($525+) Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Greensboro, NC, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $525 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,279 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 731 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,534, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,279 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,022 - $3,214, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $525 - $1,376.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Greensboro, NC, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,019 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL
Moving options from Greensboro to Chicago fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $2,019 - $4,975 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 34% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 72% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 731 miles and typically takes 1 to 6 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 731-mile route from Greensboro to Chicago, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,534 - $3,775 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,022 - $1,952), rental truck ($525 - $1,005), or freight trailer ($920 - $1,689). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,019 - $4,975 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $7,279.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL
Full-service movers for the 731-mile relocation from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,534 and $7,279. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $278 - $1,856, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Greensboro typically charge a base rate around $249 plus $85 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Greensboro to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,534 - $3,775
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,019 - $4,975
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,599 - $7,279
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 Greensboro to Chicago.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market: 61% of Greensboro movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing70% of local movers | $464 - $4,640 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready61% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Excel Moving and Storage | $186 - $1,114/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $278 - $2,227 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage15% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs49% of local movers | $928 - $2,784 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,320 - $9,280 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $695 - $1,321 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items22% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Excel Moving and Storage | $928 - $2,320 |
| Piano | Any piano type41% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Excel Moving and Storage | $742 - $3,248 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling12% of local movers | $278 - $1,392 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect17% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $603 - $1,856 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $278 - $13,920+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $278 - $3,248+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Greensboro to Chicago?
Look for Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Illinois beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Greensboro, NC. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.
Moving container costs from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,022 and $3,214. 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 Greensboro typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Greensboro to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,022 - $1,952
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,326 - $2,575
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,795 - $3,214
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $70 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $139 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Chicago, IL, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $650 in Greensboro, NC. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a North Carolina to Illinois move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,022. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,326 - $2,575.
What are the best moving containers Greensboro to Chicago?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Greensboro to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Greensboro:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 14 years in business
- Mustang Moving LLC (4.9/5), 4 years in business
- American Moving & Hauling, Inc. (4.8/5), 20 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL
A rental truck for this 731-mile move from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $525 and $1,376. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $216 - $247
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $19
- Greensboro daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.89
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Greensboro to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $525 - $1,005
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $561 - $1,124
- 4+ bedrooms: $736 - $1,376
Pro tip: A rental truck from Greensboro to Chicago looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $525 - $1,376. But once you factor in fuel ($216 - $247), overnight lodging ($139/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
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 $70 and $325.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $139.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $216 and $247 for the 731-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 $650 for 2 movers in Greensboro, North Carolina, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Greensboro to Chicago?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL
If you're moving a larger household from Greensboro, North Carolina, 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,029 and $2,081.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Greensboro to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $920 - $1,689
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,029 - $2,081
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,351 - $2,652
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Greensboro, North Carolina, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $650.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $70 and $139 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Greensboro to Chicago?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Greensboro to Chicago. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Greensboro, NC 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 Greensboro on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Greensboro, NC | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 106 |
| Average rent | $1,395/mo | $2,045/mo |
| Median home value | $221,226 | $317,509 |
| Average income | $58,884/yr | $75,134/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 9.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.5% | Up to 4.95% |
| Walkability score | 29/100 | 77/100 |
| Safety index | 54.09/100 | 33.87/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Greensboro, NC guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from North Carolina to Illinois in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 313 movers based in North Carolina, handy for sizing up options on this 731-mile route.
Our take
The 731-mile move from Greensboro, NC, to Chicago, IL, costs between $1,534 and $7,279 with full-service movers, $1,022 - $3,214 with a moving container, and $525 - $1,376 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,019 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Chicago tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and delicious food, though high crime rate and temperamental weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include U.S. Government and Chicago Public Schools.
FAQs: Moving from Greensboro, NC, to Chicago, IL
What is the best time of year to move from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Illinois?
In Illinois, regulations on in-state moves and local movers are set forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission. To move household goods locally and intrastate, companies need to have a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, so make sure the companies you’re considering have one and that it’s current.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($216 - $247), daily insurance ($28/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $19) on top. Overnight stops can add another $139/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Chicago?
Chicago has a walkability score of 77 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 29 and 32 in Greensboro. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
How much does it cost to move from Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL?
Costs on this route range from around $525 to $7,279, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,534 and $7,279, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What percentage of Greensboro movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 41% of movers in Greensboro handle piano moves, and 22% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.