($1,134+) San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL

For the 2,081-mile move from San Diego, California, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $1,288 and $10,516. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $406 - $2,708 (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 San Diego generally start around $226 plus $200 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,288 - $5,345
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,297 - $6,974
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,628 - $10,516

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 San Diego to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market: 72% of San Diego 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 San Diego to Chicago?

Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Illinois, on top of the picks below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from San Diego, California, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,576 and $5,851. 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 San Diego typically runs around $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,576 - $3,151
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,102 - $4,461
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,967 - $5,851

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both San Diego, CA and Chicago, IL. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
• Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $948 in San Diego, CA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $102 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $203 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
• Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.

What are the best moving containers San Diego 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 San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL

A rental truck for this 2,081-mile move from San Diego, California, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $1,181 and $3,420. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $897 - $1,025
• Daily insurance: $41/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
• San Diego daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,181 - $2,324
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,214 - $2,792
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,629 - $3,420

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in San Diego, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $948.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $897 - $1,025 for the 2,081-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 $81 and $440, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $203 per night for hotel stops on the 2,081-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $406 - $609.

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

If you're moving a larger household from San Diego, California, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Chicago, Illinois.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,598 and $3,260.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,432 - $2,698
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,598 - $3,260
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,283 - $4,450

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In San Diego, California, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $948.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $102 - $203 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 San Diego to Chicago?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.

Cost of living: San Diego, CA 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 San Diego 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

A move from San Diego, CA, to Chicago, IL, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,288 - $10,516 on the 2,081-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,576 - $5,851, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,181 - $3,420. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,297 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live 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.