Moving from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL
2,146 miles across a state line, from California into Illinois, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL covers 2,146 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $9,657 – $12,876 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 617 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,146 miles from California to Illinois. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $9,657 – $12,876 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 5 days on the road (about 39 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from San Diego to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $7,243 – $9,657 | $5,215 – $6,953 | $3,477 – $4,635 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,691 – $11,588 | $6,258 – $8,344 | $4,172 – $5,562 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,657 – $12,876 | $6,953 – $9,271 | $4,635 – $6,180 |
| 3 bedrooms | $11,106 – $14,807 | $7,996 – $10,661 | $5,331 – $7,108 |
| 4 bedrooms | $12,554 – $16,739 | $9,039 – $12,052 | $6,026 – $8,035 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $14,486 – $19,314 | $10,430 – $13,906 | $6,953 – $9,271 |
Transport only, for 2,146 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, San Diego to Chicago
2,146 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $10,730. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $9,657 to $12,876, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from San Diego to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 617 people a year (±227) moved from San Diego County, CA, home to San Diego, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 1,608 people a year (±518). Movers from San Diego County make up 0.5% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 15,128 people a year (±2,843) moving from California to Illinois and about 19,953 people a year (±5,236) from Illinois to California — a net gain for California of about 4,825 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Riverside County, CA | 15,263 ±2,340 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 8,898 ±761 |
| Orange County, CA | 6,978 ±1,357 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 6,204 ±739 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 5,206 ±1,126 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
32 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of San Diego (155 counting those licensed only inside California). 22 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.2% of their 204 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Moving & StorageUSDOT 3369820 | Chula Vista · 13 mi | 21 trucks | 19 | 43.8% of 16 |
| Ackley Moving ServicesUSDOT 1868365 | Poway · 21 mi | 21 trucks | 48 | 17.1% of 35 |
| The CMS CompaniesUSDOT 56181 | San Diego · 6 mi | 17 trucks | 32 | 18.5% of 27 |
| A-Accurate Moving CompanyUSDOT 2023330 | El Cajon · 13 mi | 11 trucks | 42 | 17.2% of 29 |
| National City Transfer & StorageUSDOT 56567 | National City · 5 mi | 9 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 4 |
| The Rock MoversUSDOT 3653432 | San Diego · 8 mi | 8 trucks | 29 | 0.0% of 24 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Illinois, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book San Diego to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 2,146 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 2,146 miles of handling.
Arriving in Chicago
A local move inside Chicago later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from San Diego
All routes from San Diego, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego to Moreno Valley, CA | ~97 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Diego to Anaheim, CA | ~100 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Diego to Fontana, CA | ~114 mi | $513 – $684 |
| San Diego to Los Angeles, CA | 126 mi | $567 – $756 |
| San Diego to Oxnard, CA | ~182 mi | $819 – $1,092 |
| San Diego to Bakersfield, CA | ~247 mi | $1,112 – $1,482 |
| San Diego to Las Vegas, NV | ~309 mi | $1,391 – $1,854 |
| San Diego to Phoenix, AZ | 355 mi | $1,598 – $2,130 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
San Diego to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Diego to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over 2,146 miles cost about $7,243 – $9,657 for a studio, $9,657 – $12,876 for a two-bedroom home and $11,106 – $14,807 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Diego to Chicago take?
The drive is 5 days on the road (about 39 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from San Diego to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $4,635 – $6,180 for a two-bedroom home, against $9,657 – $12,876 with full-service movers; a moving container is $6,953 – $9,271.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for San Diego to Chicago?
Yes. San Diego is in California and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 32 listed movers within 30 miles of San Diego hold it.
How many people move from San Diego to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 617 people a year (margin of error ±227) moved from San Diego County, which contains San Diego, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.