Moving in Selkirk and Steinbach: A Winnipeg-Area Guide

Selkirk and Steinbach sit on opposite sides of Winnipeg — Selkirk about 35 km north along the Red River, Steinbach about 60 km southeast — and both are their own cities, not Winnipeg suburbs. A move here means mostly detached homes with driveway parking, a 30 to 55 minute drive to the city, a travel charge on the mover's bill, and Manitoba winters that decide your timing from November to March. Here's what matters.

Selkirk vs Steinbach

Selkirk is a city of about 10,000 on Highway 9, roughly 30 to 40 minutes north of Winnipeg along the Red River. It's an older industrial town — the Gerdau steel mill and the Selkirk Mental Health Centre are major employers — with mostly established housing stock. Because it sits downstream of the Red River Floodway outlet, parts of Selkirk carry real spring flood risk; check whether a property is inside a ring-dike area and keep valuables off basement floors until you've seen a spring melt.
Steinbach is a city of about 17,000 on Highway 12, roughly 50 to 55 minutes southeast of Winnipeg — one of Manitoba's fastest-growing communities, with a lot of new detached construction and a strong Mennonite heritage. It's on higher, drier ground than Selkirk. Bethesda Regional Health Centre and the auto-dealership strip along Main Street and Highway 12 are the landmarks.

What a Local Move Costs

Winnipeg-area movers charge by the hour. Two movers and a truck run about $120 to $170 an hour (roughly $140 to $150 is typical), with a two- to three-hour minimum and a travel fee. A Selkirk or Steinbach job adds drive time to and from the depot, so factor that in.

Move size	Typical crew	Typical local cost
Small move / few items	2 movers	$300–$450
Studio / 1-bedroom	2 movers	$400–$700
2-bedroom	2–3 movers	$650–$1,100
3-bedroom house	3 movers	$1,000–$1,800
4+ bedroom house	3–4 movers	$1,600–$2,800

Manitoba doesn't licence movers, so vet on coverage and reputation — ask for a WCB clearance letter, proof of cargo and liability insurance, a written estimate and recent reviews. Full pricing detail is in how much movers cost in Winnipeg, and vetting in local movers in Winnipeg. For a single room or a few big items, a small move is cheaper.

Winter Moves: November to March

Winnipeg winters are among the coldest of any major Canadian city — January means near −16 to −20°C, with extreme cold warnings around −40 with wind chill a regular event. A winter move here:

Snow-route and residential parking bans. Winnipeg restricts parking on snow routes and, after a snowfall, on residential streets by zone — check the "Know Your Zone" tool or call 311. Selkirk and Steinbach run their own snow-clearing parking rules; check the city site before moving day and keep the truck in the driveway.
Tape fails in the cold. Below about 5°C packing tape won't hold. Tape and stack boxes indoors and carry them out in batches.
Short daylight and deep cold. It's dark by about 4:45 pm in December. Book an early start, keep the home's heat on, and lay cardboard or runners at both doors against salt and slush.
Cold-sensitive items. Move TVs, electronics, records and liquids in a heated vehicle, and let them reach room temperature before use.

The full checklist is in moving in winter in Winnipeg. The upside: January and February are the cheapest time to book, often 20 to 30 percent below summer rates on a weekday.

Timing and Access

Demand peaks at the end of every month and across May through September. A mid-month weekday is cheapest and easiest. Give two to three weeks' notice, more for a month-end summer date. Most homes in Selkirk and Steinbach have driveways and unrestricted street parking; the exceptions are older character homes with back-lane-only access and any condo or townhouse with private roads or an elevator to book. In Winnipeg proper, check for permit-only parking (parts of Osborne Village, Wolseley) and get a temporary permit from the city if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a local move in Selkirk or Steinbach cost?

Two movers and a truck run about $120 to $170 an hour with a two- to three-hour minimum and a travel fee, so a 1-bedroom typically lands at $400 to $700, a 2-bedroom at $650 to $1,100, and a 3-bedroom house at $1,000 to $1,800. The drive to and from Winnipeg adds travel time to the bill.

When is the cheapest time to move?

A weekday in the middle of the month, and in January or February — Winnipeg-area movers often discount winter weekday jobs 20 to 30 percent versus summer. The most expensive slots are the last few days of a summer month.

What should I know about a winter move here?

Watch for snow-route and residential parking bans in Winnipeg (use "Know Your Zone" or call 311) and the equivalent rules in Selkirk and Steinbach. Tape and stack boxes indoors because tape fails below about 5°C, start early since it's dark by 4:45 pm in December, and move electronics and liquids in a heated vehicle.

Do movers in Manitoba need a licence?

No. Manitoba has no provincial moving licence. Vet a mover on a WCB clearance letter, cargo and liability insurance, a written binding or not-to-exceed estimate, and recent verifiable reviews.

Is flooding a concern in Selkirk?

It can be. Selkirk sits downstream of the Red River Floodway outlet, and parts of the city have flooded in past high-water years. Check whether a property is within a ring-dike protected area, and keep documents, electronics and valuables off the basement floor until you have been through a spring season.

Book Your Selkirk or Steinbach Move

Sort your date, the parking and any elevator booking, then get an upfront price from Winnipeg movers who cover both cities. For an apartment move, see apartment moving in Winnipeg.

Sources

City of Winnipeg — Winter parking bans and "Know Your Zone" (winnipeg.ca), 2025.
City of Selkirk / City of Steinbach — Snow clearing and winter parking (myselkirk.ca, steinbach.ca), 2025.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation — Winnipeg rental market report (cmhc-schl.gc.ca), 2024.
Manitoba Infrastructure — Red River Floodway and flood protection (gov.mb.ca), 2025.
Environment and Climate Change Canada — Winnipeg climate normals and extreme cold criteria (climate.weather.gc.ca), 2025.