($589+) Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Virginia Beach, VA, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $589 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,830 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 898 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $1,739, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,830 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,099 - $3,769, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $589 - $1,654.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Virginia Beach, VA, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,285 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 Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL
Moving options from Virginia Beach to Chicago fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,285 - $5,408 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 39% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 73% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 898-mile route typically takes 2 to 7 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 898-mile route from Virginia Beach to Chicago, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,739 - $4,186 | $1,099 - $1,992 | $589 - $1,089 | $970 - $1,756 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,285 - $5,408 | $1,399 - $2,710 | $628 - $1,293 | $1,142 - $2,303 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,833 - $7,830 | $1,939 - $3,769 | $853 - $1,654 | $1,551 - $2,986 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL
Full-service movers for the 898-mile relocation from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,739 and $7,830. 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 $316 - $2,108, 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 Virginia Beach typically charge a base rate around $183 plus $97 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Virginia Beach to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,739 - $4,186
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,285 - $5,408
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,833 - $7,830
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 Virginia Beach to Chicago.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market: 62% of Virginia Beach movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing67% of local movers | $527 - $5,270 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready62% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $211 - $1,265/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $316 - $2,530 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs43% of local movers | $1,054 - $3,162 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,635 - $10,540 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $789 - $1,500 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items23% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Atlantic Beach Movers | $1,054 - $2,635 |
| Piano | Any piano type43% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $843 - $3,689 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling13% of local movers | $316 - $1,581 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Atlantic Beach Movers | $685 - $2,108 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $316 - $15,810+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $316 - $3,689+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Virginia Beach to Chicago?
Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Illinois, on top of the picks below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Virginia Beach, VA. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,099 and $3,769. 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 Chicago. If you go over that window, storage in Virginia Beach adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Virginia Beach to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,099 - $1,992
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,399 - $2,710
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,939 - $3,769
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 Virginia Beach, VA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $738, 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 $79 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $158 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Virginia Beach, VA, 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.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Virginia to Illinois 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 $1,099. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,399 - $2,710.
What are the best moving containers Virginia Beach to Chicago?
- 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.6/5), 12 years in business
- Atlantic Beach Movers (4.7/5), 20 years in business
- Southside Moving and Storage (3.8/5), 0 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL
A rental truck for this 898-mile move from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $589 and $1,654. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $301 - $344
- Daily insurance: $32/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- Virginia Beach daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Virginia Beach to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $589 - $1,089
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $628 - $1,293
- 4+ bedrooms: $853 - $1,654
Pro tip: The base rate of $589 - $1,654 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Virginia Beach to Chicago. Fuel ($301 - $344), lodging at around $158/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $158 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Virginia Beach, Virginia, usually costs about $738 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 898-mile drive falls between $301 and $344, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $53 and $316 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Virginia Beach to Chicago?
- 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 Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL
For larger DIY moves from Virginia Beach, Virginia, 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 Chicago, Illinois.
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 $1,142 and $2,303.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Virginia Beach to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $970 - $1,756
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,142 - $2,303
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,551 - $2,986
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?
- 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 $79 and $158.
- 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 Virginia Beach, Virginia, for roughly five hours typically average $738.
What are the best freight companies from Virginia Beach to Chicago?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Virginia Beach to Chicago. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Virginia Beach, VA vs Chicago, IL
Day-to-day costs in Chicago are close to what you're used to in Virginia Beach: cost of living index of 106 versus 105, with average rent of $2,045/mo compared to $1,950/mo. With an index gap that small, budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 33/100 and 58.0/100 in Virginia Beach versus 77/100 and 33.87/100 in Chicago.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Virginia Beach, VA guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Virginia to Illinois, 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. Virginia alone has 262 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 898-mile move like this one.
Our take
For a move from Virginia Beach, VA, to Chicago, IL, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,739 for a studio to $7,830 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 898-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,099 - $3,769. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $589 - $1,654, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,285 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
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.
FAQs: Moving from Virginia Beach, VA, to Chicago, IL
What is the best time of year to move from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL?
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 Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, 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 ($301 - $344), daily insurance ($32/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $21) on top. Overnight stops can add another $158/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $628 - $1,293. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL?
Costs on this route range from around $589 to $7,830, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,739 and $7,830, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What percentage of Virginia Beach movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 43% of movers in Virginia Beach handle piano moves, and 23% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.