($886+) McAllen, TX to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from McAllen, TX to Chicago, IL

For the 1,431-mile move from McAllen, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $2,284 and $9,497. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $264 - $1,760 (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 McAllen generally start around $160 plus $80 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,284 - $5,336
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,881 - $6,732
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,381 - $9,497

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 McAllen to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from McAllen, TX to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 57% of McAllen movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from McAllen 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 McAllen, TX to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from McAllen, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,426 and $4,863. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in McAllen typically runs around $55/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,426 - $2,586
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,821 - $3,760
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,401 - $4,863

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $66 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $132 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 $616 in McAllen, TX, 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 McAllen 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 McAllen, TX to Chicago, IL

Truck rentals from McAllen, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, range from $913 - $2,467 for the 1,431-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $401 - $458
• Daily insurance: $26/day
• Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
• McAllen daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.69

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $913 - $1,698
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $988 - $2,165
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,233 - $2,467

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $132 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 $57 and $286 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $401 - $458 in fuel for the 1,431-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $616 in McAllen, Texas, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from McAllen 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 McAllen, TX to Chicago, IL

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from McAllen, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $792 and $2,860.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,283 - $2,495
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,486 - $2,860
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,020 - $3,812

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 $66 - $132 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in McAllen, Texas, for about five hours typically runs $616.

What are the best freight companies from McAllen 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.
3. Royal Freight Lp (4.66/5 stars): Royal Freight Lp 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.

Cost of living: McAllen, TX 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 McAllen 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.