Moving from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL
2,135 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 Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL covers 2,135 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $9,608 – $12,810 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 753 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,135 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 $9,608 – $12,810 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 Francisco to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $7,206 – $9,608 | $5,188 – $6,917 | $3,459 – $4,612 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,647 – $11,529 | $6,226 – $8,301 | $4,150 – $5,534 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,608 – $12,810 | $6,917 – $9,223 | $4,612 – $6,149 |
| 3 bedrooms | $11,049 – $14,732 | $7,955 – $10,607 | $5,303 – $7,071 |
| 4 bedrooms | $12,490 – $16,653 | $8,993 – $11,990 | $5,995 – $7,993 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $14,411 – $19,215 | $10,376 – $13,835 | $6,917 – $9,223 |
Transport only, for 2,135 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 Francisco to Chicago
2,135 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $10,675. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $9,608 to $12,810, 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 Francisco to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 753 people a year (±247) moved from San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 1,019 people a year (±342). Movers from San Francisco County make up 0.6% 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 |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 10,553 ±1,042 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 8,260 ±979 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 5,568 ±857 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,205 ±743 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,735 ±605 |
| 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
61 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of San Francisco (270 counting those licensed only inside California). 42 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 11.4% of their 350 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Container TransferUSDOT 1701515 | Brisbane · 7 mi | 60 trucks | 63 | 14.3% of 56 |
| Waters Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1125579 | Martinez · 19 mi | 35 trucks | 24 | 4.5% of 22 |
| Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLCUSDOT 2970 | Union City · 23 mi | 25 trucks | 19 | 18.8% of 16 |
| Nor-Cal Moving ServicesUSDOT 1844592 | Hayward · 19 mi | 23 trucks | 29 | 7.1% of 28 |
| Ontrack Moving LLCUSDOT 2551548 | Hayward · 19 mi | 20 trucks | 39 | 0.0% of 25 |
| Valley Relocation and Storage of Northern California IncUSDOT 1659739 | Concord · 25 mi | 15 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 6 |
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 Francisco to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 2,135 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 2,135 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 Francisco
All routes from San Francisco, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco to Fremont, CA | ~38 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to San Jose, CA | ~49 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Stockton, CA | ~72 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Sacramento, CA | ~86 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Modesto, CA | ~90 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Roseville, CA | ~105 mi | $473 – $630 |
| San Francisco to Fresno, CA | ~188 mi | $846 – $1,128 |
| San Francisco to Reno, NV | ~215 mi | $968 – $1,290 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
San Francisco to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Francisco to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over 2,135 miles cost about $7,206 – $9,608 for a studio, $9,608 – $12,810 for a two-bedroom home and $11,049 – $14,732 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Francisco 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 Francisco to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $4,612 – $6,149 for a two-bedroom home, against $9,608 – $12,810 with full-service movers; a moving container is $6,917 – $9,223.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for San Francisco to Chicago?
Yes. San Francisco 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. 61 listed movers within 30 miles of San Francisco hold it.
How many people move from San Francisco to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 753 people a year (margin of error ±247) moved from San Francisco County, which contains San Francisco, 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.