Best St. Paul to Des Moines Movers

How Much Do St. Paul to Des Moines Movers Cost?

Moving 245 miles from St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Des Moines that already have a booked job heading from Des Moines to St. Paul. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Des Moines from St. Paul entirely empty. If you can find a Des Moines moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper St. Paul to Des Moines moving option

Hire local St. Paul movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Des Moines movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this St. Paul to Des Moines move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top St. Paul to Des Moines movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the St. Paul to Des Moines moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 25 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the St. Paul and Des Moines areas.

From these 25 companies, we analyzed a total of 6,556 reviews dating all the way back to August 2008.

We also reviewed a total of 14 state and federal moving licenses from these 25 companies and 136 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~6,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 2,004 St. Paul to Des Moines moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Goal Line Moving) vs older more established companies (like Best Move Inc).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every St. Paul to Des Moines moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.81/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 3,609 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.51/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 1,208 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.01/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 770 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.15/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 1,431 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.76/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 559 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.95/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 1,606 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.25/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 2,094 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.61/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 3,618 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.70/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 2,079 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.75/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 391 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.29/10 avg (St. Paul & Des Moines combined) from 1,821 reviews

From St. Paul to Des Moines: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Lowertown in St. Paul & East Village in Des Moines are both known for their: arts district, loft conversions & nightlife
• St. Paul's Summit Hill neighborhood & Des Moines' Sherman Hill both share: tree-lined streets & Victorian homes
• If you're moving from Mac-Groveland, check out Beaverdale in the Des Moines area for the: walkable bungalow neighborhood & local shops
• Do you enjoy Highland Park's college-adjacent parks & large homes? You're sure to love Drake
• Move from West Seventh to Ingersoll Park and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: riverfront eateries & local breweries
• Merriam Park & Woodland Heights are both known for their: historic streetcar suburb & craftsman bungalows
• St. Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood & Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood both have: upscale homes with river views
• If you're moving from Dayton’s Bluff, look into Woodland Heights for the: hillside river vistas & older homes

Pros and Cons of Moving from St. Paul to Des Moines

ConsSt. Paul, MN

• Colder winters
• Higher taxes
• Smaller job market

ProsDes Moines, IA

• Milder winters
• Lower taxes
• Larger job market

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Des Moines, IA

• Smaller cultural scene
• Less diversity
• Fewer green spaces

St. Paul, MN

• Lively cultural scene
• Greater diversity
• More green spaces

Pros of moving from St. Paul to Des Moines

• Say goodbye to colder winters and hello to milder winters
• Look forward to moving away from higher taxes and moving to Des Moines with lower taxes
• Swap the smaller job market of St. Paul for a larger job market in Des Moines

Cons of moving from St. Paul to Des Moines

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lively cultural scene in St. Paul to live with a smaller cultural scene in Des Moines
• You'll lose out on the pro of greater diversity and have to settle for the con of less diversity
• Time to bid farewell to more green spaces and get used to fewer green spaces in Des Moines

St. Paul vs. Des Moines: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from St. Paul to Des Moines, you will be trading the iconic Juicy Lucy of St. Paul for the equally delicious Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines. And while the locals in St. Paul rave about their flavorful Wild Rice Soup and sumptuous Tater Tot Hotdish, Des Moines residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Juicy Lucy they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Bowl of Des Moines. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic St. Paul eateries like Matt's Bar, Cossetta's, and Heartland. After the boxes are unpacked in Des Moines, don't wait too long before making your way to Des Moines' acclaimed eateries like Zombie Burger, Fong's Pizza, and Centro.

When comparing lifestyles, Des Moines shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than St. Paul. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Des Moines compared to what you are used to in St. Paul. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Des Moines.

Discover Des Moines Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Des Moines is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old St. Paul favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Mucci's Italian, Meritage, and Cossetta's in St. Paul, we're sure you'll love Lucca, French Bistro, and Gusto Pizza Co. in Des Moines. See our Des Moines restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished St. Paul hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Brasa Premium Rotisserie, head to Bubba on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between St. Paul and Des Moines

• The Victorian and Craftsman architecture that St. Paul is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of Des Moines.
• Compared to St. Paul's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to parks and recreational areas, Des Moines real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and quiet neighborhoods.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Des Moines is less walkable than St. Paul.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Des Moines is less bike-friendly than St. Paul.
• Des Moines has less of an urban feel than St. Paul.
• Des Moines housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in St. Paul, with a median home price of $199,739 compared to St. Paul’s $284,228.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Des Moines have increased by 38% compared to a 25% increase in St. Paul.
• Rent in Des Moines is 27.45% more affordable than in St. Paul.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Des Moines, IA

1. Beaverdale: You’ll love the abundance of parks and walking trails that make it easy to keep your furry friends active and happy.
2. Ingersoll Park: With pet-friendly cafes and easy access to local dog parks, you and your pet can enjoy everything the community has to offer.
3. Waveland Park: You’re never far from open spaces and trails, making it convenient for daily walks and outdoor pet activities.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between St. Paul and Des Moines

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from St. Paul to Des Moines. Des Moines gets 4% more sunshine days than St. Paul.
• Des Moines has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to St. Paul.
• Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold snaps in St. Paul, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and thunderstorms in Des Moines.
• The average summer high temperature in Des Moines is 3 degrees warmer than in St. Paul.
• The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in St. Paul.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Des Moines. Des Moines receives 4 more inches of rain compared to St. Paul.

Financial & Community Snapshot: St. Paul and Des Moines

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Des Moines tend to earn about 8% less than those in St. Paul
• The COLI in Des Moines will be 17% lower than what you are used to living in St. Paul
• The state income tax in IA is 0.33 to 8.53 compared to 5.35 to 9.85 in MN
• The affluence in Des Moines is moderate to high compared to moderate in St. Paul
• The poverty level is low in Des Moines compared to moderate in St. Paul
• In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in St. Paul and minimal in Des Moines

Political and Religious Climate in St. Paul vs. Des Moines

• St. Paul tends to lean Liberal/Progressive in its political climate
• Des Moines, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Liberal
• Des Moines' religious environment can be described as a diverse and inclusive religious community
• St. Paul's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant Catholic presence

St. Paul vs. Des Moines Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 13% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Des Moines compared to your St. Paul daily drive. That's an annual savings of 1560 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Des Moines to be better than it is in St. Paul.
• Public transit is less readily available in Des Moines.