($789+) St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA

Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Lafayette, LA, runs anywhere from $789 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,686 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,204 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 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 $2,321, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,686 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,309 - $4,531, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $789 - $2,293.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Paul, MN, to Lafayette, LA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,055 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA

Moving options from St. Paul to Lafayette fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $3,055 - $6,610 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,204 miles and typically takes 2 to 8 days.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,204-mile route from St. Paul to Lafayette, broken down by home size:

  • A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,321 - $5,645 with full-service movers, $1,309 - $2,406 with a container, $789 - $1,475 with a rental truck, or $1,238 - $2,144 by freight.
  • A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $3,055 - $6,610 full-service, $1,654 - $3,523 by container, $897 - $1,717 by rental truck, or $1,283 - $2,601 by freight.
  • A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $4,939 - $9,686 full-service, $2,377 - $4,531 by container, $1,083 - $2,293 by rental truck, or $1,755 - $3,589 by freight.

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 St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,204-mile move from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Lafayette, Louisiana, with prices running from $2,321 - $9,686. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $292 - $1,944 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between St. Paul and Lafayette 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 Lafayette:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,321 - $5,645
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,055 - $6,610
  • 4+ bedrooms: $4,939 - $9,686

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 Lafayette.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Minnesota to Louisiana. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.

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Specialty moving services from St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA

Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of St. Paul movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Lafayette, 75% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$486 - $4,860
Storage in transitNew place not ready91% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company $194 - $1,166/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$292 - $2,333
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage29% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers$972 - $2,916
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,430 - $9,720
Car shippingSecond vehicle$728 - $1,383
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items41% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc.$972 - $2,430
PianoAny piano type76% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company $778 - $3,402
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers$292 - $1,458
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect12% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc.$632 - $1,944
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$292 - $14,580+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$292 - $3,402+

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

Louisiana Motor Transport Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Louisiana, 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 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 Lafayette, LA

Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Lafayette, Louisiana, cost between $1,309 and $4,531. 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 Lafayette. If you go over that window, storage in St. Paul adds around $70/month.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,309 - $2,406
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,654 - $3,523
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,377 - $4,531

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $73 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $146 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Lafayette, LA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
  • Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $680 in St. Paul, MN. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Minnesota to Louisiana 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 $1,309. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,654 - $3,523, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers St. Paul to Lafayette?

  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 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 Lafayette, LA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,204 miles from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Lafayette, Louisiana, running $789 - $2,293. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

  • Fuel for the drive: $372 - $426
  • 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 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 St. Paul to Lafayette based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $789 - $1,475
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $897 - $1,717
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,083 - $2,293

Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $789 - $2,293 when pricing out a rental truck from St. Paul to Lafayette. Fuel alone runs ($372 - $426) , and overnight lodging ($146/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?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $146 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
  • Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in St. Paul, Minnesota, usually costs about $680 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 1,204-mile drive falls between $372 and $426, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $49 and $292 to your total.

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

  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 St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA

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 Lafayette, Louisiana.

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 $1,283 and $2,601.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,238 - $2,144
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,283 - $2,601
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,755 - $3,589

Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.

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 St. Paul, Minnesota, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $680.
  • More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $73 and $146 per foot.

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

  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. T.A. Dedicated, Inc. (4.8/5 stars): T.A. Dedicated, Inc. 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 Lafayette 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: St. Paul, MN vs Lafayette, LA

Day-to-day costs in Lafayette are close to what you're used to in St. Paul: cost of living index of 90 versus 102, with average rent of $2,825/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 42/100 and 54.25/100 in Lafayette.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Lafayette, LA to St. Paul, MN guide.

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Our take

The 1,204-mile move from St. Paul, MN, to Lafayette, LA, costs between $2,321 and $9,686 with full-service movers, $1,309 - $4,531 with a moving container, and $789 - $2,293 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 $3,055 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 LHC Group and King-Patin.

FAQs: Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Lafayette, LA

How do I know a mover is licensed in Louisiana?

If you’re using a legitimate moving company to relocate from one home or apartment within the state to another, look for a company regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). During the pre-move screening process, families on the move should verify that prospective movers are registered and in good standing with the LPSC. In cases of substandard service, inflated costs, and unlicensed movers operating illegally, consumers may file a complaint, after which the commission will initiate an investigation.

What are the best neighborhoods in Lafayette?

For families, Youngsville, Erath, and Maurice are worth a look in Lafayette. If you're moving solo or without kids, Saint Streets, Freetown-Port Rico, and Downtown Lafayette tend to be popular picks instead.

How walkable is Lafayette?

Lafayette has a walkability score of 42 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 47, compared to 60 and 64 in St. Paul. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

Is Lafayette a safe place to live?

Lafayette has a safety index of 54.25 out of 100 and a crime index of 45.75, compared to 49.14 and 50.86 in St. Paul. 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 St. Paul, MN to Lafayette, LA?

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 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.