($656+) Chicago, IL to Boston, MA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Boston, MA

Full-service movers for the 983-mile relocation from Chicago, Illinois, to Boston, Massachusetts, cost between $2,082 and $7,775. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $372 - $2,480, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Chicago typically charge a base rate around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,082 - $4,744
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,473 - $6,013
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,913 - $7,775

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 Boston.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Boston, MA

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Boston, 96% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Boston?

All three below meet the standards set by the Massachusetts Movers Association, the group most Massachusetts movers are affiliated with.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Boston, MA

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Boston, Massachusetts, cost between $1,107 and $3,877. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Chicago typically costs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,107 - $2,206
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,410 - $2,978
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,940 - $3,877

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $868 in Chicago, IL. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $93 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $186 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Boston, MA, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to Boston?

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 Chicago, IL to Boston, MA

Renting a moving truck for the 983-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Boston, Massachusetts, costs between $656 and $1,870, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $388 - $443
• Daily insurance: $37/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $656 - $1,293
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $674 - $1,508
• 4+ bedrooms: $880 - $1,870

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $186 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 $81 and $403 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $388 - $443 in fuel for the 983-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $868 in Chicago, Illinois, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Boston?

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 Chicago, IL to Boston, MA

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Boston, Massachusetts. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $1,116 and $2,264.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,006 - $1,890
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,175 - $2,264
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,584 - $3,255

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
• More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $93 - $186 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about five hours typically runs $868.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Boston?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
3. KEY Carrier (4.5/5 stars): KEY Carrier is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Boston, MA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Boston, side by side with Chicago 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.