Movers in Santa Monica, Los Angeles
Santa Monica is 1920s–1970s low-rise apartment buildings north of Wilshire, newer elevator condos near the Promenade and Ocean Avenue, and single-family homes in Sunset Park and North of Montana. Preferred-parking districts and subterranean garages, not stairs, are what complicate the move.
Building mix
2–4 story courtyard and dingbat apartment buildings, mid-rise condos on Ocean and Wilshire with subterranean parking, and single-family homes in Sunset Park, Ocean Park, and North of Montana.
Parking
Preferred-parking districts cover most residential blocks and a temporary permit through the City of Santa Monica takes several business days. Low garage clearance (often 6'8") means a big truck parks at the curb and the crew long-carries.
Certificate of Insurance (COI) requirements
Required by nearly every HOA-run condo building on Ocean, Wilshire, and around the Promenade, typically 48–72 hours ahead. Small apartment buildings and houses usually don't ask.
Walk-up surcharges
Two- and three-story walk-ups are common north of Wilshire; expect $75–$100 per flight per mover above the ground floor, plus long carries from the permitted curb space.
Best times to schedule
Weekday mornings, 8–11am. Avoid Friday afternoons and any summer weekend — beach traffic on Lincoln, Ocean, and the I-10 exits eats billable hours.
Average cost
Studio: $500–$900 · 1BR: $800–$1,600 · 2BR: $1,500–$2,900 · 3BR home: $2,500–$4,800.
Santa Monica moving cost by home size (2026)
| Home size | Typical total cost |
|---|---|
| Studio | $500 – $900 |
| 1-bedroom | $800 – $1,600 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,500 – $2,900 |
| 3-bedroom+ | $2,500 – $4,800 |
Moving in Santa Monica, answered
Do I need a parking permit to move in Santa Monica?
On most residential blocks yes — the city's preferred-parking districts require a temporary permit, and applications take several business days. Movers can advise, but the resident normally files it.
Can the moving truck fit in my building's garage?
Usually not. Subterranean garages here often have 6'8" clearance, so the truck stays at the curb and the crew carries down the ramp or through the lobby — factor an extra hour of labor.
How much does a 2-bedroom Santa Monica move cost?
About $1,500 – $2,900 locally. Long carries from permitted curb space and a second- or third-floor walk-up are the two things that push it to the top of that range.
When is the worst time to schedule a Santa Monica move?
Summer weekends and Friday afternoons. Beach traffic and I-10 backups add an hour or more of billed time on both the pickup and delivery legs.
Other Los Angeles neighborhoods we cover
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