($531+) Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Tulsa, OK, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $536 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,609 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 689 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 $1,549, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,609 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,019 - $3,632, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $536 - $1,343.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Tulsa, OK, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,247 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 Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL
There are 3 main ways to move from Tulsa 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 $2,247 - $5,872. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 689-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 689-mile route from Tulsa to Chicago, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,549 - $4,364, container $1,019 - $2,021, rental truck $536 - $963, freight trailer $985 - $1,837.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,247 - $5,872, container $1,308 - $2,827, rental truck $595 - $1,214, freight trailer $1,091 - $2,196.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $4,173 - $8,609, container $1,787 - $3,632, rental truck $693 - $1,343, freight trailer $1,503 - $2,795.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL
Full-service movers for the 689-mile relocation from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,549 and $8,609. 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 $280 - $1,868, 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 Tulsa typically charge a base rate around $225 plus $90 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Tulsa to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,549 - $4,364
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,247 - $5,872
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,173 - $8,609
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 Tulsa to Chicago.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Oklahoma to Illinois. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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 Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market — 88% of Tulsa movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $467 - $4,670 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready88% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $187 - $1,121/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $280 - $2,242 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage38% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs50% of local movers | $934 - $2,802 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,335 - $9,340 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $700 - $1,329 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items75% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $934 - $2,335 |
| Piano | Any piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $747 - $3,269 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling25% of local movers | $280 - $1,401 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect25% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Bigger Better Movers | $607 - $1,868 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $280 - $14,010+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $280 - $3,269+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Tulsa 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Tulsa, OK. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,019 and $3,632. 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 Tulsa costs roughly $55/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Tulsa to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,019 - $2,021
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,308 - $2,827
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,787 - $3,632
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 $140 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 $654 in Tulsa, OK. 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 Oklahoma 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 $1,019. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,308 - $2,827, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Tulsa 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 Tulsa 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 Tulsa:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.3/5), 32 years in business
- 2 Fellas & A Big Vehicle Moving Company (4.3/5), 30 years in business
- Bigger Better Movers (4.8/5), 6 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL
A rental truck for this 689-mile move from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $536 and $1,343. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $205 - $234
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Tulsa daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $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 Tulsa to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $536 - $963
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $595 - $1,214
- 4+ bedrooms: $693 - $1,343
Pro tip: A rental truck from Tulsa to Chicago looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $536 - $1,343. But once you factor in fuel ($205 - $234) , overnight lodging ($140/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. 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 $327.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $140.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $205 and $234 for the 689-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 $654 for 2 movers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Tulsa 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 Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL
For larger DIY moves from Tulsa, Oklahoma, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Chicago, Illinois.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,091 and $2,196.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Tulsa to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $985 - $1,837
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,091 - $2,196
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,503 - $2,795
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $654.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $70 - $140 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Tulsa to Chicago?
- 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.
- 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.
- Melton Truck Lines, Inc. (4.84/5 stars): Melton Truck Lines, Inc. 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Tulsa 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: Tulsa, OK 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 Tulsa on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Tulsa, OK | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 85 | 106 |
| Average rent | $1,199/mo | $2,045/mo |
| Median home value | $187,761 | $317,509 |
| Average income | $58,407/yr | $75,134/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 9.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.75% | Up to 4.95% |
| Walkability score | 39/100 | 77/100 |
| Safety index | 48.06/100 | 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 Tulsa, OK guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Oklahoma to Illinois, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 32 movers licensed in Oklahoma, useful context for sizing up this 689-mile move.
Our take
The 689-mile move from Tulsa, OK, to Chicago, IL, costs between $1,549 and $8,609 with full-service movers, $1,019 - $3,632 with a moving container, and $536 - $1,343 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 $2,247 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 Tulsa, OK, to Chicago, IL
What do local movers charge in Tulsa?
Local movers based in Tulsa typically start around $225 as a base rate, plus $90/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Chicago run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
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 are the best neighborhoods in Chicago?
For families, Beverly, Edison Park, and Lincoln Park are worth a look in Chicago. If you're moving solo or without kids, Lake View, Lincoln Park, and The Loop tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Chicago?
Chicago has a walkability score of 77 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 39 and 47 in Tulsa. 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 48.06 and 51.94 in Tulsa. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of Tulsa movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 75% of movers in Tulsa handle piano moves, and 75% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
