($1,085+) St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA Movers
Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Los Angeles, CA, runs anywhere from $1,085 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,531 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,932 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 5 to 16 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 $2,351, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $10,531 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,544 - $5,415, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,085 - $3,264.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Paul, MN, to Los Angeles, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,560 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 Los Angeles, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Paul to Los Angeles: 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 $3,560 - $7,414. Moving containers run about 42% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 66% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 5 to 16 days for this 1,932-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 1,932-mile route from St. Paul to Los Angeles, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,351 - $5,688 with full-service movers, $1,544 - $2,781 with a container, $1,085 - $2,176 with a rental truck, or $1,417 - $2,530 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $3,560 - $7,414 full-service, $2,057 - $4,224 by container, $1,198 - $2,412 by rental truck, or $1,662 - $3,183 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $6,241 - $10,531 full-service, $2,597 - $5,415 by container, $1,436 - $3,264 by rental truck, or $2,208 - $4,597 by freight.
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 St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,932-mile move from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Los Angeles, California, with prices running from $2,351 - $10,531. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $378 - $2,520 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between St. Paul and Los Angeles are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, St. Paul movers tend to run around $243 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Paul to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,351 - $5,688
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,560 - $7,414
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,241 - $10,531
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 Los Angeles.
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 Los Angeles, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 69% of St. Paul movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Los Angeles, 56% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing82% of local movers | $630 - $6,300 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready69% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $252 - $1,512/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $378 - $3,024 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs60% of local movers | $1,260 - $3,780 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,150 - $12,600 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $944 - $1,793 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $1,260 - $3,150 |
| Piano | Any piano type49% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $1,008 - $4,410 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling4% of local movers | $378 - $1,890 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationally | $819 - $2,520 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $378 - $18,900+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $378 - $4,410+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Paul to Los Angeles?
Movers licensed to operate in California are typically members of the California Moving & Storage 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 van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in St. Paul, MN. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA
Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,544 and $5,415. 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 St. Paul typically costs about $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Paul to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,544 - $2,781
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,057 - $4,224
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,597 - $5,415
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $95 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $189 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 $882 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 Los Angeles, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Minnesota to California 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 $1,544. 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 $2,057 - $4,224.
What are the best moving containers St. Paul to Los Angeles?
- 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:
- Premium Moving Services (4.5/5), 9 years in business
- College Muscle Movers, LLC (4.5/5), 19 years in business
- Good Stuff Moving (4.8/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA
A rental truck for this 1,932-mile move from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Los Angeles, California, costs between $1,085 and $3,264. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $775 - $885
- Daily insurance: $38/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
- 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 Los Angeles based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,085 - $2,176
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,198 - $2,412
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,436 - $3,264
Pro tip: A rental truck from St. Paul to Los Angeles looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,085 - $3,264. But once you factor in fuel ($775 - $885), overnight lodging ($189/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $775 - $885 for the 1,932-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in St. Paul, Minnesota, for about 5 hours typically costs around $882.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 1,932-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $189 per night, adding $378 - $567 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $63 and $378.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Paul to Los Angeles?
- 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 Los Angeles, CA
For larger DIY moves from St. Paul, Minnesota, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Los Angeles, California.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,662 and $3,183.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Paul to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,417 - $2,530
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,662 - $3,183
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,208 - $4,597
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?
- 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 $95 and $189.
- 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 $882.
What are the best freight companies from St. Paul to Los Angeles?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from St. Paul to Los Angeles, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: St. Paul, MN vs Los Angeles, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Los Angeles, side by side with St. Paul on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | St. Paul, MN | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 102 | 162 |
| Average rent | $1,350/mo | $2,960/mo |
| Median home value | $279,535 | $878,142 |
| Average income | $73,055/yr | $80,366/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 9.85% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 60/100 | 69/100 |
| Safety index | 49.14/100 | 46.19/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
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 Los Angeles, CA to St. Paul, MN guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Minnesota to California, 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 151 movers licensed in Minnesota, useful context for sizing up this 1,932-mile move.
Our take
A move from St. Paul, MN, to Los Angeles, CA, 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 $2,351 - $10,531 on the 1,932-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,544 - $5,415, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,085 - $3,264. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,560 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 County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District.
FAQs: Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Los Angeles, CA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA?
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 St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA?
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 St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA 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 ($775 - $885), daily insurance ($38/day), and equipment rentals ($9 - $25) on top. Overnight stops can add another $189/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA?
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 $1,198 - $2,412. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of St. Paul movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 49% of movers in St. Paul handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.