Moving from Illinois to Tennessee ($2,250-$5,750)
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The cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee ranges from $2,250 to $5,750 with full-service movers, based on 898 real quotes from moveBuddha users. Use our moving cost calculator to get a number tailored to your move — it weighs distance, home size, and move date together instead of leaning on a flat Illinois to Tennessee average. This 494-mile route guide draws on our review of 100 movers based in Illinois.
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee?
The average cost of moving from Illinois to Tennessee with full-service movers typically ranges between $2,250 to $5,750 for a 2-3 bedroom home. We calculated this average by reviewing 898 real-time quotes provided to moveBuddha users over the past 90 days. The average moving distance quoted was 494 miles.
The final price of your Illinois to Tennessee 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 - $3,500 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,250 - $5,750 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,000 - $8,250 |
How much do moving containers cost from Illinois to Tennessee?
A moving container from Illinois to Tennessee costs between $750 and $3,500, depending on how much you're moving. For a 2-3 bedroom home, expect $1,250 to $2,500, roughly 55% less than full-service movers on this route. You pack and load the container yourself; the container company handles the 494-mile drive.
| Move Size | Moving Container Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $750 - $1,750 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $1,250 - $2,500 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $1,750 - $3,500 |
How much does a rental truck cost from Illinois to Tennessee?
A rental truck from Illinois to Tennessee costs between $450 and $1,250. For a 2-3 bedroom home, budget $500 to $1,000, about 80% less than hiring full-service movers. That figure covers the truck itself; with gas in Illinois averaging $3.19 per gallon, fuel for the 494-mile drive, plus insurance, equipment rental, and lodging, all land on top of the base rate.
| Move Size | Rental Truck Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $450 - $850 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $500 - $1,000 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $650 - $1,250 |
Add-on costs for an Illinois to Tennessee move
Add-on services are where an Illinois to Tennessee quote quietly grows. The $2,250-$5,750 range above covers loading, 494 miles of transport, and unloading. Nothing else is included.
At 494 miles, this is a same-day haul for most carriers, so storage-in-transit and guaranteed-delivery fees rarely appear on Illinois to Tennessee quotes. Origin-side labor charges carry more weight instead. Packing, stair carries, and appliance work in Illinois make up a larger share of a short-haul total than they do on a cross-country move.
Cost of living is close between Illinois and Tennessee, 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 Tennessee) |
|---|---|
| Full packing service | $950 - $2,500 |
| Packing materials only | $125 - $375 |
| Specialty item (piano, safe, pool table) | $300 - $800 |
| Appliance disconnect & reconnect | $100 - $250 |
| Stair or elevator carry | $75 - $225 |
| Auto transport (1 vehicle) | $575 - $850 |
| 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 494-mile haul. Our moving cost calculator prices these accessorials into your Illinois to Tennessee estimate up front instead of leaving them to surface on moving day.
Our recommended Illinois to Tennessee Movers
Compare movers for your Illinois to Tennessee move
Before you request quotes, take a look at the Illinois long-distance movers our team has reviewed and rated for routes like this one to Tennessee:
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 Tennessee moving options
DIY moving options offer real cost savings on an Illinois to Tennessee move, with the right choice depending on how hands-on you want to be. Moving containers run about 55% less than full-service interstate movers, and rental trucks come in around 80% 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee for you to unload. A standard 16-foot container (the size most 2-3 bedroom interstate moves need) typically runs $323 - $835 to rent in Illinois, before the long-distance haul fee shown above is added.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed over 898 quotes from Illinois to Tennessee, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Tennessee to Illinois guide.
Illinois to Tennessee cost of living comparison
Before you commit to a Illinois to Tennessee move, it helps to know how the two states actually compare. Based on the moving trends moveBuddha tracks nationwide, cost of living, job markets, housing, and lifestyle are the factors that most often make or break a relocation decision:
| Factor | Illinois | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 90 | 90 |
| Average household income | $78,433 | $64,035 |
| Median home value | $249,224 | $319,208 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 3.3% |
| State income tax | 4.95% | 0.0% |
The cost of living in Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Tennessee is nicknamed the Volunteer State. People who've made this move point to abundant recreational opportunities, no income taxes, and legendary music scene as the biggest draws. Kingston, Tennessee was the state capital for just one day.
Coming from Illinois, where winters average 17°F, expect winters in Tennessee to run about 10° milder. Most of Tennessee has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in the Appalachians, which has mild summers and cool winters. The state averages about 15 tornadoes a year.
And in case you're feeling nostalgic once you're settled: In Mount Pulaski, Illinois, it is illegal for boys (and only boys) to hurl snowballs at trees. Girls are allowed to do that however.
Moving from Illinois to Tennessee FAQs
What should I know before moving to Tennessee?
Before your Illinois to Tennessee move, plan for these practical steps:
- Update your driver's license: To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
- Vehicle registration and inspection: In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
- Voter registration: update it for Tennessee once you've settled into your new address.
- Utilities: line up electricity, gas, internet, and water before move-in day — activation can take 1 - 2 weeks in a new state.
- Address changes: your bank, employer, insurance carriers, and the IRS should all have your new address within 30 days of the move.
Who regulates interstate moves?
Interstate moves (any move that crosses state lines, like an Illinois to Tennessee 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 Tennessee: Although a local license is not required in Tennessee, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number.
Are full-service movers worth it for an Illinois to Tennessee move?
People making the Illinois to Tennessee move are often chasing abundant recreational opportunities in Tennessee — 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 Tennessee 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 55% 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.
How does the cost of living in Tennessee compare to Illinois?
The cost of living in Tennessee is identical to Illinois. Illinois has a cost of living index of 90 compared to 90 in Tennessee. You can expect to spend roughly the same amount on day-to-day expenses like groceries, gas, utilities, and housing after your move.
The cost of living index measures how each state stacks up against the national average (baseline of 100). For example, a state with a score of 83 has costs that are 17% lower than the national average, while a score of 115 means costs are 15% higher than the national average.
What's the cheapest way to move from Illinois to Tennessee?
At 494 miles, driving a rental truck yourself takes about 2 days behind the wheel — still manageable over a long weekend.
The cheapest way to move from Illinois to Tennessee is to rent a truck and handle all the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. Rental trucks cost $500 - $1,000 for a 2-3 bedroom move, roughly 80% less than full-service movers, though fuel, insurance, lodging, and equipment rental fees add to the base rate on a long-distance route.
Moving containers ($1,250 - $2,500 for 2-3 bedrooms) cost about 55% less than full-service and let you skip the long drive. Labor-only crews fall in the middle: you hire local crews to handle the loading and unloading at both ends while you cover the truck and the drive between Illinois and Tennessee. Use our moveBuddha moving cost calculator to compare all 3 options side by side for your specific move size.
Popular Illinois to Tennessee moving routes
These are the most common city-to-city moves on the Illinois to Tennessee 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 Tennessee: the bottom line
The cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee ranges from $2,250 - $5,750 for a 2-3 bedroom home with full-service movers. Moving containers and rental trucks cost 55% - 80% less for the same move. For most people making this 494-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.
