($464+) Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Birmingham, AL, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $464 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,030 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 661 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 $1,477, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $8,030 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,041 - $3,120, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $464 - $1,363.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Birmingham, AL, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,338 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 Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL
There are 3 main ways to move from Birmingham to Chicago: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,338 - $5,719. Moving containers run about 43% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 79% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 661-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 661-mile route from Birmingham to Chicago, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,477 - $4,059, container $1,041 - $1,739, rental truck $464 - $940, freight trailer $901 - $1,663.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,338 - $5,719, container $1,335 - $2,558, rental truck $495 - $1,041, freight trailer $1,058 - $1,946.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $3,871 - $8,030, container $1,700 - $3,120, rental truck $664 - $1,363, freight trailer $1,361 - $2,730.
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 Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL
Full-service movers for the 661-mile relocation from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,477 and $8,030. 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 $284 - $1,892, 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 Birmingham typically charge a base rate around $310 plus $175 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Birmingham to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,477 - $4,059
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,338 - $5,719
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,871 - $8,030
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 Birmingham to Chicago.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Birmingham 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 packing68% of local movers | $473 - $4,730 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: New Latitude Movers | $189 - $1,135/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $284 - $2,270 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage6% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs46% of local movers | $946 - $2,838 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,365 - $9,460 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $709 - $1,346 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: New Latitude Movers | $946 - $2,365 |
| Piano | Any piano type40% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: New Latitude Movers | $757 - $3,311 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling6% of local movers | $284 - $1,419 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect4% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Secure Moving, Inc | $615 - $1,892 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $284 - $14,190+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $284 - $3,311+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Birmingham to Chicago?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Birmingham, AL. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,041 and $3,120. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Birmingham costs roughly $70/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Birmingham to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,041 - $1,739
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,335 - $2,558
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,700 - $3,120
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 Birmingham, AL, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $662, 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 $71 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $142 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Birmingham, AL, 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.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Alabama 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 $1,041. 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 $1,335 - $2,558.
What are the best moving containers Birmingham 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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham:
- New Latitude Movers (4.9/5), 29 years in business
- All My Sons Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 27 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.5/5), 15 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL
A rental truck for this 661-mile move from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $464 and $1,363. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $199 - $227
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Birmingham daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Birmingham to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $464 - $940
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $495 - $1,041
- 4+ bedrooms: $664 - $1,363
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Birmingham to Chicago starts at $464 - $1,363, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($199 - $227), overnight lodging ($142/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $142 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $61 and $307 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $199 - $227 in fuel for the 661-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $662 in Birmingham, Alabama, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Birmingham 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 Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL
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 Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois. 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,058 and $1,946.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Birmingham to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $901 - $1,663
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,058 - $1,946
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,361 - $2,730
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $71 - $142 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Birmingham, Alabama, for about five hours typically runs $662.
What are the best freight companies from Birmingham to Chicago?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Birmingham to Chicago, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Birmingham, AL | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 87 | 106 |
| Average rent | $1,250/mo | $2,045/mo |
| Median home value | $141,615 | $317,509 |
| Average income | $44,376/yr | $75,134/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 9.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.0% | Up to 4.95% |
| Walkability score | 33/100 | 77/100 |
| Safety index | 38.36/100 | 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 Birmingham, AL guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Alabama to Illinois, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 142 movers in Alabama, so you have real options to compare for this 661-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Birmingham, AL, to Chicago, IL, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,477 - $8,030 on the 661-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,041 - $3,120 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $464 - $1,363 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,338 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live 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 Birmingham, AL, to Chicago, IL
How walkable is Chicago?
Chicago has a walkability score of 77 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 33 and 31 in Birmingham. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Chicago a safe place to live?
Chicago has a safety index of 33.87 out of 100 and a crime index of 35.19, compared to 38.36 and 61.64 in Birmingham. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
What is the best time of year to move from Birmingham, AL 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 long does a move from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 1 to 6 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What percentage of Birmingham movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 40% of movers in Birmingham handle piano moves, and 31% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.