Moving from Illinois to Louisiana ($2,500-$6,250)
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The cost to move from Illinois to Louisiana ranges from $2,500 to $6,250 with full-service movers, based on 958 real quotes from moveBuddha users. Rather than quote you a flat average, our moving cost calculator factors in your exact distance, home size, and move date to price this specific Illinois to Louisiana route. This 852-mile route guide draws on our review of 100 movers based in Illinois.
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Louisiana?
The average cost of moving from Illinois to Louisiana with full-service movers typically ranges between $2,500 to $6,250 for a 2-3 bedroom home. We calculated this average by reviewing 958 real-time quotes provided to moveBuddha users over the past 90 days. The average moving distance quoted was 852 miles.
The final price of your Illinois to Louisiana move will be dependent on the type of mover you choose, how much you're moving, time of year, distance, access, and add-on services. Get a free and accurate estimate using our moving cost calculator.
The rates below are for full-service movers, meaning the crew loads, transports, and unloads your belongings for you:
| Move Size | Full-Service Mover Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,250 - $4,750 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,500 - $6,250 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,500 - $8,250 |
How much do moving containers cost from Illinois to Louisiana?
A moving container from Illinois to Louisiana costs between $1,000 and $4,250, depending on how much you're moving. For a 2-3 bedroom home, expect $1,500 to $3,250, roughly 50% less than full-service movers on this route. You pack and load the container yourself; the container company handles the 852-mile drive.
| Move Size | Moving Container Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,000 - $2,250 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $1,500 - $3,250 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $2,000 - $4,250 |
How much does a rental truck cost from Illinois to Louisiana?
A rental truck from Illinois to Louisiana costs between $650 and $1,825. For a 2-3 bedroom home, budget $725 to $1,575, about 75% less than hiring full-service movers. That figure covers the truck itself; with gas in Illinois averaging $3.19 per gallon, fuel for the 852-mile drive, plus insurance, equipment rental, and lodging, all land on top of the base rate.
| Move Size | Rental Truck Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $650 - $1,250 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $725 - $1,575 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $875 - $1,825 |
Add-on costs for an Illinois to Louisiana move
Add-on services are where an Illinois to Louisiana quote quietly grows. The $2,500-$6,250 range above covers loading, 852 miles of transport, and unloading. Nothing else is included.
At 852 miles, an Illinois to Louisiana move is typically a one-to-two-day haul. That's the range where storage-in-transit and shuttle fees start appearing on quotes, since your shipment may sit briefly before a delivery window opens in Louisiana. Guaranteed-delivery upgrades are available but uncommon at this distance.
Cost of living is close between Illinois and Louisiana, so accessorial pricing on this route lands near national averages at both ends. Distance, not local labor rates, is what drives the numbers below.
| Add-On Service | Typical Cost (Illinois to Louisiana) |
|---|---|
| Full packing service | $950 - $2,500 |
| Packing materials only | $125 - $375 |
| Specialty item (piano, safe, pool table) | $300 - $825 |
| Appliance disconnect & reconnect | $100 - $250 |
| Stair or elevator carry | $75 - $225 |
| Storage-in-transit (per month) | $150 - $400 |
| Shuttle service at delivery | $175 - $525 |
| Auto transport (1 vehicle) | $475 - $700 |
| Full-value protection | 1% - 2% of declared shipment value |
Released-value protection at 60¢ per pound is included at no charge on every interstate move, but it pays out almost nothing on a damaged item. A 40-pound TV settles at $24. Full-value protection is the line item most worth the money on a 852-mile haul. Our moving cost calculator prices these accessorials into your Illinois to Louisiana estimate up front instead of leaving them to surface on moving day.
Our recommended Illinois to Louisiana Movers
Compare movers for your Illinois to Louisiana move
We've vetted the long-distance movers operating out of Illinois, so you can shortlist a few before requesting quotes for your Louisiana move:
1228 Humbracht Circle, Bartlett, IL 60103
7400 Niles Center Rd, Skokie, IL 60077
3201 Tollview Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
2325 N Clark St #300, Chicago, IL 60614
2627 Kaneville Ct, Geneva, IL 60134
Alternate Illinois to Louisiana moving options
DIY moving options offer real cost savings on an Illinois to Louisiana move, with the right choice depending on how hands-on you want to be. Moving containers run about 50% less than full-service interstate movers, and rental trucks come in around 75% less.
With a rental truck (ex: U-Haul), you handle all the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus added costs like fuel, insurance, and equipment rentals on top of the base rate. If you'd rather skip the heavy lifting, local labor-only crews in Illinois run $60 - $81 per hour to load the truck for you, while you still drive and unload on the Louisiana end.
With a moving container (ex: PODS), you handle the packing and loading in Illinois on your own timeline, and the container company will drop it off in Louisiana for you to unload. A standard 16-foot container (the size most 2-3 bedroom interstate moves need) typically runs $323 - $815 to rent in Illinois, before the long-distance haul fee shown above is added.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 958 real quotes from Illinois to Louisiana in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Louisiana to Illinois guide.
