Moving from Chicago, IL to San Antonio, TX
1,262 miles across a state line, from Illinois into Texas, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Chicago, IL to San Antonio, TX covers 1,262 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,679 – $7,572 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 623 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,262 miles from Illinois to Texas. 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 $5,679 – $7,572 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 23 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 Chicago to San Antonio
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,259 – $5,679 | $3,067 – $4,089 | $2,044 – $2,726 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,111 – $6,815 | $3,680 – $4,907 | $2,453 – $3,271 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,679 – $7,572 | $4,089 – $5,452 | $2,726 – $3,635 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,531 – $8,708 | $4,702 – $6,270 | $3,135 – $4,180 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,383 – $9,844 | $5,316 – $7,087 | $3,544 – $4,725 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,519 – $11,358 | $6,133 – $8,178 | $4,089 – $5,452 |
Transport only, for 1,262 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, Chicago to San Antonio
1,262 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,310. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,679 to $7,572, 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 Chicago to San Antonio
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 623 people a year (±229) moved from Cook County, IL, home to Chicago, to Bexar County, TX, home to San Antonio. Going the other way: about 186 people a year (±84). Movers from Cook County make up 0.7% of the 91,790 people a year who moved into Bexar County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 23,509 people a year (±4,417) moving from Illinois to Texas and about 18,189 people a year (±3,474) from Texas to Illinois — a net gain for Texas of about 5,320 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 21,050 ±1,662 |
| Will County, IL | 12,267 ±1,138 |
| Lake County, IL | 11,414 ±1,215 |
| Lake County, IN | 9,145 ±1,341 |
| Kane County, IL | 8,885 ±1,239 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 3,658 ±811 |
| Travis County, TX | 3,130 ±757 |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 2,955 ±726 |
| Comal County, TX | 2,317 ±510 |
| Bell County, TX | 2,237 ±629 |
Licensed movers at each end
154 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Chicago (245 counting those licensed only inside Illinois). 81 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 20.3% of their 615 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New World Van Lines IncUSDOT 258748 | Chicago · 11 mi | 204 trucks | 201 | 14.7% of 129 |
| National Van Lines IncUSDOT 76628 | Broadview · 12 mi | 174 trucks | 143 | 32.1% of 78 |
| New City Moving & Storage LLCUSDOT 4020807 | Chicago · 6 mi | 82 trucks | 17 | 25.0% of 8 |
| Complete Moving IncUSDOT 4017704 | Arlington Heights · 25 mi | 80 trucks | 240 | 19.9% of 186 |
| Em Transfer Services IncUSDOT 2914046 | Addison · 20 mi | 36 trucks | 41 | 33.3% of 15 |
| Hollander International Storage and Moving Company IncUSDOT 131735 | Elk Grove Village · 22 mi | 23 drivers | 5 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Antonio end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Antonio: Scobey Moving & Storage Ltd (San Antonio, 123 trucks), All My Sons Moving & Storage of San Antonio LLC (San Antonio, 20 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (San Antonio, 17 trucks), Jackson Movers LLC (San Antonio, 16 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Illinois into Texas, 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 Chicago to San Antonio
Insist on a survey
Over 1,262 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 1,262 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Antonio
A local move inside San Antonio later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Antonio are Austin (about 86 mi), Corpus Christi (about 155 mi), Laredo (about 166 mi).
Other routes from Chicago
All routes from Chicago, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Milwaukee, WI | ~95 mi | $475 – $775 |
| Chicago to Madison, WI | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Chicago to Grand Rapids, MI | ~146 mi | $657 – $876 |
| Chicago to Peoria, IL | ~152 mi | $684 – $912 |
| Chicago to Fort Wayne, IN | ~163 mi | $734 – $978 |
| Chicago to Indianapolis, IN | ~192 mi | $864 – $1,152 |
| Chicago to Lansing, MI | ~195 mi | $878 – $1,170 |
| Chicago to Springfield, IL | ~208 mi | $936 – $1,248 |
Also moving to San Antonio: from Austin, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX, from Laredo, TX, from Houston, TX.
Chicago to San Antonio moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to San Antonio?
From our published model, full-service movers over 1,262 miles cost about $4,259 – $5,679 for a studio, $5,679 – $7,572 for a two-bedroom home and $6,531 – $8,708 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Chicago to San Antonio take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 23 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 Chicago to San Antonio?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,726 – $3,635 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,679 – $7,572 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,089 – $5,452.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Chicago to San Antonio?
Yes. Chicago is in Illinois and San Antonio is in Texas, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 154 listed movers within 30 miles of Chicago hold it.
How many people move from Chicago to San Antonio each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 623 people a year (margin of error ±229) moved from Cook County, which contains Chicago, to Bexar County, which contains San Antonio.
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.