($523+) Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

Moving from Columbia, SC, to St. Louis, MO, runs anywhere from $551 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,029 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 746 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

  • Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,530, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,029 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,128 - $3,551, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $551 - $1,444.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Columbia, SC, to St. Louis, MO. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,319 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

There are 3 main ways to move from Columbia to St. Louis: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,319 - $5,608. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 746-mile route, depending on which option you go with.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 746-mile route from Columbia to St. Louis, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,530 - $4,424 $1,128 - $1,910 $551 - $1,035 $956 - $1,862
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,319 - $5,608 $1,392 - $2,675 $577 - $1,204 $1,147 - $2,162
4+ bedrooms $3,661 - $8,029 $1,828 - $3,551 $773 - $1,444 $1,553 - $2,755

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 746-mile move from Columbia, South Carolina, to St. Louis, Missouri, with prices running from $1,530 - $8,029. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $257 - $1,716 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Columbia and St. Louis are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Columbia movers tend to run around $262 as a base rate plus $256/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Columbia to St. Louis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,530 - $4,424
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,319 - $5,608
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,661 - $8,029

Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Columbia to St. Louis.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from South Carolina to Missouri. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.

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Specialty moving services from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of Columbia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In St. Louis, 86% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$429 - $4,290
Storage in transitNew place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK$172 - $1,030/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$257 - $2,059
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs57% of local movers$858 - $2,574
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,145 - $8,580
Car shippingSecond vehicle$643 - $1,221
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items29% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage$858 - $2,145
PianoAny piano type71% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK$686 - $3,003
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling29% of local movers$257 - $1,287
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Gentlemen Movers Inc.$558 - $1,716
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$257 - $12,870+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$257 - $3,003+

What are the best full-service movers from Columbia to St. Louis?

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Columbia, SC. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.

Moving container costs from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

Moving containers from Columbia, South Carolina, to St. Louis, Missouri, cost between $1,128 and $3,551. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Columbia typically runs around $50/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Columbia to St. Louis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,128 - $1,910
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,392 - $2,675
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,828 - $3,551

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $64 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $129 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in St. Louis, MO, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
  • Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $601 in Columbia, SC. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a South Carolina to Missouri move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.

Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,128. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,392 - $2,675, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Columbia to St. Louis?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Columbia to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Columbia:

  • TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.6/5), 32 years in business
  • College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5)
  • Undergrads Moving (4.8/5)

Moving truck rental costs from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

Plan on $551 - $1,444 for a rental moving truck on the 746-mile route from Columbia, South Carolina, to St. Louis, Missouri. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

  • Fuel for the drive: $204 - $233
  • Daily insurance: $26/day
  • Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
  • Columbia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $39.95
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Columbia to St. Louis based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $551 - $1,035
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $577 - $1,204
  • 4+ bedrooms: $773 - $1,444

Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $551 - $1,444 when pricing out a rental truck from Columbia to St. Louis. Fuel alone runs ($204 - $233) , and overnight lodging ($129/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Gas: Fuel adds $204 - $233 for the 746-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Columbia, South Carolina, for about 5 hours typically costs around $601.
  • Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
  • Lodging: The 746-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $129 per night, adding $257 - $386 in hotel costs total.
  • Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $43 and $257.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Columbia to St. Louis?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)

The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.

Freight trailer costs from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Columbia, South Carolina, to St. Louis, Missouri. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $772 and $2,162.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Columbia to St. Louis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $956 - $1,862
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,147 - $2,162
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,553 - $2,755

Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
  • More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $64 - $129 more per foot.
  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Columbia, South Carolina, for about five hours typically runs $601.

What are the best freight companies from Columbia to St. Louis?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
  3. Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc. (4.5/5 stars): Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.

Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to St. Louis quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.

Cost of living: Columbia, SC vs St. Louis, MO

Day-to-day costs in St. Louis are close to what you're used to in Columbia: cost of living index of 84 versus 87, with average rent of $1,250/mo compared to $1,447/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 35/100 and 48.39/100 in Columbia versus 66/100 and 30.35/100 in St. Louis.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our St. Louis, MO to Columbia, SC guide.

Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:

In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from South Carolina to Missouri, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 53 movers in South Carolina, so you have real options to compare for this 746-mile move.

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Our take

The 746-mile move from Columbia, SC, to St. Louis, MO, costs between $1,530 and $8,029 with full-service movers, $1,128 - $3,551 with a moving container, and $551 - $1,444 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,319 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to St. Louis tend to point to rich culture and bountiful arts and recreational activities, though poor education and high crime rate come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include BJC HealthCare and Walmart.

FAQs: Moving from Columbia, SC, to St. Louis, MO

How long does a move from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.

What is the best time of year to move from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO?

Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Columbia, SC to St. Louis, MO?

Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.

Is St. Louis a safe place to live?

St. Louis has a safety index of 30.35 out of 100 and a crime index of 69.65, compared to 48.39 and 3.0 in Columbia. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.

How walkable is St. Louis?

St. Louis has a walkability score of 66 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 58, compared to 35 and 35 in Columbia. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

What percentage of Columbia movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 71% of movers in Columbia handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.