($1,154+) San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

The cost to move from San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN ranges from $1,247 to $10,820, with an average cost of $4,000. Moves can be as low as $1,154 if you're wanting to DIY it.

This move covers about 1,992 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.

Compare moving options from San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

Moving options from San Diego to Minneapolis fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,247 - $10,820 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,000, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 39% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 64% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 1,992 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 1,992-mile route from San Diego to Minneapolis, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,247 - $5,078 $1,550 - $3,060 $1,086 - $2,291 $1,338 - $2,566
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,438 - $6,981 $2,105 - $4,205 $1,249 - $2,466 $1,669 - $3,431
4+ bedrooms $6,363 - $10,820 $2,634 - $5,840 $1,560 - $3,021 $2,151 - $4,267

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.

Professional moving
Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Moving container
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental truck
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 trailer
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 Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

Full-service movers for the 1,992-mile relocation from San Diego, California, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, cost between $1,247 and $10,820. 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 $407 - $2,716, 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 San Diego typically charge a base rate around $226 plus $200 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from San Diego to Minneapolis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,247 - $5,078
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,438 - $6,981
  • 4+ bedrooms: $6,363 - $10,820

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 Diego to Minneapolis.

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 Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

Specialty needs vary by market: 72% of San Diego movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Minneapolis, 69% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing87% of local movers$679 - $6,790
Storage in transitNew place not ready72% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Stella Moving & Delivery$272 - $1,630/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$407 - $3,259
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage9% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs58% of local movers$1,358 - $4,074
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,395 - $13,580
Car shippingSecond vehicle$1,017 - $1,932
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items30% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Stella Moving & Delivery$1,358 - $3,395
PianoAny piano type52% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Stella Moving & Delivery$1,086 - $4,753
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling10% of local movers$407 - $2,037
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect12% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA)$883 - $2,716
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$407 - $20,370+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$407 - $4,753+

What are the best full-service movers from San Diego to Minneapolis?

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in San Diego, CA, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.

Moving container costs from San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

Moving containers from San Diego, California, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, cost between $1,550 and $5,840. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Minneapolis. If you go over that window, storage in San Diego adds around $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Diego to Minneapolis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,550 - $3,060
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,105 - $4,205
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,634 - $5,840

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $951 in San Diego, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
  • Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $102 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $204 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
  • Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Minneapolis, MN, destination before booking.

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 $1,550. 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 $2,105 - $4,205.

What are the best moving containers San Diego to Minneapolis?

  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 Diego 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 Diego:

  • 24/7 Moving and Storage (5.0/5), 14 years in business
  • Coast 2 Coast Moving Inc (5.0/5), 8 years in business
  • Best California Movers (5.0/5), 8 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

Renting a moving truck for the 1,992-mile move from San Diego, California, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, costs between $1,086 and $3,021, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $861 - $984
  • Daily insurance: $41/day
  • Equipment rentals: $10 - $27
  • San Diego daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
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 Diego to Minneapolis based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,086 - $2,291
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,249 - $2,466
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,560 - $3,021

Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,086 - $3,021 when pricing out a rental truck from San Diego to Minneapolis. Fuel alone runs $861 - $984, and overnight lodging ($204/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging 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 $102 and $475.
  • Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $204.
  • Gas: Expect fuel to run between $861 and $984 for the 1,992-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 $951 for 2 movers in San Diego, California, for about 5 hours.
  • Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from San Diego to Minneapolis?

  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 Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN

If you're moving a larger household from San Diego, 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 Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,669 and $3,431.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Diego to Minneapolis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,338 - $2,566
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,669 - $3,431
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,151 - $4,267

Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $102 - $204 to your final bill.
  • Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
  • Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in San Diego, California, typically costs $951.

What are the best freight companies from San Diego to Minneapolis?

  1. 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.
  2. 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 one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Minneapolis 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: San Diego, CA vs Minneapolis, MN

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Minneapolis, side by side with San Diego on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure San Diego, CA Minneapolis, MN
Cost of living index155107
Average rent$2,881/mo$1,484/mo
Median home value$847,715$345,294
Average income$104,321/yr$80,269/yr
Unemployment rate6.6%4.5%
State income taxUp to 13.3%Up to 9.85%
Walkability score53/10071/100
Safety index60.17/10043.94/100
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 Minneapolis, MN to San Diego, CA guide.

Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:

In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from California to Minnesota, 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 1,154 movers in California, so you have real options to compare for this 1,992-mile move.

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Our take

The 1,992-mile move from San Diego, CA, to Minneapolis, MN, costs between $1,247 and $10,820 with full-service movers, $1,550 - $5,840 with a moving container, and $1,086 - $3,021 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 $3,438 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 Aeon and Target.

FAQs: Moving from San Diego, CA, to Minneapolis, MN

How walkable is Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has a walkability score of 71 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 83, compared to 53 and 43 in San Diego. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?

The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($861 - $984), daily insurance ($41/day), and equipment rentals ($10 - $27) on top. Overnight stops can add another $204/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

How do I know a mover is licensed in Minnesota?

To operate legally within the state, Minnesota household goods movers must have a current permit from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Before being granted operating authority, each moving company must file a public tariff, provide proof of insurance and submit a Certificate of Compliance to MnDOT.

What is the best time of year to move from San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, 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 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 4 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 Diego movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 52% of movers in San Diego handle piano moves, and 30% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.