($1,127+) Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN Movers
The cost to move from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN ranges from $1,318 to $10,970, with an average cost of $4,300. Moves can be as low as $1,127 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 $1,318 - $10,970 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,300, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% 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: $1,318 for a studio up to $10,970 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,637 - $6,092 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $1,115 - $3,197, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,488 - $4,640, 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 September 16, 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 $1,318 - $10,970. 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: $1,318 - $5,803
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,632 - $7,640
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,562 - $10,970
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.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Minnesota. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Specialty needs vary by market — 84% of Santa Ana movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In St. Paul, 91% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $699 - $6,990 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready84% of local movers85% 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 coverage39% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs48% 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 items64% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: NorthStar Moving Company | $1,398 - $3,495 |
| Piano | Any piano type78% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: NorthStar Moving Company | $1,118 - $4,893 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling37% of local movers | $419 - $2,097 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company | $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?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Minnesota Transport Services Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Santa Ana, CA. 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 Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Moving containers from Santa Ana, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, cost between $1,637 and $6,092. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Santa Ana costs roughly $110/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Santa Ana to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,637 - $2,949
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,011 - $4,131
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,754 - $6,092
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 $1,637. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,011 - $4,131, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
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:
- California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company (5.0/5), 11 years in business
- Sterling Van Lines (4.6/5), 35 years in business
- Merit Moving Systems (4.9/5), 39 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Santa Ana, CA to St. Paul, MN
Truck rentals from Santa Ana, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, range from $1,115 - $3,197 for the 1,927-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- 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: $1,115 - $2,284
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,270 - $2,827
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,619 - $3,197
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,115 - $3,197 when pricing out a rental truck from Santa Ana to St. Paul. Fuel alone runs ($857 - $980) , and overnight lodging ($210/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?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $105 and $489.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $210.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $857 and $980 for the 1,927-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $979 for 2 movers in Santa Ana, California, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
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
If you're moving a larger household from Santa Ana, California, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,643 and $3,375.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Santa Ana to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,488 - $2,906
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,643 - $3,375
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,272 - $4,640
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 $105 - $210 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Santa Ana, California, for about five hours typically runs $979.
What are the best freight companies from Santa Ana to St. Paul?
- 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.
- 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.
- ALL Service Handling (4.76/5 stars): ALL Service Handling 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. Paul 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: 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 374 movers licensed in California, useful context for sizing up this 1,927-mile move.
Our take
The 1,927-mile move from Santa Ana, CA, to St. Paul, MN, costs between $1,318 and $10,970 with full-service movers, $1,637 - $6,092 with a moving container, and $1,115 - $3,197 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 $3,632 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
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
What are the best neighborhoods in St. Paul?
For families, Macalester-Groveland, Summit Hill, and Highland are worth a look in St. Paul. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown, St. Anthony Park, and Summit Hill tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is St. Paul?
St. Paul has a walkability score of 60 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 64, compared to 67 and 62 in Santa Ana. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
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.
What percentage of Santa Ana movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 78% of movers in Santa Ana handle piano moves, and 64% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
