($486+) Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY Movers

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

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 602-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, with prices running from $1,443 - $8,024. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $298 - $1,984 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Chicago and Rochester are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Chicago movers tend to run around $220 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,443 - $3,878
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,242 - $5,417
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,792 - $8,024

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 Chicago to Rochester.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

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

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

New York State Movers & Warehousemen’s Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in New York, on top of the picks below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, cost between $1,029 and $3,216. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Rochester. If you go over that window, storage in Chicago adds around $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,029 - $1,948
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,279 - $2,462
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,778 - $3,216

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $74 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $149 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
• Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $694 in Chicago, IL, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
• Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Rochester, NY, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to Rochester?

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 Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

A rental truck for this 602-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, costs between $500 and $1,249. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $190 - $217
• Daily insurance: $30/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
• Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $500 - $880
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $504 - $1,066
• 4+ bedrooms: $674 - $1,249

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $694.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $190 - $217 for the 602-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $60 and $322, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $149 per night for hotel stops on the 602-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $298 - $446.

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

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 Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,023 and $1,970.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $926 - $1,653
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,023 - $1,970
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,437 - $2,707

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $74 - $149 to your final bill.
• Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
• Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Chicago, Illinois, typically costs $694.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Rochester?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Keller Trucking Co, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Keller Trucking Co, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Rochester, NY

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