($1,085+) Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN Movers
The cost to move from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN ranges from $1,230 to $11,201, with an average cost of $3,750. Moves can be as low as $1,085 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 1,927 miles and usually takes 5 to 16 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Moving options from Santa Ana to St. Paul fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,230 - $11,201 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $3,750, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 37% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 61% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 1,927 miles and typically takes 5 to 16 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,927-mile route from Santa Ana to St. Paul, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,230 for a studio up to $11,201 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,559 - $5,470 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $1,129 - $2,984, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,334 - $4,244, billed by the space you actually use.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,927-mile move from Santa Ana, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, with costs ranging from $1,230 - $11,201. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $419 - $2,796. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Santa Ana and St. Paul. Local movers in Santa Ana typically start around $185 as a base rate plus $75/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Santa Ana to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,230 - $5,317
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,195 - $7,062
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,312 - $11,201
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 Santa Ana to St. Paul.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Specialty needs vary by market: 54% of Santa Ana movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In St. Paul, 69% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $699 - $6,990 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready54% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Meathead Movers | $280 - $1,678/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $419 - $3,355 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs55% of local movers | $1,398 - $4,194 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,495 - $13,980 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,047 - $1,989 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $1,398 - $3,495 |
| Piano | Any piano type39% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $1,118 - $4,893 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling10% of local movers | $419 - $2,097 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect5% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA) | $909 - $2,796 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $419 - $20,970+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $419 - $4,893+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Santa Ana to St. Paul?
Movers licensed to operate in Minnesota are typically members of the Minnesota Transport Services Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Santa Ana, CA. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Moving containers from Santa Ana, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, cost between $1,559 and $5,470. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Santa Ana typically costs about $110/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Santa Ana to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,559 - $2,869
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,997 - $4,019
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,871 - $5,470
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $105 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $210 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $979 in Santa Ana, CA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your St. Paul, MN, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Minnesota 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 $1,559. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,997 - $4,019.
What are the best moving containers Santa Ana to St. Paul?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana:
- Meathead Movers (4.7/5), 24 years in business
- Best Fit Movers (4.8/5), 8 years in business
- Maison Moving (4.6/5), 18 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Plan on $1,129 - $2,984 for a rental moving truck on the 1,927-mile route from Santa Ana, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $857 - $980
- Daily insurance: $42/day
- Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
- Santa Ana daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Santa Ana to St. Paul based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,129 - $2,026
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,234 - $2,412
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,436 - $2,984
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,129 - $2,984 does not include fuel ($857 - $980), lodging ($210/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Santa Ana to St. Paul typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Santa Ana, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $979.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $857 - $980 for the 1,927-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $84 and $454, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $210 per night for hotel stops on the 1,927-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $419 - $629.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Santa Ana to St. Paul?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Santa Ana, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,550 and $3,151.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Santa Ana to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,334 - $2,714
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,550 - $3,151
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,252 - $4,244
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Santa Ana, California, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $979.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $105 - $210 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Santa Ana to St. Paul?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in St. Paul fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Santa Ana, CA vs St. Paul, MN
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in St. Paul, side by side with Santa Ana on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Santa Ana, CA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 165 | 102 |
| Average rent | $2,650/mo | $1,350/mo |
| Median home value | $657,015 | $279,535 |
| Average income | $88,354/yr | $73,055/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 4.9% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 9.85% |
| Walkability score | 67/100 | 60/100 |
| Safety index | 45.83/100 | 49.14/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our St. Paul, MN to Santa Ana, CA guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from California to Minnesota, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 1,154 movers licensed in California, useful context for sizing up this 1,927-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,927-mile route from Santa Ana, CA, to St. Paul, MN, run $1,230 - $11,201 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,559 - $5,470, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,129 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,195, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Siemens and ACS Group.
FAQs: Moving from Santa Ana, CA, to St. Paul, MN
Is St. Paul a safe place to live?
St. Paul has a safety index of 49.14 out of 100 and a crime index of 50.86, compared to 45.83 and 54.17 in Santa Ana. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN?
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN?
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.
How long does a move from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 to 16 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, 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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($857 - $980), daily insurance ($42/day), and equipment rentals ($10 - $28) on top. Overnight stops can add another $210/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What percentage of Santa Ana movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 39% of movers in Santa Ana handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.