State-to-State Guide
Moving from Texas to California
Compare cost of living, taxes, housing, and find the best moving companies for your Texas to California move.
Quick Comparison
Leaving Texas
Population29.1M
State Income Tax0% (None)
Avg Home Price$340,000
Avg Rent$1,400/mo
Property Tax Rate1.80%
DESTINATION
Moving to California
Population39.5M
State Income Tax1%-13.3%
Avg Home Price$785,000
Avg Rent$2,200/mo
Property Tax Rate0.76%
Why Are People Moving from Texas to California?
The migration corridor between Texas and California is a popular interstate move. Thousands of households explore this route every year.
Tax Savings: Texas has no state income tax, compared to 1%-13.3% in California. This tax difference is one of the primary financial motivations for this move.
Cost of Living: The cost of living in California is higher than Texas, but many movers find the tradeoffs worthwhile. Housing in California costs about $445,000 more on average, so budget accordingly.
Climate & Weather: Summers in California average 85°F, compared to 96°F in Texas. Winters in California average 55°F, compared to 48°F in Texas.
Jobs & Industry: California's key industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, which attract professionals from Texas's Energy and Technology sectors.
Popular City-to-City Routes
1550 mi
22h drive
Los Angeles, CA
Houston, TX
via I-10 East
1691 mi
30.7h drive
Houston, TX
San Diego, CA
via I-10 West
2090 mi
38h drive
Houston, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-10 West
2135 mi
38.8h drive
Houston, TX
San Francisco, CA
via I-10 West
1932 mi
35.1h drive
Houston, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-10 West
2088 mi
38h drive
Houston, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-10 West
1855 mi
33.7h drive
Houston, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-10 West
1756 mi
31.9h drive
Houston, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-10 West
1752 mi
31.9h drive
Houston, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-10 West
1776 mi
32.3h drive
Houston, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-10 West
1562 mi
28.4h drive
San Antonio, TX
Los Angeles, CA
via I-10 West
1464 mi
26.6h drive
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
via I-10 West
1887 mi
34.3h drive
San Antonio, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-10 West
1934 mi
35.2h drive
San Antonio, TX
San Francisco, CA
via I-10 West
1727 mi
31.4h drive
San Antonio, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-10 West
1893 mi
34.4h drive
San Antonio, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-10 West
1642 mi
29.9h drive
San Antonio, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-10 West
1535 mi
27.9h drive
San Antonio, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-10 West
1530 mi
27.8h drive
San Antonio, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-10 West
1554 mi
28.3h drive
San Antonio, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-10 West
1440 mi
21h drive
Los Angeles, CA
Dallas, TX
via I-10 East / I-20 East
1536 mi
27.9h drive
Dallas, TX
San Diego, CA
via I-20 West
1884 mi
34.3h drive
Dallas, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-20 West
1925 mi
35h drive
Dallas, TX
San Francisco, CA
via I-20 West
1729 mi
31.4h drive
Dallas, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-20 West
1869 mi
34h drive
Dallas, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-20 West
1666 mi
30.3h drive
Dallas, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-20 West
1585 mi
28.8h drive
Dallas, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-20 West
1582 mi
28.8h drive
Dallas, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-20 West
1607 mi
29.2h drive
Dallas, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-20 West
1380 mi
20h drive
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
via I-10 East
1300 mi
19h drive
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
via I-8 East / I-10 East
1904 mi
34.6h drive
Austin, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-20 West
1750 mi
25h drive
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
via I-5 South / I-10 East
1746 mi
31.7h drive
Austin, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-20 West
1905 mi
34.6h drive
Austin, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-20 West
1666 mi
30.3h drive
Austin, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-20 West
1566 mi
28.5h drive
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-20 West
1562 mi
28.4h drive
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-20 West
