Moving from Rochester, MN to Saint Paul, MN
At about 83 miles, Rochester to Saint Paul is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. At 83 miles the drive is on the clock too — about 2 hours each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Rochester, MN to Saint Paul, MN covers about 83 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $535 – $873 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 803 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 83 miles, crews cover Rochester to Saint Paul in a single day — about 2 hours on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Rochester to Saint Paul
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Rochester to Saint Paul
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $46–$57 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $535 to $873. The 83 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Rochester to Saint Paul
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 803 people a year (±328) moved from Olmsted County, MN, home to Rochester, to Ramsey County, MN, home to Saint Paul. Going the other way: about 244 people a year (±172). Movers from Olmsted County make up 1.9% of the 42,856 people a year who moved into Ramsey County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Ramsey County, MN | 803 ±328 |
| Hennepin County, MN | 794 ±264 |
| Dodge County, MN | 565 ±157 |
| Winona County, MN | 560 ±227 |
| Dakota County, MN | 312 ±160 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Hennepin County, MN | 12,138 ±1,365 |
| Washington County, MN | 4,329 ±716 |
| Dakota County, MN | 3,765 ±542 |
| Anoka County, MN | 3,367 ±811 |
| Cook County, IL | 886 ±412 |
Licensed movers at each end
5 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Rochester. 2 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 40.0% of their 10 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piepho Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 286311 | Rochester · 4 mi | 18 trucks | 1 | 100.0% of 1 |
| Two Men and A Truck Rochester MNUSDOT 2468021 | Rochester · 4 mi | 11 trucks | 13 | 33.3% of 9 |
| Ace Midwest Moving and StorageUSDOT 3987433 | Rochester · 6 mi | 3 trucks | 0 | — |
| C2C Moving and Storage IncUSDOT 4573160 | Stewartville · 11 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| Hamlin Moving & Storage LLCUSDOT 4300818 | Stewartville · 11 mi | 1 truck | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Saint Paul end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Saint Paul: Bay and Bay (Eagan, 360 trucks), Beltmann Relocation Group (Roseville, 269 trucks), Berger Transfer & Storage Inc (Saint Paul, 221 trucks), Manning Transfer Inc (Blaine, 60 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Minnesota, so Minnesota rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Minnesota licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Minnesota, so your protection on this 83-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Rochester to Saint Paul
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $46 to $57 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Saint Paul
A local move inside Saint Paul later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $535 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $903 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Saint Paul are Minneapolis (about 10 mi), Rochester (about 83 mi), Sioux Falls (about 238 mi).
Other routes from Rochester
All routes from Rochester, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester to Minneapolis, MN | ~90 mi | $535 – $873 |
Also moving to Saint Paul: from Minneapolis, MN, from Fargo, ND, from Madison, WI, from Milwaukee, WI.
Rochester to Saint Paul moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Rochester, MN to Saint Paul?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $535 – $873; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $903 – $1,614. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 83 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Rochester, MN to Saint Paul take?
One day. The drive is about 2 hours, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Rochester, MN to Saint Paul?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 83 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Rochester, MN to Saint Paul an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Minnesota, so the move is regulated by Minnesota rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Minnesota requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Rochester, MN to Saint Paul each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 803 people a year (margin of error ±328) moved from Olmsted County, which contains Rochester, to Ramsey County, which contains Saint Paul.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.