($1,200+) San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

The cost to move from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN ranges from $1,338 to $11,149, with an average cost of $4,150. Moves can be as low as $1,200 if you're wanting to DIY it.

This move covers about 2,047 miles and usually takes 6 to 17 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

Compare moving options from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

Moving options from San Jose to St. Paul fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,338 - $11,149 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,150, 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 2,047 miles and typically takes 6 to 17 days depending on the service you pick.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,047-mile route from San Jose to St. Paul, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,338 - $5,318 $1,615 - $3,356 $1,213 - $2,435 $1,469 - $2,992
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,397 - $7,679 $2,264 - $4,302 $1,326 - $2,954 $1,723 - $3,478
4+ bedrooms $7,037 - $11,149 $2,952 - $5,867 $1,640 - $3,446 $2,505 - $4,693

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 San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

For the 2,047-mile move from San Jose, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, full-service movers cost between $1,338 and $11,149. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $538 - $3,588 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in San Jose generally start around $316 plus $119 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from San Jose to St. Paul:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,338 - $5,318
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,397 - $7,679
  • 4+ bedrooms: $7,037 - $11,149

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 San Jose 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 San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

Specialty needs vary by market — 81% of San Jose 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 packingFull crew packing97% of local movers$897 - $8,970
Storage in transitNew place not ready81% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Fairprice Movers$359 - $2,153/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$538 - $4,306
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage47% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs44% of local movers$1,794 - $5,382
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$4,485 - $17,940
Car shippingSecond vehicle$1,344 - $2,553
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items68% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Fairprice Movers$1,794 - $4,485
PianoAny piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Fairprice Movers$1,435 - $6,279
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling37% of local movers$538 - $2,691
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Arnoni Moving Services LLC$1,166 - $3,588
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$538 - $26,910+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$538 - $6,279+

What are the best full-service movers from San Jose to St. Paul?

Minnesota Transport Services Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Minnesota, on top of the picks below.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in San Jose, 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 San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

Moving containers from San Jose, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, cost between $1,615 and $5,867. 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 San Jose typically costs about $120/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Jose to St. Paul:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,615 - $3,356
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,264 - $4,302
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,952 - $5,867

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $135 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $269 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 $1,256 in San Jose, 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 $1,615. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,264 - $4,302, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers San Jose to St. Paul?

  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 San Jose 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 San Jose:

  • Best California Movers (5.0/5), 7 years in business
  • College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (5.0/5), 16 years in business
  • Trek Movers (4.8/5), 10 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

Truck rentals from San Jose, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, range from $1,213 - $3,446 for the 2,047-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

  • Fuel for the drive: $1,168 - $1,335
  • Daily insurance: $54/day
  • Equipment rentals: $13 - $36
  • San Jose daily rental rate: $19 - $49
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
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 San Jose to St. Paul based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,213 - $2,435
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,326 - $2,954
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,640 - $3,446

Pro tip: A rental truck from San Jose to St. Paul looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,213 - $3,446. But once you factor in fuel ($1,168 - $1,335) , overnight lodging ($269/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in San Jose, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,256.
  • Gas: Fuel costs total $1,168 - $1,335 for the 2,047-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 $108 and $583, depending on what you need.
  • Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
  • Lodging: Budget around $269 per night for hotel stops on the 2,047-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $538 - $807.

What are the best moving truck rentals from San Jose to St. Paul?

  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 San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN

If you're moving a larger household from San Jose, 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 $1,723 and $3,478.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Jose to St. Paul:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,469 - $2,992
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,723 - $3,478
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,505 - $4,693

Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
  • Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in San Jose, California, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $1,256.
  • More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $135 and $269 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from San Jose to St. Paul?

  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. PRO Logistics (4.54/5 stars): PRO Logistics 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 move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from San Jose to St. Paul. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.

Cost of living: San Jose, 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 San Jose on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure San Jose, CA St. Paul, MN
Cost of living index231102
Average rent$3,095/mo$1,350/mo
Median home value$1,184,000$279,535
Average income$141,565/yr$73,055/yr
Unemployment rate6.6%4.9%
State income taxUp to 13.3%Up to 9.85%
Walkability score51/10060/100
Safety index52.27/10049.14/100
Air qualityModerateGood

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 San Jose, CA guide.

Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:

Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from California to Minnesota, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. California alone has 374 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 2,047-mile move like this one.

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Our take

A move from San Jose, CA, to St. Paul, MN, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,338 - $11,149 on the 2,047-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,615 - $5,867, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,213 - $3,446. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,397 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Siemens and ACS Group.

FAQs: Moving from San Jose, CA, to St. Paul, MN

How long does a move from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN 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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?

The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($1,168 - $1,335), daily insurance ($54/day), and equipment rentals ($13 - $36) on top. Overnight stops can add another $269/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

What is the cheapest way to move from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN?

Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,326 - $2,954. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

How much does it cost to move from San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN?

Costs on this route range from around $1,338 to $11,149, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,338 and $11,149, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.

What size moving truck do I need for this route?

Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.

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

About 77% of movers in San Jose handle piano moves, and 68% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.