1586 mi
28.8h drive
Austin, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-20 West
1570 mi
28.5h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Los Angeles, CA
via I-20 West
1496 mi
27.2h drive
Fort Worth, TX
San Diego, CA
via I-20 West
1846 mi
33.6h drive
Fort Worth, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-20 West
1888 mi
34.3h drive
Fort Worth, TX
San Francisco, CA
via I-20 West
1691 mi
30.7h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-20 West
1833 mi
33.3h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-20 West
1628 mi
29.6h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-20 West
1546 mi
28.1h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-20 West
1543 mi
28.1h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-20 West
1567 mi
28.5h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-20 West
910 mi
16.5h drive
El Paso, TX
Los Angeles, CA
via I-20 West
815 mi
14.8h drive
El Paso, TX
San Diego, CA
via I-20 West
1243 mi
22.6h drive
El Paso, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-20 West
1292 mi
23.5h drive
El Paso, TX
San Francisco, CA
via I-20 West
1083 mi
19.7h drive
El Paso, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-20 West
1259 mi
22.9h drive
El Paso, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-20 West
992 mi
18h drive
El Paso, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-20 West
882 mi
16h drive
El Paso, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-20 West
878 mi
16h drive
El Paso, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-20 West
902 mi
16.4h drive
El Paso, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-20 West
1587 mi
28.9h drive
Arlington, TX
Los Angeles, CA
via I-20 West
1513 mi
27.5h drive
Arlington, TX
San Diego, CA
via I-20 West
1863 mi
33.9h drive
Arlington, TX
San Jose, CA
via I-20 West
1905 mi
34.6h drive
Arlington, TX
San Francisco, CA
via I-20 West
1708 mi
31.1h drive
Arlington, TX
Fresno, CA
via I-20 West
1849 mi
33.6h drive
Arlington, TX
Sacramento, CA
via I-20 West
1644 mi
29.9h drive
Arlington, TX
Bakersfield, CA
via I-20 West
1563 mi
28.4h drive
Arlington, TX
Anaheim, CA
via I-20 West
1560 mi
28.4h drive
Arlington, TX
Santa Ana, CA
via I-20 West
1584 mi
28.8h drive
Arlington, TX
Long Beach, CA
via I-20 West
Cities in Texas
Houston
Population2.3M
Median Home Price$290,000
San Antonio
Population1.5M
Median Home Price$265,000
Dallas
Population1.3M
Median Home Price$320,000
Austin
Population979K
Median Home Price$450,000
Fort Worth
Population919K
Median Home Price$290,000
El Paso
Population679K
Median Home Price$185,000
Arlington
Population394K
Median Home Price$280,000
Cities in California
Los Angeles
Population4.0M
Median Home Price$850,000
San Diego
Population1.4M
Median Home Price$850,000
San Jose
Population1.0M
Median Home Price$1,200,000
San Francisco
Population874K
Median Home Price$1,400,000
Fresno
Population542K
Median Home Price$340,000
Sacramento
Population525K
Median Home Price$430,000
Bakersfield
Population403K
Median Home Price$340,000
Anaheim
Population350K
Median Home Price$750,000
Santa Ana
Population309K
Median Home Price$700,000
Long Beach
Population467K
Median Home Price$700,000
Estimated Moving Cost
Based on the average distance of 1603 miles between Texas and California:
Studio / 1 BR
$1,602
3–4 BR Home
$3,924
Estimates based on typical full-service interstate moves. Actual costs vary.
Texas → California Transition Checklist
Driver's License
You must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of establishing residency.
Vehicle Registration
Register your vehicle in California within 20 days.
Voter Registration
Update your voter registration to California after establishing residency. You can typically register at your local DMV or online.
Vehicle Inspection
California vehicle inspection requirement: Smog check required.
Things to Know About California
- • Smog certification required for vehicle registration
- • Proposition 13 limits property tax increases
- • Lane splitting on motorcycles is legal
What's Different: Texas vs California
Taxes
Texas Income Tax:None
California Income Tax:1%-13.3%
Texas Property Tax:1.80%
California Property Tax:0.76%
Weather
Texas Summer Avg:96°F
California Summer Avg:85°F
Texas Winter Avg:48°F
California Winter Avg:55°F
Cost of Living
Texas COL Index:93
California COL Index:150
Texas Avg Home Price:$340,000
California Avg Home Price:$785,000
Texas Avg Rent:$1,400/mo
California Avg Rent:$2,200/mo
Ready to make the move to California?
Get quotes from interstate carriers that regularly run routes between Texas and California.