($472+) Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 602-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, with prices running from $1,256 - $7,718. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $298 - $1,984 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Chicago and Rochester 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 Rochester:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,256 - $3,848
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,095 - $5,006
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,541 - $7,718

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 Rochester.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Rochester, 78% of movers offer the same service.

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

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in New York State Movers & Warehousemen’s Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Rochester, NY

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, cost between $931 and $3,065. 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 Chicago typically runs around $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $931 - $1,749
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,206 - $2,322
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,661 - $3,065

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Chicago, IL and Rochester, NY. 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 $694 in Chicago, IL, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $74 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $149 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 Chicago to Rochester?

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 Rochester, NY

Renting a moving truck for the 602-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, costs between $472 and $1,264, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $190 - $217
• Daily insurance: $30/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
• 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 Rochester based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $472 - $839
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $475 - $1,026
• 4+ bedrooms: $642 - $1,264

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $74 and $347.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $149.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $190 and $217 for the 602-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $694 for 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

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

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 Rochester, NY

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, 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 $975 and $1,956.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $838 - $1,543
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $975 - $1,956
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,369 - $2,579

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
• Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $694.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $74 and $149 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Rochester?

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.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Rochester, NY

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

The 602-mile move from Chicago, IL, to Rochester, NY, costs between $1,256 and $7,718 with full-service movers, $931 - $3,065 with a moving container, and $472 - $1,264 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,095 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Wegmans Food Markets and Paychex.