Quick answer: The cost to move from St. Louis to Birmingham ranges from $526 to $6,623 and the journey will take approximately one to four days. Key factors influencing these estimates include your moving volume, chosen moving date, and whether you opt for professional movers or handle the 498-mile move on your own.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from Birmingham to St. Louis guide.
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Best Movers By Type
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Best Professional Movers from St. Louis to Birmingham
Choosing a long-distance mover for your trip from St. Louis to Birmingham can be tough. With so many options, it's easy to feel overwhelmed about who you can truly count on.
Save yourself the hassle of sorting through countless moving companies — we've already narrowed down the best for you. Our favorites earned their spots thanks to rave reviews, budget-friendly prices, and versatile services to suit any type of move.
Safeway Moving
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American Van Lines
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Allied Van Lines
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Mayzlin Relocation
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North American Van Lines
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How we chose the best moving companies for your MO to AL move
Local moving companies servicing St. Louis to Birmingham moves
When planning a move from St. Louis to Birmingham, finding a local mover that also handles long-distance relocations can be tricky. There are plenty of companies, but which ones are actually worth it?
We've taken care of the research for you — reviewing local movers in St. Louis who provide long-distance services, and scoring them on price, customer reviews, and reliability.
These are the best local moving companies for getting from St. Louis to Birmingham.
- Arch Moving: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- McGuire Moving and Storage: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- All My Sons Moving & Storage: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Cord Moving and Storage: 4.72 out of 5 stars
Company Info
State license #: 2969512
Pricing: $150/hr
Years in Business: 22
DOT #: 2969512
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 2256609
Years in Business: 45
DOT #: 2256609
Alternate Names: McGuire Moving Co.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Company Info
State license #: 714664
Years in Business: 31
DOT #: 2527384
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 1803212
Years in Business: 24
DOT #: 902281
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 181102
Years in Business: 105
DOT #: 181102
Alternate Names: North American Moving Services, Cord Moving & Storage Company Inc.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
How much does it cost to move from St. Louis to Birmingham?
St. Louis movers charge $145 per hour on average. Here are average prices for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck:
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,407 - $3,846 | $873 - $1,997 | $523 - $883 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,444 - $6,623 | $1,470 - $2,924 | $526 - $1,069 |
4+ bedrooms | $4,272 - $9,126 | $2,016 - $3,753 | $674 - $1,315 |
Cost to hire movers from Missouri to Alabama
If you're moving a studio or one-bedroom home from Missouri to Alabama, you can expect to spend between $1,407 and $3,846. For a two- or three-bedroom place, prices usually range from $2,444 to $6,623 on the same route (MO to AL). Got a larger household? Moving a four- or five-bedroom home from Missouri to Alabama typically runs between $4,272 and $9,126.
Cost of moving containers from Missouri to Alabama
Moving from Missouri to Alabama? For a small load, you'll likely pay between $873 and $1,997. If you have a two- or three-bedroom home, costs usually range from $1,470 to $2,924. Got a big family or a four-plus bedroom house? Expect prices ranging anywhere from $2,016 up to $3,753. For detailed pricing info, take a look at our complete PODS cost guide.
Check out the most affordable moving container companies to help with your move from Missouri.
Cost of moving truck rentals from Missouri to Alabama
Renting a moving truck is typically the most budget-friendly choice, but remember, you'll be responsible for all the heavy lifting, packing, and driving on your own.
If you're moving from a studio or one-bedroom place with a rental truck, expect to pay between $523 and $883. For a two- or three-bedroom move, costs usually range from $526 to $1,069. If you're tackling a four-bedroom or bigger move, your rental truck will likely run between $674 and $1,315.
Estimated fuel costs are already factored into these quotes.
Key factors that impact the cost of your St. Louis to Birmingham move
What to know before moving from St. Louis to Birmingham
Moving from St. Louis to Birmingham comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Birmingham is generally more expensive than St. Louis, it's important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.
Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:
St. Louis | Birmingham | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,250 | $1,250 |
Average home value | $171,463 | $125,988 |
Average income (per capita) | $66,090 | $39,403 |
Cost of living (single person) | $2,589 | $2,697 |
Cost of living (family of 4) | $6,573 | $6,727 |
Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 5.6% |
Sales tax | 9.68% | 10.0% |
State income tax | 4.8% | 5.0% |
- Rent prices are the same in Birmingham and St. Louis.
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In terms of homeownership, you'll be able to get more for your money in Birmingham.
