($1,195+) Portland, OR to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 2,121-mile move from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago, Illinois, with prices running from $2,626 - $12,442. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $358 - $2,384 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Portland and Chicago are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Portland movers tend to run around $278 as a base rate plus $130/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,626 - $6,444
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,933 - $8,808
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,156 - $12,442

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 Portland to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market: 57% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.

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

Look for Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Illinois beyond this list.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,638 and $6,087. 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 Portland typically costs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,638 - $3,087
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,183 - $4,242
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,820 - $6,087

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 Portland, OR, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $834, 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 $89 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $179 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Portland, OR, and Chicago, IL, 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 Portland to Chicago?

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 Portland, OR to Chicago, IL

Plan on $1,195 - $3,363 for a rental moving truck on the 2,121-mile route from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago, Illinois. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $804 - $919
• Daily insurance: $36/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
• Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $1.19

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,195 - $2,399
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,280 - $2,634
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,698 - $3,363

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Portland, Oregon, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $834.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $804 - $919 for the 2,121-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $72 and $387, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $179 per night for hotel stops on the 2,121-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $358 - $536.

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

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 Portland, OR to Chicago, IL

If you're moving a larger household from Portland, Oregon, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Chicago, Illinois.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,781 and $3,498.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,489 - $2,862
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,781 - $3,498
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,279 - $4,964

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $89 and $179.
• Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
• Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Portland, Oregon, for roughly five hours typically average $834.

What are the best freight companies from Portland to Chicago?

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.

Cost of living: Portland, OR vs Chicago, IL

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Chicago, side by side with Portland 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

Full-service movers on the 2,121-mile route from Portland, OR, to Chicago, IL, run $2,626 - $12,442 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,638 - $6,087, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,195 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,933, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Chicago tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and delicious food, though high crime rate and temperamental weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include U.S. Government and Chicago Public Schools.