($580+) Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL

For the 800-mile move from Columbia, South Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $1,665 and $7,598. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $284 - $1,892 (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 Columbia generally start around $262 plus $256 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,665 - $4,335
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,283 - $5,246
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,849 - $7,598

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 Columbia to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market: 57% of Columbia 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 Columbia to Chicago?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s 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 Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Columbia, South Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,132 and $3,453. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Columbia typically runs around $50/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,132 - $2,044
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,413 - $2,809
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,785 - $3,453

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $662 in Columbia, SC. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $71 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $142 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Chicago, IL, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Columbia 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 Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL

A rental truck for this 800-mile move from Columbia, South Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $580 and $1,483. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $241 - $275
• Daily insurance: $28/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• Columbia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $39.95

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $580 - $1,072
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $595 - $1,286
• 4+ bedrooms: $753 - $1,483

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Columbia, South Carolina, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $662.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $241 - $275 for the 800-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 $57 and $307, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $142 per night for hotel stops on the 800-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $284 - $426.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Columbia 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 Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL

If you're moving a larger household from Columbia, South Carolina, 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 $1,130 and $2,291.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $921 - $1,857
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,130 - $2,291
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,517 - $2,734

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 $71 and $142.
• 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 Columbia, South Carolina, for roughly five hours typically average $662.

What are the best freight companies from Columbia to Chicago?

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: Columbia, SC 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 Columbia 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 800-mile route from Columbia, SC, to Chicago, IL, run $1,665 - $7,598 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,132 - $3,453, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $580 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,283, 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.