Illinois to Louisiana cost of living comparison
Cost of living, job markets, housing affordability, and lifestyle tend to drive most state-to-state moves, which is why we track moving trends across every major U.S. route. Here's how Illinois stacks up against Louisiana on the factors that matter most for this move:
| Factor | Illinois | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 90 | 92 |
| Average household income | $78,433 | $57,852 |
| Median home value | $249,224 | $201,519 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 4.1% |
| State income tax | 4.95% | 4.25% |
The cost of living in Louisiana is comparable to Illinois, so most people making this move are driven by career, family, or personal reasons rather than cost differences. Day-to-day expenses should feel familiar after you settle in.
Getting to know Louisiana
Louisiana is nicknamed the Pelican State. People who've made this move point to low cost of living, delicious regional food, and diverse culture as the biggest draws. The state of Louisiana has been governed under 10 different flags since 1541.
Coming from Illinois, where winters average 17°F, expect winters in Louisiana to run about 22° milder. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
And in case you're feeling nostalgic once you're settled: The University of Illinois Conservatory is 37 feet high at its apex.
Moving from Illinois to Louisiana FAQs
Are full-service movers worth it for an Illinois to Louisiana move?
People making the Illinois to Louisiana move are often chasing low cost of living in Louisiana — the kind of move worth protecting with professional handling rather than risking on a DIY haul.
Full-service movers are worth it for an Illinois to Louisiana move when any of the following apply: you're moving a large home (3+ bedrooms), your timeline is tight, you have high-value or fragile items that need professional handling, or you can't take time away from work to manage the logistics of a multi-day drive across state lines.
DIY options make more sense when you're moving a smaller home (1-2 bedrooms), cost is the primary constraint, and you have the time and physical capacity to handle loading, driving, and unloading yourself. Moving containers, about 50% less than full-service, are the best middle-ground for people who want to skip the drive but still save significantly over full-service pricing.
Should I ship my car when moving from Illinois to Louisiana?
The choice to ship your car versus drive it yourself mostly boils down to distance, how much time you have, and how many vehicles are making the trip. Auto transport for an Illinois to Louisiana move typically costs $600 - $1,500 depending on distance and vehicle type, with open transport on the lower end and enclosed transport for higher-value vehicles running more.
Most people shipping their car on a long-distance move do so when the drive would take more than 2 days, they're relocating more than 1 vehicle, or they'd rather fly directly to Louisiana and start settling in without a multi-day drive. If you can make the drive in a day, driving yourself is usually cheaper.
See our Illinois car shipping guide for vetted auto transport companies and current pricing for this route.
How far in advance should I book an interstate move?
Book your 852-mile Illinois to Louisiana move 4 - 8 weeks in advance for off-season dates (October - April), and 8 - 12 weeks in advance for peak season dates (mid-May - mid-September). Booking earlier gives you better availability, lower rates, and more flexibility on pickup and delivery dates.
Louisiana sees hurricane season from June through November, when carrier capacity and routing into the state can tighten with little notice. If your move date falls in that window, book on the earlier end of the range above and confirm your mover's weather-delay policy up front.
What hidden fees should I watch for on an interstate move?
On a 852-mile Illinois to Louisiana move, the hidden fees most likely to add to your bill are access fees, shuttle service, fuel surcharges, specialty-item handling, and storage-in-transit. Here's what each one actually runs on this specific route:
- Access fees (stairs, elevators, long carries): $75 - $225 when the truck can't load directly at either end.
- Long carry (over 75 ft): $125 - $375, priced off Louisiana's local labor rates since it's typically charged at delivery.
- Shuttle service: $175 - $525 when the moving truck can't reach your home directly.
- Fuel surcharges: 10% - 22% of the transportation charge on a route this length, which works out to roughly $250 - $1,375 on this move.
- Specialty-item handling (piano, safe, pool table): $300 - $825 per item.
- Storage-in-transit (per month): $150 - $400.
Ask your mover for a complete fee schedule in writing before booking, and confirm which of these are already built into your Illinois to Louisiana quote versus billed separately.
Who regulates interstate moves?
Interstate moves (any move that crosses state lines, like an Illinois to Louisiana relocation) are regulated federally by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Every interstate mover needs a valid USDOT number — verify one for free at FMCSA's carrier lookup tool, and report violations to FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238.
In Illinois: 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. In Louisiana: If you’re using a legitimate moving company to relocate from one home or apartment within the state to another, look for a company regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). During the pre-move screening process, families on the move should verify that prospective movers are registered and in good standing with the LPSC. In cases of substandard service, inflated costs, and unlicensed movers operating illegally, consumers may file a complaint, after which the commission will initiate an investigation.
Popular Illinois to Louisiana moving routes
These are the most common city-to-city moves on the Illinois to Louisiana corridor. Each guide covers local mover recommendations, cost estimates specific to those metro areas, and neighborhood information to help you plan your destination.
Moving from Illinois to Louisiana: the bottom line
The cost to move from Illinois to Louisiana ranges from $2,500 - $6,250 for a 2-3 bedroom home with full-service movers. Moving containers and rental trucks cost 50% - 75% less for the same move. For most people making this 852-mile relocation, hiring a full-service mover is the most reliable option, especially for larger homes, time-sensitive moves, or relocations involving high-value items.
To get the best price, collect at least 3 quotes, book 4 - 12 weeks in advance depending on your season, and schedule a mid-week, mid-month pickup date when possible. Use our moving cost calculator to compare costs across all service types for your specific home size.
