($844+) Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Salt Lake City, UT, runs anywhere from $897 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,155 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,395 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 3 to 8 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 $2,139, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,155 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,431 - $4,577, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $897 - $2,468.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Salt Lake City, UT. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,928 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
There are 3 main ways to move from Chicago to Salt Lake City: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,928 - $6,469. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 3 to 8 days for this 1,395-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,395-mile route from Chicago to Salt Lake City, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,139 - $5,204, container $1,431 - $2,618, rental truck $897 - $1,750, freight trailer $1,263 - $2,334.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,928 - $6,469, container $1,792 - $3,475, rental truck $998 - $1,981, freight trailer $1,490 - $3,041.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $5,156 - $9,155, container $2,458 - $4,577, rental truck $1,221 - $2,468, freight trailer $1,908 - $3,700.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Full-service movers for the 1,395-mile relocation from Chicago, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, cost between $2,139 and $9,155. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $336 - $2,240, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Chicago typically charge a base rate around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Salt Lake City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,139 - $5,204
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,928 - $6,469
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,156 - $9,155
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 Salt Lake City.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Illinois to Utah. 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 Salt Lake City, UT
Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Salt Lake City, 91% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing99% of local movers | $560 - $5,600 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready93% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Reebie Storage and Moving Co. | $224 - $1,344/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $336 - $2,688 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs62% of local movers | $1,120 - $3,360 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,800 - $11,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $839 - $1,594 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items55% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: H2H Movers Inc | $1,120 - $2,800 |
| Piano | Any piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: H2H Movers Inc | $896 - $3,920 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling36% of local movers | $336 - $1,680 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect23% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Move-tastic | $728 - $2,240 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $336 - $16,800+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $336 - $3,920+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Salt Lake City?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Chicago, IL, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, cost between $1,431 and $4,577. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Salt Lake City. If you go over that window, storage in Chicago adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Salt Lake City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,431 - $2,618
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,792 - $3,475
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,458 - $4,577
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $84 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $168 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 $784 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 Salt Lake City, UT, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Illinois to Utah 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 $1,431. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,792 - $3,475, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Chicago to Salt Lake City?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- 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 Salt Lake City, UT
Truck rentals from Chicago, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, range from $897 - $2,468 for the 1,395-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $497 - $568
- Daily insurance: $34/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
- Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Chicago to Salt Lake City based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $897 - $1,750
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $998 - $1,981
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,221 - $2,468
Pro tip: A rental truck from Chicago to Salt Lake City looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $897 - $2,468. But once you factor in fuel ($497 - $568) , overnight lodging ($168/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
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 $84 and $392.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $168.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $497 and $568 for the 1,395-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 $784 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 Salt Lake City?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Salt Lake City, UT
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 $1,008 and $3,041.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Salt Lake City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,263 - $2,334
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,490 - $3,041
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,908 - $3,700
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
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 $784.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $84 and $168 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Salt Lake City?
- 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.
- 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.
- Keller Trucking Co, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Keller Trucking Co, Inc. is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Salt Lake City fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Salt Lake City, UT
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Salt Lake City, side by side with Chicago on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Chicago, IL | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 106 | 121 |
| Average rent | $2,045/mo | $1,495/mo |
| Median home value | $317,509 | $495,721 |
| Average income | $75,134/yr | $74,925/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 9.0% | 3.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.95% | Up to 4.95% |
| Walkability score | 77/100 | 59/100 |
| Safety index | 33.87/100 | 65.36/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Salt Lake City, UT to Chicago, IL guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to Utah, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Illinois alone has 103 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,395-mile move like this one.
Our take
The 1,395-mile move from Chicago, IL, to Salt Lake City, UT, costs between $2,139 and $9,155 with full-service movers, $1,431 - $4,577 with a moving container, and $897 - $2,468 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 $2,928 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 Intermountain Healthcare and Alsco.
FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Salt Lake City, UT
Is Salt Lake City a safe place to live?
Salt Lake City has a safety index of 65.36 out of 100 and a crime index of 34.64, compared to 33.87 and 35.19 in Chicago. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT?
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
How long does a move from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT 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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($497 - $568), daily insurance ($34/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $22) on top. Overnight stops can add another $168/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
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.
