($694+) Chicago, IL to Providence, RI Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI

Moving from Chicago, IL, to Providence, RI, runs anywhere from $687 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,666 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 977 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $1,994, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,666 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,196 - $3,980, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $687 - $1,847.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Providence, RI. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,541 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI

Moving options from Chicago to Providence fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,541 - $5,876 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 977-mile route typically takes 2 to 7 days door to door.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 977-mile route from Chicago to Providence, broken down by home size:

  • A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,994 - $4,729 with full-service movers, $1,196 - $2,244 with a container, $687 - $1,303 with a rental truck, or $1,141 - $2,000 by freight.
  • A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,541 - $5,876 full-service, $1,524 - $2,996 by container, $728 - $1,503 by rental truck, or $1,181 - $2,595 by freight.
  • A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $4,141 - $7,666 full-service, $2,074 - $3,980 by container, $895 - $1,847 by rental truck, or $1,727 - $3,248 by freight.

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI

Hiring full-service movers from Chicago, Illinois, to Providence, Rhode Island, costs between $1,994 and $7,666. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 977-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $322 - $2,144, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Chicago and Providence. For a rough baseline, movers based in Chicago tend to start around $220 plus $100/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,994 - $4,729
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,541 - $5,876
  • 4+ bedrooms: $4,141 - $7,666

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 Providence.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Illinois to Rhode Island. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.

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Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Providence, 97% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing99% of local movers$536 - $5,360
Storage in transitNew place not ready93% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Reebie Storage and Moving Co.$214 - $1,286/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$322 - $2,573
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs62% of local movers$1,072 - $3,216
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,680 - $10,720
Car shippingSecond vehicle$803 - $1,525
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items55% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: H2H Movers Inc$1,072 - $2,680
PianoAny piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: H2H Movers Inc$858 - $3,752
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling36% of local movers$322 - $1,608
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect23% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Move-tastic$697 - $2,144
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$322 - $16,080+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$322 - $3,752+

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

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Chicago, IL. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Providence, Rhode Island, cost between $1,196 and $3,980. 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 Providence:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,196 - $2,244
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,524 - $2,996
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,074 - $3,980

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 $750 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 $80 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $161 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 Providence, RI, destination before booking.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Illinois to Rhode Island 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 $1,196. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,524 - $2,996, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to Providence?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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
  • H2H Movers Inc (4.9/5), 12 years in business
  • Stark Moving and Storage (5.0/5), 7 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI

Renting a moving truck for the 977-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Providence, Rhode Island, costs between $687 and $1,847, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $333 - $381
  • Daily insurance: $32/day
  • Equipment rentals: $8 - $21
  • Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $687 - $1,303
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $728 - $1,503
  • 4+ bedrooms: $895 - $1,847

Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $687 - $1,847 when pricing out a rental truck from Chicago to Providence. Fuel alone runs ($333 - $381) , and overnight lodging ($161/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $161 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
  • Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Chicago, Illinois, usually costs about $750 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 977-mile drive falls between $333 and $381, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $54 and $322 to your total.

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

  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 Providence, RI

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Providence, Rhode Island. 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 $965 and $2,595.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,141 - $2,000
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,181 - $2,595
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,727 - $3,248

Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $80 - $161 to your final bill.
  • Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
  • Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Chicago, Illinois, typically costs $750.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Providence?

  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. Keller Trucking Co, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Keller Trucking Co, Inc. 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.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Chicago to Providence. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Providence, RI

Day-to-day costs in Providence are close to what you're used to in Chicago: cost of living index of 109 versus 106, with average rent of $2,200/mo compared to $2,045/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 77/100 and 33.87/100 in Chicago versus 76/100 and 50.16/100 in Providence.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Providence, RI to Chicago, IL guide.

Why book your mover through moveBuddha:

moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to Rhode Island 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. For context, we track 103 movers based in Illinois, handy for sizing up options on this 977-mile route.

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Our take

Full-service movers on the 977-mile route from Chicago, IL, to Providence, RI, run $1,994 - $7,666 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,196 - $3,980, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $687 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,541, 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 Textron and United Natural Foods.

FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Providence, RI

What are the best neighborhoods in Providence?

For families, Blackstone, Wayland, and College Hill are worth a look in Providence. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown, Elmhurst, and Federal Hill tend to be popular picks instead.

How long does a move from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.

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 Providence run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI?

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.

How much does it cost to move from Chicago, IL to Providence, RI?

Costs on this route range from around $1,994 to $7,666, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,994 and $7,666, 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 percentage of Chicago movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 75% of movers in Chicago handle piano moves, and 55% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.