($1,316+) Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

For the 2,127-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to San Francisco, California, full-service movers cost between $2,426 and $10,937. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $485 - $3,232 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Chicago generally start around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,426 - $5,347
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,524 - $7,801
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,284 - $10,937

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 San Francisco.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Francisco, 87% of movers offer the same service.

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

Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to San Francisco, California, cost between $1,641 and $6,237. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Chicago typically costs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,641 - $3,224
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,191 - $4,798
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,975 - $6,237

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $121 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $242 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 $1,131 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 San Francisco, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to San Francisco?

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 San Francisco, CA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 2,127 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to San Francisco, California, running $1,278 - $3,776. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $1,094 - $1,250
• Daily insurance: $48/day
• Equipment rentals: $11 - $32
• 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 San Francisco based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,278 - $2,515
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,411 - $3,052
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,780 - $3,776

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 $1,131.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $1,094 - $1,250 for the 2,127-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 $97 and $525, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $242 per night for hotel stops on the 2,127-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $485 - $727.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to San Francisco?

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 San Francisco, CA

If you're moving a larger household from Chicago, Illinois, 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 San Francisco, California.

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 $1,878 and $3,654.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,617 - $3,020
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,878 - $3,654
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,332 - $5,190

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 $121 - $242 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 $1,131.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to San Francisco?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
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 based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Francisco, 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.