($556+) Chicago, IL to New York City, NY Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to NYC

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 790-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to NYC, New York, with prices running from $1,607 - $7,297. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $397 - $2,648 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Chicago and NYC 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 NYC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,607 - $4,290
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,285 - $5,758
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,605 - $7,297

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 NYC.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to NYC

Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In New York City, 62% of movers offer the same service.

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

Look for New York State Movers & Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in New York beyond this list.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to NYC

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to NYC, New York, cost between $1,045 and $3,620. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Chicago costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,045 - $2,041
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,371 - $2,723
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,876 - $3,620

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Chicago, IL, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $927, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $99 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $199 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Chicago, IL, and NYC, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to NYC?

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 NYC

Plan on $556 - $1,567 for a rental moving truck on the 790-mile route from Chicago, Illinois, to NYC, New York. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $333 - $380
• Daily insurance: $40/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $26
• 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 NYC based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $556 - $1,005
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $571 - $1,268
• 4+ bedrooms: $744 - $1,567

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $199 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 $86 and $430 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $333 - $380 in fuel for the 790-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $927 in Chicago, Illinois, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

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

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 NYC

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Chicago, Illinois, to NYC, New York. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,130 and $2,178.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $999 - $1,662
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,130 - $2,178
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,486 - $2,783

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 $99 - $199 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about five hours typically runs $927.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to NYC?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs NYC

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in NYC, 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.

Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Chicago, IL, to NYC, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,607 - $7,297 on the 790-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,045 - $3,620 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $556 - $1,567 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,285 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to NYC tend to point to ample economic opportunity and diverse cuisine, though overcrowded and pollution come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include IBM and PepsiCo.