Moving to Illinois: 2026 costs & movers
Illinois moving activity centers on Chicago, a major origin for relocation to Texas, Florida, and the Sun Belt, alongside steady intra-metro moves.
Typical local move, 2-bedroom home
$900–$1,350
Local cost index
+3% vs national
Largest city
Chicago
Cities covered
1
National baseline scaled to Illinois · how we calculate
Cost of movers in Illinois: hourly crew rates
Illinois is really two markets. Chicago's three-flats and courtyard buildings mean back stairs with no elevator, downtown towers require insurance certificates and reserved freight elevators, and winter adds floor protection and ice clearing. Downstate prices like the rest of the Midwest, which is why the statewide figure sits only slightly above the national average.
A local move is billed by the hour, so the crew rate is the number that decides the bill. These are 2026 Illinois rates with the truck, fuel, dollies, and pads included:
| Crew size | Rate / hour | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers | $128 | Studio – 1BR |
| 3 movers | $192 | 2BR – 3BR |
| 4 movers | $255 | 4BR+ |
Almost every company also bills a 2–4 hour minimum plus travel time, so a very small job rarely lands below the studio row in the next table. The hourly rates guide covers minimums, travel-time billing, and labor-only crews in full.
Illinois local move cost by home size
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $325 | $400 | $525 |
| 1 Bedroom | $475 | $575 | $700 |
| 2 Bedroom | $900 | $1,100 | $1,350 |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,225 | $1,525 | $1,850 |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,975 | $2,425 | $2,950 |
| 5+ Bedroom | $2,425 | $2,950 | $3,600 |
Chicago local rates run above the national average: walk-ups, elevator reservations, COIs, and winter conditions all add crew hours to the typical job.
How much does it cost to move to Illinois from out of state?
An interstate move is priced on a different basis than a local one. Instead of crew hours at a local rate, you are paying for the weight of your household moved a given distance, and that per-mile carrier cost is national, not Illinois-specific. The crew hours are also split between an origin market and a Illinois destination market, so we do not scale these figures by Illinois's local cost index, doing so would overstate how much the destination changes the price.
Here are the 1 interstate lanes into Illinois we publish rates for, priced at each corridor's actual road distance for a 3-bedroom household:
| Corridor | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY to Chicago (790 mi) | $3,475 | $4,250 | $5,175 |
Smaller households scale down from here: a 1-bedroom runs roughly half a 3-bedroom at the same distance, and a studio about a third. Moving in peak season (May–September) or in the last five days of a month adds 15–24% on top. The long-distance guide has the full matrix by home size and distance.
Moving cost by city in Illinois
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Popular Illinois moving routes
Moving to Illinois
Moving to Illinois FAQ
In 2026, Illinois movers charge about $128/hour for a 2-mover crew, $192/hour for 3 movers, and $255/hour for 4, with the truck included. A typical 2-bedroom local move works out to $900–$1,350 all in.
Illinois is really two markets. Chicago's three-flats and courtyard buildings mean back stairs with no elevator, downtown towers require insurance certificates and reserved freight elevators, and winter adds floor protection and ice clearing. Downstate prices like the rest of the Midwest, which is why the statewide figure sits only slightly above the national average.
Interstate pricing is set by weight and distance, not by Illinois's local labor market. For a 3-bedroom household, expect about $2,100–$3,150 from a neighbouring state, $3,900–$5,800 from roughly 1,000 miles away, and $6,500–$9,675 coast to coast. Smaller homes cost proportionally less.
A local move within Illinois runs about $325–$525 for a studio up to $2,425–$3,600 for a large house, at Illinois crew rates for a roughly 15-mile move. Anything past about 50 miles starts picking up per-mile transport on top of the crew hours.
We cover Chicago in detail, see the city page below for hourly crew rates and a full local cost table. Rates in larger metros like Chicago typically run a little higher than in smaller towns.
Chicago local rates run above the national average: walk-ups, elevator reservations, COIs, and winter conditions all add crew hours to the typical job.