($815+) San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL

For the 1,199-mile move from San Antonio, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $2,183 and $8,881. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $291 - $1,940 (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 San Antonio generally start around $192 plus $96 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,183 - $5,265
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,776 - $6,392
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,742 - $8,881

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 San Antonio to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 90% of San Antonio movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

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

All three below meet the standards set by the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, the group most Illinois 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 San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from San Antonio, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,324 and $4,395. 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 San Antonio typically costs about $70/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,324 - $2,480
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,639 - $3,387
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,151 - $4,395

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $73 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $146 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 $679 in San Antonio, TX, 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 Chicago, IL, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers San Antonio 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 San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,199 miles from San Antonio, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, running $823 - $2,123. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $370 - $423
• Daily insurance: $29/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• San Antonio daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.19

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $823 - $1,509
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $822 - $1,689
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,034 - $2,123

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in San Antonio, Texas, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $679.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $370 - $423 for the 1,199-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 $58 and $315, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $146 per night for hotel stops on the 1,199-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $291 - $437.

What are the best moving truck rentals from San Antonio 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 San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from San Antonio, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, 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 $1,352 and $2,684.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,180 - $2,058
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,352 - $2,684
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,829 - $3,516

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In San Antonio, Texas, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $679.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $73 - $146 per additional foot to your total.
• Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from San Antonio 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.
3. Parkway Transport, Inc. (4.76/5 stars): Parkway Transport, 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.

Cost of living: San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio 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.