Chicago, IL Moving Costs 2026
Chicago local rates run above the national average: walk-up buildings, elevator reservations, certificates of insurance, and winter conditions all add crew hours to the typical job.
Typical local move, 2-bedroom home
$925–$1,400
2-mover crew
$133/hr
3-mover crew
$199/hr
4-mover crew
$265/hr
Truck included · how we calculate
Chicago hourly moving rates
| Crew size | Rate / hour | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers | $133 | Studio – 1BR |
| 3 movers | $199 | 2BR – 3BR |
| 4 movers | $265 | 4BR+ |
Local move cost by home size
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $350 | $425 | $525 |
| 1 Bedroom | $475 | $600 | $725 |
| 2 Bedroom | $925 | $1,150 | $1,400 |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,275 | $1,575 | $1,925 |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,050 | $2,525 | $3,075 |
| 5+ Bedroom | $2,525 | $3,075 | $3,750 |
What makes Chicago cost more
A local move is crew hours, so the question is always what the housing here does to those hours. Three-flats and courtyard buildings across Lakeview, Logan Square, and Pilsen mean two or three flights of back stairs with no elevator, and downtown high-rises require a certificate of insurance, a reserved freight elevator, and often a weekday-only window.
Net of all that, Chicago prices 7% above the national average. The same 2-bedroom local move that typically costs $1,075 nationally runs $1,150 in Chicago, a difference of $75 more.
Who is moving in Chicago, and when
Chicago is one of the largest sources of outbound migration in the country, feeding Texas, Florida, Arizona, and the Carolinas, while intra-metro moves between city neighborhoods and the collar suburbs stay heavy every summer.
May–September peaks hard, and most leases turn over on the 1st, end-of-month summer weekends are the single most expensive time to move here.
Moving from Chicago to nearby metros
The closest markets we publish rates for, with the real road distance from Chicago and what a 3-bedroom household costs over exactly that distance. Anything under about 50 miles is still priced as a local, hourly job; past that, per-mile transport starts stacking on top of the crew hours.
| Corridor | Distance | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Milwaukee, WI | 96 mi | $1,975 | $1,625–$2,400 |
| Chicago to Madison, WI | 144 mi | $2,175 | $1,775–$2,650 |
| Chicago to Grand Rapids, MI | 147 mi | $2,175 | $1,775–$2,650 |
| Chicago to Indianapolis, IN | 194 mi | $2,350 | $1,925–$2,875 |
Get your exact Chicago quote
Your home size and date change these numbers. Answer six quick questions, the price appears instantly, before any contact form.
- No email required to see your price
- Licensed & insured movers only
- Your estimate is yours to keep either way
Prefer to talk? Call (561) 220-0117, free, no obligation.
Chicago moving cost FAQ
In 2026, Chicago movers charge about $133/hour for a 2-mover crew, $199/hour for 3 movers, and $265/hour for 4, truck included.
Typical Chicago local moves run $350–$525 for a studio up to $2,525–$3,750 for a large house.
Three-flats and courtyard buildings across Lakeview, Logan Square, and Pilsen mean two or three flights of back stairs with no elevator, and downtown high-rises require a certificate of insurance, a reserved freight elevator, and often a weekday-only window. That is why Chicago sits 7% above the national average: a typical 2-bedroom local move runs $1,150 here versus $1,075 nationally, a difference of $75.
Chicago is one of the largest sources of outbound migration in the country, feeding Texas, Florida, Arizona, and the Carolinas, while intra-metro moves between city neighborhoods and the collar suburbs stay heavy every summer.
May–September peaks hard, and most leases turn over on the 1st, end-of-month summer weekends are the single most expensive time to move here.
Chicago to Milwaukee is roughly 96 miles. A 3-bedroom household on that corridor runs about $1,625–$2,400 off-peak, typically $1,975.
Moving across Illinois
See statewide costs, every city we cover, and popular routes in and out on the moving to Illinois hub.
Price Chicago by home size and square footage
The table above is priced by bedroom count. If you know your home's finished square footage instead, the cost by square footage guide converts sq ft to a planning weight and a price. To sanity-check a written bid from a national brand against these figures, see how the major moving companies set their rates.