your move?
Get a personalized estimate based on the details of your California → New Jersey move.
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How Well Will You Adapt in NJ?
Well, it depends. If you're a Stay at Home Mom, PTA President, or Garden Club Lifetime Member, you'll thrive in your move to New Jersey. But if you're more of a Surfer Dude, Minimalist, or Yoga Instructor, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from California to New Jersey.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from CA to NJ
Stay At Home Moms
California
5.5
/10
New Jersey
8
/10
California
Giving up
Great Park playgrounds, Legoland weekends, suburban swim meets
New Jersey
Gaining
Mindowaskin Park playdates, Paper Mill shows, Whole Foods and Trader Joes runs
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
WestfieldMillburnMadisonHaddonfield
California
5.5
/10
New Jersey
8
/10
PTA Life
California
7.5
/10
New Jersey
9
/10
California
Giving up
Stanford fields games, Irvine test scores, Danville bake sales
New Jersey
Gaining
Friday lights, School pride, NJEA bake sale legends
Recommended NJ cities/areas for PTA Presidents
RidgewoodSummitCherry Hill
California
7.5
/10
New Jersey
9
/10
Gardener
California
6
/10
New Jersey
7
/10
California
Giving up
Huntington Library blooms, Filoli tours, Luther Burbank roses
New Jersey
Gaining
Presby Iris strolls, Reeves-Reed blooms, Grounds For Sculpture teas, Duke Gardens
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
California
6
/10
New Jersey
7
/10
Surfing
California
10
/10
New Jersey
3.5
/10
California
Giving up
Huntington Pier mornings, Malibu points, Santa Cruz Boardwalk vibes
New Jersey
Gaining
Belmar breaks happen, but wetsuits rule and hurricane swells tease
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Surfer Dudes
BelmarManasquanLong Branch
California
10
/10
New Jersey
3.5
/10
Minimalism
California
7
/10
New Jersey
4.5
/10
California
Giving up
Clean design, tiny homes, desert modernism
New Jersey
Gaining
Sleek condos with NYC skyline views, but NJ Turnpike clutter follows unless you rely on PATH or light rail
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Minimalists
Jersey CityHoboken
California
7
/10
New Jersey
4.5
/10
Yoga
California
9
/10
New Jersey
7
/10
California
Giving up
YogaWorks roots, Self Realization gardens, beach sun salutations
New Jersey
Gaining
Pier A sunrise flows, Gratitude Yoga calm, beach classes
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Yoga Instructors
California
9
/10
New Jersey
7
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of New Jersey?
The smell of the ocean. The sound of the seagulls down the shore. The train whistles from the local commuter lines.
– Diane Briante
New Jersey Local
Lifestyle differences between living in California and living in New Jersey
CaliforniaNew Jersey
How Food Culture Shifts When You Move from CA to NJ
Eating Like a Local in California
You can start the morning with an iced oat latte, grab an double-double with animal style fries (cheese, onions, and special sauce) from In-and-Out for lunch, and end with street dogs after a show. Also know as danger dogs, these bun-wrapped meals are topped with grilled onions and bell peppers. You can find the vendors outside of clubs/ bars on the weekends or by the dozens in concert parking lots. Why waste time driving when dinner is right in front of you?
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local ExpertEating Like a Local in New Jersey
Every diner has something they're famous for. Order that. Don't order something too fancy. Avoid the red sauce unless you have inside information that it doesn't come from a can. Splurge on those amazing looking cakes or pies. And we judge diners by their fries. If their fries aren't good, we might not be back.
Diane BrianteNew Jersey Local ExpertNew Jersey looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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The Full Tax Change of Moving to NJ from CA
California
New Jersey
CaliforniavsNew Jersey
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% mental health surcharge over $1M
Progressive 1.4% to 10.75%, top rate over $1M, multiple brackets
California
Progressive 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% mental health surcharge over $1M
VS
New Jersey
Progressive 1.4% to 10.75%, top rate over $1M, multiple brackets
Property Taxes
Property TaxesProp 13 around 1% base, bigger add ons in LA and SF, lower inland
North Jersey suburbs like Bergen and Essex pricier, South Jersey lower, Jersey City abatements
California
Prop 13 around 1% base, bigger add ons in LA and SF, lower inland
VS
New Jersey
North Jersey suburbs like Bergen and Essex pricier, South Jersey lower, Jersey City abatements
The People, Politics, & Religion Gap Between CA and NJ
California
New Jersey
CaliforniavsNew Jersey
People
PeopleLaid back yet hustling, diverse, outdoorsy, friendly, occasionally impatient behind the wheel
Direct, fast talking, proudly diverse, neighborhood loyal, bagel and pizza opinions unshakeable
California
Laid back yet hustling, diverse, outdoorsy, friendly, occasionally impatient behind the wheel
VS
New Jersey
Direct, fast talking, proudly diverse, neighborhood loyal, bagel and pizza opinions unshakeable
Politics
Solidly blue statewide, coastal cities are progressive, inland valleys and Sierras lean conservative
Reliably blue statewide, GOP strength in Ocean Monmouth Sussex, suburban moderates swing
California
Solidly blue statewide, coastal cities are progressive, inland valleys and Sierras lean conservative
VS
New Jersey
Reliably blue statewide, GOP strength in Ocean Monmouth Sussex, suburban moderates swing
Religion
ReligionNo majority, many unaffiliated, big Catholic share, notable Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh
Largely Christian, many Catholics, notable Jewish in Lakewood and Teaneck, growing Hindu Muslim unaffiliated
California
No majority, many unaffiliated, big Catholic share, notable Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh
VS
New Jersey
Largely Christian, many Catholics, notable Jewish in Lakewood and Teaneck, growing Hindu Muslim unaffiliated
Swapping CA Weather for NJ: What to Know
SUMMER
California
microclimate roulette wheel (June gloom hugs the coast, blast furnace rules the Central Valley)
New Jersey
boardwalk waffle iron (sticky 90s inland, ocean breeze tempers the Shore)
WINTER
California
dress in layers, call it winter (Bay gets nippy, Sierras turns icebox, desert nights bite)
New Jersey
puffer coat roulette (High Point bites, Cape May shrugs)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in New Jersey
The first day warm enough to hang out on the beach, the leaves changing in the fall - and the taste of my first Curley fries in Wildwood. The best!
Diane BrianteNew Jersey Local Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
Now put a number
on it.
See what your California → New Jersey move could actually cost based on your move details—not somebody else's average.
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not guesswork - See it
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Next Steps
Learn More About Moving to New Jersey
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind California, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to New Jersey. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from New Jersey local experts.
Moving toElizabeth
EWR Roar, 13A, Pastéis, And Port Crane Views
Moving toJersey City
A Deep Look At The Only City To Have Two PATH Stops In Its Limits
Moving toNewark
Ironbound Eats, PATH Zips, Branch Brook Park Blooms
