($1,567) Cost of Moving From California to Illinois
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Illinois ranges from $1,555 to $9,290 and takes six–17 days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Illinois to California guide.
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The best California to Illinois full-service movers
Moving from California to Illinois? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving California for your Illinois relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- Allied Van Lines: Best for contents coverage
- North American Van Lines: Best customized plans
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
The best California to Illinois moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in California and drop it off at your new home in Illinois.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
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The best California to Illinois moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from California to Illinois, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
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The best California to Illinois labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from California to Illinois:
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How we chose the best moving companies for your CA to IL move
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 281 California movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
How much does it cost to move from California to Illinois?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Illinois for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,567 - $6,000 | $1,409 - $3,666 | $1,452 - $2,856 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,178 - $9,290 | $2,608 - $4,959 | $1,555 - $3,200 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $7,445 - $13,739 | $3,471 - $6,909 | $1,884 - $4,243 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,083 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Cost to hire movers from California to Illinois
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Illinois will cost between $1,567 and $6,000. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to IL will range from $4,178 to $9,290, and a large move from California to Illinois will cost from $7,445 to $13,739.
Cost of moving containers from California to Illinois
Moving containers from California to Illinois will cost you $1,409 to $3,666 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,608 to $4,959. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $3,471 to $6,909. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of California.
Cost of moving truck rentals from California to Illinois
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around
$1,452 to $2,856.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$1,555 to $3,200,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to Illinois costs from
$1,884 to $4,243.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Factors affecting the cost of moving from CA to IL
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to Illinois will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in California is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
What to know before moving from CA to IL
If you’re moving to Illinois from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Illinois
| California | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,179 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $249,224 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $78,433 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 8.82% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 4.95% |
- Rent is about 36% less expensive in Illinois than in California.
- Home prices are about 68% lower in Illinois than in California.
- The average income is about 15% lower in Illinois than in California.
- Cost of living is 33% lower in Illinois than in California.
- Illinois has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 2%.
- Sales taxes are 2% higher in Illinois than in California.
- Income taxes are 63% lower in Illinois than in California.
How life is different in Illinois vs. California
| Illinois | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,549,689 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 55-45 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 86ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 17ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 40" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 22" | 7" |
| Crime index | 19.7 | 28.43 |
- The population of Illinois is approximately 68% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Illinois voted Democratic and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Illinois is 86ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Illinois reaches the temperature of 17ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 40 inches of annual rainfall in Illinois versus 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In Illinois, it snows about 22 inches annually versus 7 inches of snow in California.
- Illinois has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 19.7 vs. 28.43.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Illinois
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in Illinois compared to California.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Home of Chicago |
| Pleasant weather | Ample economic opportunity |
| Abundant recreational options | Bountiful recreational opportunities |
| High quality of life | Delicious food |
| Fresh and healthy foods | World-class sports culture |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Illinois
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving California for Illinois.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Illinois |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Harsh winter weather |
| Heavy tax burdens | Bad traffic |
| Natural disasters | High crime rate |
| Terrible traffic | Dull landscape |
| Strange laws | Strict laws |
Other things to consider for your California to Illinois move
- Weather: Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: 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. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Illinois moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: Illinois does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to Illinois. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound. For more extensive protection matching your items' full value, consult your moving company for alternative options or consider a third-party insurance provider.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Illinois
While you’re in Illinois, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Millennium Park
- Navy Pier
- The Magnificent Mile
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
- Shedd Aquarium
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Starved Rock State Park
- Garden of the Gods - Shawnee National Forest
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
- Dana-Thomas House
- Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site
- Discovery Center Museum
- Buffalo Rock State Park
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Illinois Beach State Park
- Grand View Drive
- Mississippi Palisades State Park
- Matthiessen State Park
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Illinois?
Hiring a full-service California moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually the cheaper way to go, but requires more work. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.
Do movers transport your car from California to Illinois?
Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from California to Illinois separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
What are the benefits of moving from California to Illinois?
The main reasons people are moving from California to Illinois are the amazing upsides of living in Illinois such as home of Chicago and ample economic opportunity.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Illinois?
It is generally cheaper to live in Illinois than in California. Housing is much more affordable in Illinois, with average rent about 37% less and home prices 67.7% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Illinois, most notably income taxes, which are more than 60% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Illinois?
You should make approximately $80,838 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in Illinois. The cost of living in Illinois is approximately $2,385 per month for an individual and $5,639 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in Illinois you live For example, larger cities like Chicago and Aurora will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
