($1,349) Movers From Charleston, SC to St. Paul, MN

What to know before moving from Charleston to St. Paul

Moving from Charleston to St. Paul means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Charleston than in St. Paul, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Charleston compares to St. Paul so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in St. Paul are 46% lower than in Charleston, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in St. Paul.
  Home prices in St. Paul are 50.2% lower than in Charleston.
• Income in St. Paul is 1.9% higher than in Charleston, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in St. Paul include Siemens, ACS Group, and 3M.
• The cost of living for a single person in St. Paul is 31.5% lower than in Charleston. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in St. Paul is 45.6% lower than in Charleston.
• The unemployment rate in St. Paul is 22.50% higher than in Charleston.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in St. Paul, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Paul are 9.78% higher than in Charleston.
• State income taxes in St. Paul are 40.71% higher than in Charleston.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,056.42 in St. Paul to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Charleston.

How life is different in Charleston vs. St. Paul

• The population of St. Paul is about 102% greater than Charleston, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• St. Paul offers better access to buses and trains than Charleston, based on public transportation ratings. St. Paul has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 3 in Charleston. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in St. Paul means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Charleston. St. Paul is considered more walkable than Charleston, with a score of 60 out of 100 versus 40 out of 100 in Charleston. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, St. Paul is considered more bike-friendly than Charleston in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. St. Paul has a bike-friendliness score of 64 out of 100, while Charleston is rated as 50 out of 100.
• The crime rate in St. Paul is higher than in Charleston, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 50.86 in St. Paul, it is 44.97 in Charleston. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in St. Paul. With a crime index of 49.14, St. Paul ranks lower in overall safety than Charleston, whose index is Charleston's 55.03. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in St. Paul and Charleston is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Charleston vs. St. Paul move

• Weather: St. Paul has frigid and snowy winters, while summers are warm to hot and humid. St. Paul experiences a full range of precipitation and related weather events, including snow, sleet, ice, rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and fog
• HOA rules: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• State licensing: 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. Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in Minnesota, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While Minnesota doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to St. Paul without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. In Minnesota, opt for the budget-friendly Released Value Protection provided by movers at no extra charge. While economical, it offers minimal coverage at 60 cents per pound per article. For full value coverage of your items, consult with your chosen moving company for alternatives or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in St. Paul

With your sights set on "Pigs Eye", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in St. Paul.

Helpful moving resources