($660+) St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY Movers
Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Rochester, NY, runs anywhere from $660 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,897 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 999 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $2,337, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,897 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,244 - $4,142, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $660 - $1,940.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Paul, MN, to Rochester, NY. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,612 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Paul to Rochester: 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 $2,612 - $6,290. 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 2 to 7 days for this 999-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 999-mile route from St. Paul to Rochester, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,337 - $5,010 | $1,244 - $2,222 | $660 - $1,290 | $1,141 - $2,100 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,612 - $6,290 | $1,508 - $3,089 | $765 - $1,595 | $1,268 - $2,570 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,569 - $8,897 | $2,200 - $4,142 | $913 - $1,940 | $1,593 - $3,151 |
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 St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY
Full-service movers for the 999-mile relocation from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Rochester, New York, cost between $2,337 and $8,897. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $290 - $1,936, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in St. Paul typically charge a base rate around $243 plus $100 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Paul to Rochester:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,337 - $5,010
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,612 - $6,290
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,569 - $8,897
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 St. Paul to Rochester.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Minnesota to New York. 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 St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY
Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of St. Paul movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Rochester, 100% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $484 - $4,840 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready91% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $194 - $1,162/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $290 - $2,323 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage29% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $968 - $2,904 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,420 - $9,680 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $725 - $1,377 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items41% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc. | $968 - $2,420 |
| Piano | Any piano type76% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $774 - $3,388 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $290 - $1,452 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect12% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc. | $629 - $1,936 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $290 - $14,520+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $290 - $3,388+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Paul to Rochester?
Movers licensed to operate in New York are typically members of the New York State Movers & Warehousemen’s 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in St. Paul, MN. 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 St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY
Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Rochester, New York, cost between $1,244 and $4,142. 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 St. Paul typically runs around $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Paul to Rochester:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,244 - $2,222
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,508 - $3,089
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,200 - $4,142
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $73 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $145 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 $678 in St. Paul, MN, 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 Rochester, NY, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Minnesota to New York 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 $1,244. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,508 - $3,089, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Paul to Rochester?
- 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 St. Paul 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 St. Paul:
- College Muscle Movers, LLC (4.5/5), 19 years in business
- Premium Moving Services (4.5/5), 9 years in business
- Daymakers Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 8 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY
Truck rentals from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Rochester, New York, range from $660 - $1,940 for the 999-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $308 - $352
- Daily insurance: $29/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- St. Paul daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 St. Paul to Rochester based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $660 - $1,290
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $765 - $1,595
- 4+ bedrooms: $913 - $1,940
Pro tip: A rental truck from St. Paul to Rochester looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $660 - $1,940. But once you factor in fuel ($308 - $352) , overnight lodging ($145/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?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $145 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $63 and $315 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $308 - $352 in fuel for the 999-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $678 in St. Paul, Minnesota, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Paul to Rochester?
- 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 St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY
If you're moving a larger household from St. Paul, Minnesota, 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 Rochester, New York.
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 $1,268 and $2,570.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Paul to Rochester:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,141 - $2,100
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,268 - $2,570
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,593 - $3,151
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?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $73 and $145.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in St. Paul, Minnesota, for roughly five hours typically average $678.
What are the best freight companies from St. Paul to Rochester?
- 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.
- T.A. Dedicated, Inc. (4.8/5 stars): T.A. Dedicated, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Rochester 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: St. Paul, MN vs Rochester, NY
Day-to-day costs in Rochester are close to what you're used to in St. Paul: cost of living index of 89 versus 102, with average rent of $1,250/mo compared to $1,350/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 60/100 and 49.14/100 in St. Paul versus 61/100 and 36.66/100 in Rochester.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Rochester, NY to St. Paul, MN guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Minnesota to New York, 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 49 movers in Minnesota, so you have real options to compare for this 999-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from St. Paul, MN, to Rochester, NY, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,337 - $8,897 on the 999-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,244 - $4,142 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $660 - $1,940 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,612 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Wegmans Food Markets and Paychex.
FAQs: Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Rochester, NY
How much does it cost to move from St. Paul, MN to Rochester, NY?
Costs on this route range from around $2,337 to $8,897, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,337 and $8,897, 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 do local movers charge in St. Paul?
Local movers based in St. Paul typically start around $243 as a base rate, plus $100/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Rochester run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in New York?
New York requires moving companies to have a license and obtain a New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) number. A NYDOT license ensures your mover is in compliance with the state's safety, insurance, and operational regulations.
What are the best neighborhoods in Rochester?
For families, Cobbs Hill, Upper Monroe, and Strong are worth a look in Rochester. If you're moving solo or without kids, East Avenue, Swillburg, and South Wedge tend to be popular picks instead.
What percentage of St. Paul movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 76% of movers in St. Paul handle piano moves, and 41% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
