($916+) Chicago, IL to McAllen, TX Movers

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

For the 1,432-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to McAllen, Texas, full-service movers cost between $2,158 and $9,065. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $282 - $1,880 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Chicago generally start around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,158 - $4,845
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,893 - $6,365
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,739 - $9,065

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 McAllen.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to McAllen, TX

Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In McAllen, 63% of movers offer the same service.

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

All three below meet the standards set by the Southwest Movers Association, the group most Texas movers are affiliated with.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to McAllen, TX

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to McAllen, Texas, cost between $1,401 and $4,923. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Chicago typically costs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,401 - $2,444
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,738 - $3,589
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,481 - $4,923

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $71 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $141 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
• Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $658 in Chicago, IL, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
• Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your McAllen, TX, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to McAllen?

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 McAllen, TX

Truck rentals from Chicago, Illinois, to McAllen, Texas, range from $916 - $2,330 for the 1,432-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $428 - $489
• Daily insurance: $28/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• 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 McAllen based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $916 - $1,621
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $915 - $2,087
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,236 - $2,330

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 $71 and $329.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $141.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $428 and $489 for the 1,432-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 $658 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 McAllen?

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 McAllen, TX

For larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to McAllen, Texas.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,349 and $2,927.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,224 - $2,313
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,349 - $2,927
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,966 - $3,864

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 $71 - $141 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about five hours typically runs $658.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to McAllen?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs McAllen, TX

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

A move from Chicago, IL, to McAllen, TX, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $2,158 - $9,065 on the 1,432-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,401 - $4,923, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $916 - $2,330. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,893 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include The Monitor Group and Am-Mex Products.