($1,109+) Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Los Angeles, CA, runs anywhere from $1,109 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,992 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,015 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 6 to 17 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,178, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $10,992 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,623 - $5,377, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,109 - $3,279.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Los Angeles, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,066 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA
Moving options from Chicago to Los Angeles fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $3,066 - $6,949 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 35% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 60% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 2,015 miles, this route usually takes 6 to 17 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,015-mile route from Chicago to Los Angeles, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,178 - $4,890 | $1,623 - $3,083 | $1,109 - $2,139 | $1,362 - $2,559 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,066 - $6,949 | $1,998 - $4,195 | $1,226 - $2,520 | $1,648 - $3,423 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $5,926 - $10,992 | $2,793 - $5,377 | $1,546 - $3,279 | $2,301 - $4,392 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 2,015-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, with prices running from $2,178 - $10,992. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $385 - $2,568 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Chicago and Los Angeles are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Chicago movers tend to run around $220 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,178 - $4,890
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,066 - $6,949
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,926 - $10,992
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 Chicago to Los Angeles.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Los Angeles, 56% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $642 - $6,420 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $257 - $1,541/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $385 - $3,082 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $1,284 - $3,852 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,210 - $12,840 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $962 - $1,827 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $1,284 - $3,210 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $1,027 - $4,494 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling11% of local movers | $385 - $1,926 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $835 - $2,568 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $385 - $19,260+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $385 - $4,494+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Los Angeles?
Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Chicago, IL. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,623 and $5,377. 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 Chicago runs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,623 - $3,083
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,998 - $4,195
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,793 - $5,377
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $96 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $193 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 $899 in Chicago, IL, 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 Los Angeles, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Illinois to California 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 $1,623. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,998 - $4,195.
What are the best moving containers Chicago to Los Angeles?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- 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 Chicago 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 Chicago:
- Move-tastic (5.0/5), 17 years in business
- Windy City Movers Inc. (4.6/5), 44 years in business
- STI Moving & Storage Inc. (4.7/5), 21 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA
Plan on $1,109 - $3,279 for a rental moving truck on the 2,015-mile route from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $823 - $941
- Daily insurance: $39/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $26
- Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Chicago to Los Angeles based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,109 - $2,139
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,226 - $2,520
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,546 - $3,279
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,109 - $3,279 when pricing out a rental truck from Chicago to Los Angeles. Fuel alone runs $823 - $941, and overnight lodging ($193/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $899.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $823 - $941 for the 2,015-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 $77 and $417, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $193 per night for hotel stops on the 2,015-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $385 - $578.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Los Angeles?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, 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. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,648 and $3,423.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,362 - $2,559
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,648 - $3,423
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,301 - $4,392
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $96 and $193.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for roughly five hours typically average $899.
What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Los Angeles?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Los Angeles fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Los Angeles, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Los Angeles, side by side with Chicago on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 106 | 162 |
| Average rent | $2,045/mo | $2,960/mo |
| Median home value | $317,509 | $878,142 |
| Average income | $75,134/yr | $80,366/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.95% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 77/100 | 69/100 |
| Safety index | 33.87/100 | 46.19/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to California, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Illinois alone has 314 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 2,015-mile move like this one.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 2,015-mile route from Chicago, IL, to Los Angeles, CA, run $2,178 - $10,992 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,623 - $5,377, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,109 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,066, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District.
FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Los Angeles, CA
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($823 - $941), daily insurance ($39/day), and equipment rentals ($9 - $26) on top. Overnight stops can add another $193/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a walkability score of 69 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 59, compared to 77 and 72 in Chicago. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
How much does it cost to move from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $1,109 to $10,992, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,178 and $10,992, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA?
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 do local movers charge in Chicago?
Local movers based in Chicago typically start around $220 as a base rate, plus $100/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Los Angeles run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What percentage of Chicago movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 42% of movers in Chicago handle piano moves, and 28% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.