($1,274+) Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL Movers

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The cost to move from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL ranges from $1,325 to $11,381, with an average cost of $4,100. Moves can be as low as $1,274 if you're wanting to DIY it.

This move covers about 2,030 miles and usually takes 6 to 17 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

Compare moving options from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL

Moving options from Bakersfield to Chicago fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,325 - $11,381 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,100, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 2,030 miles and typically takes 6 to 17 days depending on the service you pick.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,030-mile route from Bakersfield to Chicago, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,325 - $5,542 $1,733 - $3,324 $1,286 - $2,482 $1,454 - $3,021
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,540 - $7,369 $2,112 - $4,391 $1,273 - $2,757 $1,810 - $3,657
4+ bedrooms $6,366 - $11,381 $2,982 - $5,746 $1,607 - $3,274 $2,505 - $5,080

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL

For the 2,030-mile move from Bakersfield, California, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $1,325 and $11,381. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $307 - $2,048 (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 Bakersfield generally start around $420 plus $116 per hour, per mover.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,325 - $5,542
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,540 - $7,369
  • 4+ bedrooms: $6,366 - $11,381

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 Bakersfield to Chicago.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Illinois. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.

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Specialty moving services from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 80% of Bakersfield 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 packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$512 - $5,120
Storage in transitNew place not ready80% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Meathead Movers$205 - $1,229/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$307 - $2,458
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage20% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs$1,024 - $3,072
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,560 - $10,240
Car shippingSecond vehicle$767 - $1,457
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items20% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage$1,024 - $2,560
PianoAny piano type40% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage$819 - $3,584
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling20% of local movers$307 - $1,536
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect20% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage$666 - $2,048
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$307 - $15,360+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$307 - $3,584+

What are the best full-service movers from Bakersfield 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.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Bakersfield, CA. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.

Moving container costs from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Bakersfield, California, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,733 and $5,746. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Bakersfield runs about $90/month.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,733 - $3,324
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,112 - $4,391
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,982 - $5,746

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $77 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $154 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 $717 in Bakersfield, CA. 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 California 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 $1,733. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,112 - $4,391, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Bakersfield 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)

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 Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield:

  • Mentors Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 20 years in business
  • US Pro Logistics (4.8/5), 4 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL

Renting a moving truck for the 2,030-mile move from Bakersfield, California, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $1,286 and $3,274, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $661 - $756
  • Daily insurance: $31/day
  • Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
  • Bakersfield daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,286 - $2,482
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,273 - $2,757
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,607 - $3,274

Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,286 - $3,274 does not include fuel ($661 - $756) , lodging ($154/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Bakersfield to Chicago typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $154 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 $67 and $333 to your total.
  • Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
  • Gas: Plan on spending $661 - $756 in fuel for the 2,030-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
  • Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $717 in Bakersfield, California, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Bakersfield, California, to Chicago, Illinois, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.

What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,810 and $3,657.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,454 - $3,021
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,810 - $3,657
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,505 - $5,080

Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
  • Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Bakersfield, California, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $717.
  • More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $77 and $154 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Bakersfield to Chicago?

  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. Sidhu Truck Line, Inc. (4.58/5 stars): Sidhu Truck Line, 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.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Bakersfield to Chicago. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.

Cost of living: Bakersfield, CA vs Chicago, IL

Good news for your budget: Chicago isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Bakersfield. Cost of living index runs 106 there against 100 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 37/100 and 41.51/100 here versus 77/100 and 33.87/100 there.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Bakersfield, CA guide.

Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:

In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from California to Illinois, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 374 movers in California, so you have real options to compare for this 2,030-mile move.

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Our take

Full-service movers on the 2,030-mile route from Bakersfield, CA, to Chicago, IL, run $1,325 - $11,381 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,733 - $5,746, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,286 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,540, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

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 Bakersfield, CA, to Chicago, IL

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL?

Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.

What is the best time of year to move from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL?

Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.

How long does a move from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.

What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?

The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($661 - $756), daily insurance ($31/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $20) on top. Overnight stops can add another $154/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

What is the cheapest way to move from Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL?

Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,273 - $2,757. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

What percentage of Bakersfield movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 40% of movers in Bakersfield handle piano moves, and 20% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.