Moving from Chicago, IL to San Diego, CA
2,146 miles across a state line, from Illinois into California, 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 Diego, CA 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 1,608 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,146 miles from Illinois to California. 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 Chicago to San Diego
| 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, Chicago to San Diego
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 Chicago to San Diego
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,608 people a year (±518) moved from Cook County, IL, home to Chicago, to San Diego County, CA, home to San Diego. Going the other way: about 617 people a year (±227). Movers from Cook County make up 1.2% of the 132,807 people a year who moved into San Diego County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 19,953 people a year (±5,236) moving from Illinois to California and about 15,128 people a year (±2,843) from California to Illinois — a net gain for California of about 4,825 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 |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA | 10,436 ±1,312 |
| Orange County, CA | 8,261 ±1,298 |
| Riverside County, CA | 8,201 ±1,135 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 5,342 ±857 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,074 ±756 |
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 Diego end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Diego: Mills Van Lines (San Diego, 108 trucks), Corovan Moving & Storage Co (Poway, 88 trucks), Republic Moving & Storage (Chula Vista, 21 trucks), Ackley Moving Services (Poway, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Illinois into California, 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 Diego
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 San Diego
A local move inside San Diego later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Diego are Chula Vista (about 12 mi), Irvine (about 88 mi), Santa Ana (about 95 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 Diego: from Moreno Valley, CA, from Anaheim, CA, from Fontana, CA, from Los Angeles, CA.
Chicago to San Diego moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to San Diego?
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 Chicago to San Diego 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 Chicago to San Diego?
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 Chicago to San Diego?
Yes. Chicago is in Illinois and San Diego is in California, 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 Diego each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,608 people a year (margin of error ±518) moved from Cook County, which contains Chicago, to San Diego County, which contains San Diego.
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.