Moving from Saint Paul, MN to Rochester, MN
At about 83 miles, Saint Paul to Rochester 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 Saint Paul, MN to Rochester, 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 244 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 83 miles, crews cover Saint Paul to Rochester 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 Saint Paul to Rochester
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, Saint Paul to Rochester
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 Saint Paul to Rochester
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 244 people a year (±172) moved from Ramsey County, MN, home to Saint Paul, to Olmsted County, MN, home to Rochester. Going the other way: about 803 people a year (±328). Movers from Ramsey County make up 2.5% of the 9,821 people a year who moved into Olmsted County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Hennepin County, MN | 11,373 ±1,074 |
| Washington County, MN | 5,509 ±880 |
| Dakota County, MN | 4,375 ±634 |
| Anoka County, MN | 3,828 ±574 |
| St. Louis County, MN | 927 ±244 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Hennepin County, MN | 764 ±389 |
| Mower County, MN | 565 ±305 |
| Blue Earth County, MN | 454 ±302 |
| Winona County, MN | 344 ±161 |
| Ramsey County, MN | 244 ±172 |
Licensed movers at each end
184 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Saint Paul. 51 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.1% of their 695 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayUSDOT 125630 | Eagan · 8 mi | 360 trucks | 954 | 15.8% of 507 |
| Beltmann Relocation GroupUSDOT 751097 | Roseville · 5 mi | 269 trucks | 13 | 28.6% of 7 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 125665 | Saint Paul · 5 mi | 221 trucks | 63 | 13.9% of 36 |
| Manning Transfer IncUSDOT 116111 | Blaine · 16 mi | 60 trucks | 104 | 23.5% of 51 |
| AAA Movers IncUSDOT 1140502 | Brooklyn Park · 18 mi | 44 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Gazda Moving Co IncUSDOT 217722 | Minneapolis · 18 mi | 35 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Rochester end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Rochester: Piepho Moving & Storage Inc (Rochester, 18 trucks), Two Men and A Truck Rochester MN (Rochester, 11 trucks), Ace Midwest Moving and Storage (Rochester, 3 trucks), C2C Moving and Storage Inc (Stewartville, 2 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 Saint Paul to Rochester
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 Rochester
A local move inside Rochester 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 Rochester are Saint Paul (about 83 mi), Minneapolis (about 90 mi), Cedar Rapids (about 171 mi).
Other routes from Saint Paul
All routes from Saint Paul, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul to Minneapolis, MN | ~10 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Saint Paul to Sioux Falls, SD | ~238 mi | $1,071 – $1,428 |
| Saint Paul to Fargo, ND | ~259 mi | $1,166 – $1,554 |
| Saint Paul to Madison, WI | ~263 mi | $1,184 – $1,578 |
| Saint Paul to Des Moines, IA | ~273 mi | $1,229 – $1,638 |
| Saint Paul to Milwaukee, WI | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Saint Paul to Omaha, NE | ~341 mi | $1,535 – $2,046 |
| Saint Paul to Chicago, IL | ~405 mi | $1,823 – $2,430 |
Also moving to Rochester: from Minneapolis, MN, from Fargo, ND.
Saint Paul to Rochester moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Saint Paul to Rochester, MN?
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 Saint Paul to Rochester, MN 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 Saint Paul to Rochester, MN?
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 Saint Paul to Rochester, MN 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 Saint Paul to Rochester, MN each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 244 people a year (margin of error ±172) moved from Ramsey County, which contains Saint Paul, to Olmsted County, which contains Rochester.
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.