($1,302+) Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN Movers
The cost to move from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN ranges from $1,489 to $12,155, with an average cost of $4,300. Moves can be as low as $1,302 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 1,899 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.
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Compare moving options from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN
Moving options from Sacramento to St. Paul fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,489 - $12,155 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,300, 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 1,899 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 1,899-mile route from Sacramento to St. Paul, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,489 - $6,060 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,761 - $3,300), rental truck ($1,215 - $2,339), or freight trailer ($1,648 - $2,971). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $3,759 - $8,173 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $12,155.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated August 31, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,899-mile move from Sacramento, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, with prices running from $1,489 - $12,155. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $351 - $2,340 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Sacramento and St. Paul are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Sacramento movers tend to run around $287 as a base rate plus $130/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Sacramento to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,489 - $6,060
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,759 - $8,173
- 4+ bedrooms: $7,026 - $12,155
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 Sacramento 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: 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.
Add-ons and specialty services from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost (Sacramento to St. Paul) |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | You want the crew to box everything | $585 - $5,850 |
| Storage in transit | Your new place is not ready on arrival | $234 - $1,404/mo |
| Shuttle fee | A full-size truck cannot reach the door | $351 - $2,808 |
| Full-value protection | Coverage beyond the default $0.60/lb | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Shipments under about 2,000 lbs | $1,170 - $3,510 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,925 - $11,700 |
| Car shipping | Moving a second vehicle | $876 - $1,665 |
| Antiques & fine art | Climate control and white-glove handling | $1,170 - $2,925 |
| Piano | Upright, baby grand, or grand | $936 - $4,095 |
| Pool table | Disassembly and professional re-leveling | $351 - $1,755 |
| Hot tub | 500 - 900 lb units with electrical disconnect | $761 - $2,340 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled, vibration-safe transport | $351 - $17,550+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or VIP concierge | $351 - $4,095+ |
| Basic utilities | Ongoing monthly cost in St. Paul | /mo |
| Internet | Ongoing monthly cost in St. Paul | /mo |
| Cell phone plan | Ongoing monthly cost in St. Paul | /mo |
What are the best full-service movers from Sacramento to St. Paul?
Look for Minnesota Transport Services Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Minnesota beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Sacramento, CA. 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 Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN
Moving containers from Sacramento, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, cost between $1,761 and $6,160. 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 St. Paul. If you go over that window, storage in Sacramento adds around $120/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Sacramento to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,761 - $3,300
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,186 - $4,392
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,052 - $6,160
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Sacramento, CA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $819, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $88 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $176 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Sacramento, CA, and St. Paul, MN, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.
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 $1,761. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,186 - $4,392, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Sacramento to St. Paul?
- PODS (4.8/5 stars): PODS is best for nationwide coverage. It runs the widest service network of any container company, with secure month-to-month storage and steel-frame containers you load on your own schedule.
- Units Moving & Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars): Units is best for locally owned service. Their steel containers come in multiple sizes that fit tight driveways, and locally owned branches mean you reach a live support team that knows your area.
- 1-800-Pack-Rat: 1-800-Pack-Rat is best for weatherproof storage. Their all-steel containers hold up well in transit and long storage windows, with flexible month-to-month terms when your move-in date slips.
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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento:
- Two Men and a Truck Moving (4.6/5), 21 years in business
- Premium Movers Inc. (4.6/5), 19 years in business
- Double Move (4.9/5), 3 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN
A rental truck for this 1,899-mile move from Sacramento, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, costs between $1,215 and $3,441. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $707 - $808
- Daily insurance: $35/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
- Sacramento daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $1.09 - $0.89
| 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 Sacramento to St. Paul based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,215 - $2,339
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,355 - $2,925
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,708 - $3,441
Pro tip: A rental truck from Sacramento to St. Paul looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,215 - $3,441. But once you factor in fuel ($707 - $808) , overnight lodging ($176/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?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $88 and $410.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $176.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $707 and $808 for the 1,899-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 $819 for 2 movers in Sacramento, California, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Sacramento to St. Paul?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars): Budget Truck Rental is our pick for best value rental. Lower advertised base rates than U-Haul or Penske, combined with AAA, military, and online booking discounts, make Budget the most affordable major rental option.
- Penske Truck Rental (4/5 stars): Penske Truck Rental is the most reliable rental on this list. Penske runs one of the youngest fleets in the industry (averaging under 2 years old) and includes 24/7 roadside support and unlimited mileage on long-distance moves.
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars): U-Haul Truck Rental is the best availability pick. U-Haul's 23,000+ locations and 7 truck sizes make it the easiest rental to book on short notice, especially for one-way and same-day moves.
Freight trailer costs from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Sacramento, California, to St. Paul, Minnesota, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,802 and $3,587.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Sacramento to St. Paul:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,648 - $2,971
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,802 - $3,587
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,491 - $4,979
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 $88 - $176 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 Sacramento, California, typically costs $819.
What are the best freight companies from Sacramento to St. Paul?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
- Button Transportation, Inc. (4.8/5 stars): Button Transportation, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.
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 St. Paul 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: Sacramento, 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 Sacramento on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Sacramento, CA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 127 | 102 |
| Average rent | $1,899/mo | $1,350/mo |
| Median home value | $483,739 | $279,535 |
| Average income | $83,753/yr | $73,055/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% | 4.9% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 9.85% |
| Walkability score | 49/100 | 60/100 |
| Safety index | 50.79/100 | 49.14/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Good |
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 Sacramento, CA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 840 real quotes from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 374 movers based in California, handy for sizing up options on this 1,899-mile route.
Our take
The 1,899-mile move from Sacramento, CA, to St. Paul, MN, costs between $1,489 and $12,155 with full-service movers, $1,761 - $6,160 with a moving container, and $1,215 - $3,441 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 $3,759 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 Siemens and ACS Group.
FAQs: Moving from Sacramento, CA, to St. Paul, MN
What is the best time of year to move from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, 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 are some tips for saving money on a move from Sacramento, CA to St. Paul, MN?
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.
Is St. Paul a safe place to live?
St. Paul has a safety index of 49.14 out of 100 and a crime index of 50.86, compared to 50.79 and 49.21 in Sacramento. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is St. Paul?
St. Paul has a walkability score of 60 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 64, compared to 49 and 67 in Sacramento. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What are the best neighborhoods in St. Paul?
For families, Macalester-Groveland, Summit Hill, and Highland are worth a look in St. Paul. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown, St. Anthony Park, and Summit Hill tend to be popular picks instead.
