($466+) Rochester, NY to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Rochester, NY to Chicago, IL

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 603-mile move from Rochester, New York, to Chicago, Illinois, with prices running from $1,236 - $7,077. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $287 - $1,916 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Rochester and Chicago are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Rochester movers tend to run around $294 as a base rate plus $216/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Rochester to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,236 - $3,561
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,921 - $5,025
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,518 - $7,077

Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Rochester to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Rochester, NY to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of Rochester movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Rochester to Chicago?

All three below meet the standards set by the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, the group most Illinois movers are affiliated with.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Moving container costs from Rochester, NY to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Rochester, New York, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,050 and $3,417. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Rochester typically runs around $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Rochester to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,050 - $1,780
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,386 - $2,695
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,796 - $3,417

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Rochester, NY, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $671, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $72 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $144 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Rochester, NY, and Chicago, IL, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Rochester to Chicago?

1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Moving truck rental costs from Rochester, NY to Chicago, IL

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 603 miles from Rochester, New York, to Chicago, Illinois, running $481 - $1,262. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $184 - $210
• Daily insurance: $29/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• Rochester daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Rochester to Chicago based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $481 - $916
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $551 - $1,034
• 4+ bedrooms: $635 - $1,262

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $72 and $335.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $144.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $184 and $210 for the 603-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $671 for 2 movers in Rochester, New York, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Rochester to Chicago?

1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
3. U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)

The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.

Freight trailer costs from Rochester, NY to Chicago, IL

If you're moving a larger household from Rochester, New York, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Chicago, Illinois.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,087 and $2,053.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Rochester to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $982 - $1,670
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,087 - $2,053
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,451 - $2,734

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $72 and $144.
• Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
• Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Rochester, New York, for roughly five hours typically average $671.

What are the best freight companies from Rochester to Chicago?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
3. Stingray Transport, LLC (4.42/5 stars): Stingray Transport, LLC is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.

Cost of living: Rochester, NY vs Chicago, IL

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Chicago, side by side with Rochester on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.