Home prices in Birmingham are 26.5% lower than in St. Louis. - Income in Birmingham is 40.4% lower than in St. Louis, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Birmingham — including Encompass Health, Regions Bank, and University of Alabama at Birmingham — may pay more.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Birmingham, since the cost of living for a single person in Birmingham is 4.2% higher than in St. Louis. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- If you're moving your family to Birmingham, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Birmingham is 2.3% higher than in St. Louis.
- The unemployment rate in Birmingham is 11.11% lower than in St. Louis.
- Shopping and dining out will likely be a little pricier in Birmingham, since its sales taxes are 3.31% higher than what you are paying in St. Louis.
- State income taxes in Birmingham are 4.17% higher than in St. Louis.
To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,125.14 in Birmingham to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in St. Louis.
How life is different in St. Louis vs. Birmingham
Birmingham | St. Louis | |
---|---|---|
Population | 196,644 | 293,310 |
AllTransit Transportation Performance Score | 0 | 8 |
Walkability score | 33 | 66 |
Bike friendliness score | 31 | 58 |
Crime Index | 61.64 | 69.65 |
Safety Index | 38.36 | 30.35 |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
- Birmingham might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 33% less than St. Louis.
- Getting around Birmingham without a car might be more difficult than in St. Louis. Birmingham has a public transportation score of 0 out of 10, whereas St. Louis is ranked 8. Ratings are based on a city's transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
- Birmingham neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as St. Louis. Based on its score of 33 out of 100, Birmingham isn't as walkable as St. Louis, which has a score of 66 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
- You probably won't see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Birmingham, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than St. Louis. While St. Louis has a bike-friendliness score of 58 out of 100, Birmingham earned a 31. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
- Birmingham has a lower crime rate than St. Louis based on scores of 61.64 and St. Louis's 69.65, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
- You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Birmingham than in St. Louis, based on Birmingham's safety index of 38.36 versus 30.35 for St. Louis. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
- You can breathe easy knowing that Birmingham has better air quality than in St. Louis. Birmingham has Good air quality, compared to moderate in St. Louis. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.
Other things to consider for your St. Louis vs. Birmingham move
- Weather: Birmingham has hot summers, mild winters, and abundant rainfall. Birmingham is also located in tornado alley.
- HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
- Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
- Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
- State licensing: To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience. Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
- State regulator: You can verify a Alabama moving company's license by visiting the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: You won't need a moving permit in Alabama, though it's smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly to Birmingham Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations. Moving companies typically take responsibility for your belongings at a rate of 60 cents per pound (or even less) per item. This means that for a lightweight item weighing five pounds and valued at $500, the reimbursement would be only $3 in the event of loss or damage. To enhance your coverage, certain movers provide additional valuation options, such as declared value or lump sum value protection, which offer better protection compared to the basic released value protection. To better understand and explore these options, consider discussing them with your chosen moving company.
- Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Where to live in Birmingham
Now that you've chosen B'ham as your next home, here are a few of the best neighborhoods in Birmingham to check out.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Central City
- Five Points South
- Highland Park
- Fountain Heights
- Southside
Best neighborhoods for families
- Oxmoor
- Crestwood South
- Redmont Park
Things to do in Birmingham
After settling into your new Alabama home, you'll want to branch out and explore your new city. Luckily, Birmingham has lots to offer, no matter what you're interested in:
- Arts and culture: You'll find museums and cultural hubs throughout Birmingham, such as the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Vulcan Park and Museum, McWane Science Center, and Birmingham Museum of Art.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Vulcan Park and Museum, Birmingham's Railroad Park, Kelly Ingram Park, and Red Mountain Park — along with other locations, ideal for trails, cycling, or enjoying the fresh air.
- Sports: Experience the energy of a live game and back the home team at an Birmingham Barons, UAB Blazers, Samford University teams, or Birmingham Legion FC game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from St. Louis to Birmingham?
The best time to move from St. Louis to Birmingham is during the spring or fall. These seasons offer milder weather and avoid higher moving costs during the peak moving season in St. Louis.
When is the cheapest time to move from St. Louis to Birmingham?
With many people choosing to move from St. Louis to Birmingham in spring or fall, winter moves often come with better rates. Take a look at our moving discounts guide to find out how to save.
How long does a move from St. Louis to Birmingham take?
The 498-mile move from St. Louis, MO, to Birmingham, AL, takes one to four days. Some St. Louis movers may offer expedited moving if you need it faster. If you need more time, ask your mover about storage options in Birmingham.