Moving from California to Minnesota
See what your California β Minnesota move could cost.
Get a free moving estimate in about 60 seconds.
No email required.
- No email required
- 100% free
- No obligation
18,000+People helped every month
No emailrequired
Personalizedestimate
Our rankings are data-backedand unbiased
California to Minnesota Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated September 11, 2026
Moving from California to Minnesota typically costs $2,500 β $8,500.
Planning a 1,995 mile interstate move from California to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like sky high housing costs vs more affordable homes), food & health (like Fish Tacos vs Hotdish), real estate & housing, weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fish Tacos and Tri-tip BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Walleye
- Moving from California to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500 see full breakdown
- Our top recommended California to Minnesota movers is Little Guy Big Truck Moving

Planning a 1,995 mile interstate move from California to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like sky high housing costs vs more affordable homes), food & health (like Fish Tacos vs Hotdish), real estate & housing, weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fish Tacos and Tri-tip BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Walleye
- Moving from California to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500 see full breakdown
- Our top recommended California to Minnesota movers is Little Guy Big Truck Moving

Top California to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best California to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Little Guy Big Truck Moving
Best moving company overall for California to Minnesota

OCD Moving Services LLC

Pure Moving
How Much Do California to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,995 miles from California to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Little Guy Big Truck Moving
| HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,334 | 300 ft3 | $7.78 |
| 1 Bedroom | $3,478 | 450 ft3 | $7.73 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $5,759 | 750 ft3 | $7.68 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $8,391 | 1100 ft3 | $7.63 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $12,125 | 1600 ft3 | $7.58 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $13,551 | 1800 ft3 | $7.53 |
No email required
California to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from California to Minnesota
- Sky high housing costs
- Traffic congestion
- Long commutes
- Wildfire risk
- Drought worries
- Water restrictions
- High electricity rates
- Smoggy days
- Crowded beaches
- Packed urban living
- Pricey childcare
- Costly groceries
- Earthquake threat
- Parking headaches
- More affordable homes
- Lighter traffic
- Shorter commutes
- Fewer wildfires
- Abundant freshwater
- Lakes everywhere
- Lower energy costs
- Cleaner air
- Quieter lakeshores
- More space
- More affordable childcare
- Lower grocery prices
- Minimal earthquake risk
- Easier parking
- Harsh winter cold
- No ocean coastline
- Long dark winters
- Fewer high peaks
- Fewer elite campuses
- Limited film industry
- Smaller tech scene
- Fewer direct routes
- Less variety dining
- Short growing season
- Lake beaches only
- Fewer iconic parks
- Mild coastal climate
- Pacific Ocean access
- Year round sunshine
- Mountain day trips
- Top tier universities
- Entertainment industry hub
- Tech career density
- Global flight options
- International cuisine depth
- Year round farmers markets
- Surfing and beaches
- Iconic national parks
Pros of moving from California to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to sky high housing costs and hello to more affordable homes
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Minnesota with lighter traffic
- Swap the long commutes of California for shorter commutes in Minnesota
- Get ready for fewer wildfires in Minnesota
Cons of moving from California to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the mild coastal climate in California to live with the harsh winter cold in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of Pacific Ocean access and have to settle for the con of no ocean coastline
- Time to bid farewell to year round sunshine and get used to the long dark winters in Minnesota
- Swap mountain day trips for fewer high peaks
No email required
California vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
| Comparison | California | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Fish Tacos | Hotdish |
| Most popular meat dish | Tri-tip BBQ | Walleye |
| Most popular street food item | Tacos | Juicy Lucy |
| Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Wild Rice Soup |
| Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
| Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
| Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
| Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
| Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from California to Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Fish Tacos of California for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in California rave about their flavorful Tri-tip BBQ and sumptuous Tacos, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Walleye and Juicy Lucy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Soup of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic California eateries like The French Laundry, Chez Panisse, and N/naka. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like The Jucy Lucy, Spoon and Stable, and Matt's Bar.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than California. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in California. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Minnesota.
No email required
Education Guide When Moving from California to Minnesota
| Comparison | California | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Los Angeles University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley) Berkeley Stanford University Stanford | University of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis Minnesota State University Mankato St. Olaf College Northfield |
| Top 3 Elementary Schools | Acadamie Lafayette Los Angeles Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley Berkeley The Nueva School Hillsborough | Wayzata West Middle School Wayzata Minnetonka Middle School East Minnetonka Valley View Middle School Edina |
| Top 3 Middle Schools | Granite Bay High School Granite Bay Palo Alto High School Palo Alto Palos Verdes Peninsula High School Rolling Hills Estates | Wayzata High School Plymouth Edina High School Edina Minnetonka High School Minnetonka |
| Top 3 High School Schools | The Harker School San Jose Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles Polytechnic School Pasadena | St. Paul Academy and Summit School Saint Paul The Blake School Minneapolis Breck School Golden Valley |
| Top 3 private high schools | Trinity School Menlo Park Lick-Wilmerding High School San Francisco The Webb Schools Claremont | Shattuck-St. Mary's School Faribault Cotter Schools Winona Cretin-Derham Hall Saint Paul |
| Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Nueva School Hillsborough Katherine Delmar Burke School San Francisco Chadwick School Palos Verdes Peninsula | Providence Academy Plymouth Convent of the Visitation School Mendota Heights Breck School Golden Valley |
| Top 3 School Districts | Palo Alto Unified School District Palo Alto San Mateo Union High School District San Mateo Fremont Union High School District Sunnyvale | Edina Public School District Edina Minnetonka Public School District Minnetonka Wayzata Public School District Plymouth |
No email required




