($528+) Columbus, GA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Columbus, GA to Chicago, IL

Full-service movers for the 820-mile relocation from Columbus, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,729 and $7,654. 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 $268 - $1,784, 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 Columbus typically charge a base rate around $315 plus $140 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,729 - $4,506
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,232 - $6,079
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,840 - $7,654

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 Columbus to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Columbus, GA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market: 84% of Columbus movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.

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

Movers licensed to operate in Illinois are typically members of the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, 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, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Columbus, GA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Columbus, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,107 and $3,588. 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 Columbus typically costs about $65/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,107 - $1,845
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,314 - $2,614
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,874 - $3,588

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $67 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $134 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 $624 in Columbus, GA, 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 Chicago, IL, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Columbus to Chicago?

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 Columbus, GA to Chicago, IL

Plan on $528 - $1,495 for a rental moving truck on the 820-mile route from Columbus, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $233 - $266
• Daily insurance: $27/day
• Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
• Columbus daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $528 - $1,048
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $618 - $1,246
• 4+ bedrooms: $759 - $1,495

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Columbus, Georgia, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $624.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $233 - $266 for the 820-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 $54 and $290, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $134 per night for hotel stops on the 820-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $268 - $401.

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

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 Columbus, GA to Chicago, IL

For larger DIY moves from Columbus, Georgia, 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 a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,040 and $2,242.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $929 - $1,818
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,040 - $2,242
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,470 - $2,814

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Columbus, Georgia, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $624.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $67 - $134 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 Columbus to Chicago?

1. 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.
2. 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.

Cost of living: Columbus, GA 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 Columbus 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.

Our take

The 820-mile move from Columbus, GA, to Chicago, IL, costs between $1,729 and $7,654 with full-service movers, $1,107 - $3,588 with a moving container, and $528 - $1,495 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 $2,232 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.