The Best Moving Companies in San Jose

The San Jose metro area is one of the worst places in the country to buy your first home. For our report on the best cities for first-time homebuyers, we looked at home prices and home availability in the country’s top 100 most populous metropolitan areas. San Jose ranked dead last.

We found that San Jose’s median home value was $968,800 and only 15% of the homes in the surrounding area were built since the year 2000.¹ Pair this with San Jose’s $44,890 median individual income,² and you’ve got a city that just isn’t made for the average first-time homebuyer.

The average price for a local move from a professional moving company ranges from $550–$2,000. These aren’t hard and fast numbers, though, and depending on how far you’re moving, a small, local company might give you a better rate.

To know for sure how much your move will cost, you’ll need to get an estimate from a professional moving company. In fact, you should get estimates from multiple moving companies if you want to get the cheapest price around. Different movers charge differently for their services, so if you get quotes several movers, you’re guaranteed to find a great price.

Check out our guide to moving costs to learn more about moving prices and how you can save money when you move.

The average cost of living in San Jose is $2,812 a month.² This figure includes the average cost of rent, food, utilities, and vehicle fuel in the city. While this total isn’t the highest in the country—that honor goes to Irvine, California—it does take second place, beating out infamously expensive cities like San Francisco and New York City.

If you’re planning a move to or around San Jose, make sure you’ve got a job lined up which can cover these high living costs—maybe a well-paying tech job since San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley.

If you want to find a city that’s a little more affordable, check out our list of cities with the lowest living costs.

Do you have some perfectly functional furniture, clothing, or appliances you want to clear out before you move? Donate them at one of San Jose’s many donation centers instead of sending them to the landfill.

Here are a few donation centers that accept household goods near downtown San Jose:

• HopeTHRIFT
• The Salvation Army
• Goodwill of Silicon Valley

If you want to donate your old stuff but you don’t have time to drop it off yourself, check out our list of charities that pick up donations.

Be aware that most donation centers won’t accept broken or unusable items. If the stuff you’re getting rid of wouldn’t be useful to someone else, consider taking it to a local landfill or recycling center. Alternatively, you could hire a junk removal company to come get it.