($783+) Chicago, IL to Austin, TX Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX

Hiring full-service movers from Chicago, Illinois, to Austin, Texas, costs between $2,059 and $8,548. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,120-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $346 - $2,304, 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 Austin. 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 Austin:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,059 - $4,727
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,549 - $6,169
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,520 - $8,548

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 Austin.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Austin, 81% of movers offer the same service.

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

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Southwest Movers 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 Austin, TX

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Austin, Texas, cost between $1,227 and $4,082. 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 Austin:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,227 - $2,268
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,710 - $3,385
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,245 - $4,082

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 $806, 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 $86 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $173 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Chicago, IL, and Austin, TX, 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 Austin?

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 Austin, TX

Plan on $753 - $2,053 for a rental moving truck on the 1,120-mile route from Chicago, Illinois, to Austin, Texas. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $411 - $469
• Daily insurance: $35/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
• 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 Austin based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $753 - $1,348
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $838 - $1,686
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,053 - $2,053

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
• Lodging: Budget around $173 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 $806 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
• Gas: Fuel for the 1,120-mile drive falls between $411 and $469, 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 $58 and $346 to your total.

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

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 Austin, TX

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Austin, Texas, 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. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,354 and $2,708.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,183 - $2,146
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,354 - $2,708
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,831 - $3,335

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 $86 - $173 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about five hours typically runs $806.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Austin?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
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 and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Austin, TX

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