Moving from New York to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between New York City and Chicago it is 791 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 30 city pairs we price between the two states run from 527 to 988 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- 791 miNew York City → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,560+2-bedroom, movers
- 30City routes priced
In short
About 11,082 people moved from New York to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±3,600), and about 7,781 went the other way. Between New York City and Chicago it is 791 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,560 – $4,746 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 335 movers based in New York hold interstate authority.
Who moves from New York to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 11,082 people a year (±3,600), against about 7,781 (±1,903) from Illinois to New York, so Illinois gains about 3,301 people a year on this exchange. New York is the 6th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Illinois; Illinois took in about 199,996 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| New York County | Cook County | 1,969 ±589 |
| Kings County | Cook County | 951 ±246 |
| Queens County | Cook County | 367 ±195 |
| Kings County | Will County | 321 ±356* |
| Queens County | Lake County | 278 ±181 |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
New York City to Chicago, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between New York and Illinois.
Cost of moving from New York to Illinois
At 791 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,560 – $4,746 for a two-bedroom home and $4,093 – $5,458 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,563 – $3,417; a freight trailer is $1,709 – $2,278.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,670 – $3,560 | $1,922 – $2,563 | $1,281 – $1,709 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,204 – $4,271 | $2,307 – $3,075 | $1,538 – $2,050 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,560 – $4,746 | $2,563 – $3,417 | $1,709 – $2,278 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,093 – $5,458 | $2,947 – $3,930 | $1,965 – $2,620 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,627 – $6,170 | $3,332 – $4,442 | $2,221 – $2,962 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,339 – $7,119 | $3,844 – $5,126 | $2,563 – $3,417 |
Transport only, for 791 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.
City-to-city routes from New York to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 5 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo to Chicago | ~527 mi | 3–7 days | $2,372 – $3,162 | $2,727 – $3,636 |
| Rochester to Chicago | ~603 mi | 3–7 days | $2,714 – $3,618 | $3,121 – $4,161 |
| Buffalo to Peoria | ~667 mi | 3–7 days | $3,002 – $4,002 | $3,452 – $4,602 |
| Syracuse to Chicago | ~688 mi | 3–7 days | $3,096 – $4,128 | $3,560 – $4,747 |
| Buffalo to Springfield | ~696 mi | 3–7 days | $3,132 – $4,176 | $3,602 – $4,802 |
| Utica to Chicago | ~742 mi | 3–7 days | $3,339 – $4,452 | $3,840 – $5,120 |
| Rochester to Peoria | ~744 mi | 3–7 days | $3,348 – $4,464 | $3,850 – $5,134 |
| Rochester to Springfield | ~774 mi | 3–7 days | $3,483 – $4,644 | $4,005 – $5,341 |
| New York City to Chicago | 791 mi | 3–7 days | $3,560 – $4,746 | $4,093 – $5,458 |
| Schenectady to Chicago | ~817 mi | 3–7 days | $3,677 – $4,902 | $4,228 – $5,637 |
| Syracuse to Peoria | ~827 mi | 3–7 days | $3,722 – $4,962 | $4,280 – $5,706 |
| Albany to Chicago | ~828 mi | 3–7 days | $3,726 – $4,968 | $4,285 – $5,713 |
| Yonkers to Chicago | ~832 mi | 3–7 days | $3,744 – $4,992 | $4,306 – $5,741 |
| Mount Vernon to Chicago | ~836 mi | 3–7 days | $3,762 – $5,016 | $4,326 – $5,768 |
| New Rochelle to Chicago | ~839 mi | 3–7 days | $3,776 – $5,034 | $4,342 – $5,789 |
| Syracuse to Springfield | ~855 mi | 3–7 days | $3,848 – $5,130 | $4,425 – $5,899 |
| Utica to Peoria | ~881 mi | 3–7 days | $3,965 – $5,286 | $4,559 – $6,079 |
| Utica to Springfield | ~909 mi | 3–7 days | $4,091 – $5,454 | $4,704 – $6,272 |
| New York City to Peoria | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Schenectady to Peoria | ~954 mi | 3–7 days | $4,293 – $5,724 | $4,937 – $6,583 |
| Yonkers to Peoria | ~956 mi | 3–7 days | $4,302 – $5,736 | $4,947 – $6,596 |
| Mount Vernon to Peoria | ~959 mi | 3–7 days | $4,316 – $5,754 | $4,963 – $6,617 |
| New Rochelle to Peoria | ~963 mi | 3–7 days | $4,334 – $5,778 | $4,984 – $6,645 |
| New York City to Springfield | ~963 mi | 3–7 days | $4,334 – $5,778 | $4,984 – $6,645 |
| Albany to Peoria | ~964 mi | 3–7 days | $4,338 – $5,784 | $4,989 – $6,652 |
| Yonkers to Springfield | ~969 mi | 3–7 days | $4,361 – $5,814 | $5,015 – $6,686 |
| Mount Vernon to Springfield | ~973 mi | 3–7 days | $4,379 – $5,838 | $5,035 – $6,714 |
| New Rochelle to Springfield | ~977 mi | 3–7 days | $4,397 – $5,862 | $5,056 – $6,741 |
| Schenectady to Springfield | ~979 mi | 3–7 days | $4,406 – $5,874 | $5,066 – $6,755 |
| Albany to Springfield | ~988 mi | 3–7 days | $4,446 – $5,928 | $5,113 – $6,817 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in New York
213 of the 335 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,296 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 204 of 1,423 vehicle inspections (14.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 301 of 2,294 driver inspections (13.1%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piece of Cake MovingNew York City, NY · USDOT 3066988 | 383 | 25 of 246 | 20 of 383 |
| Roadway MovingNew York City, NY · USDOT 1854436 | 236 | 20 of 166 | 41 of 235 |
| Plycon Transportation GroupKings Park, NY · USDOT 331582 | 85 | 9 of 51 | 1 of 85 |
| Pedowitz Machinery MoversHauppauge, NY · USDOT 357223 | 81 | 12 of 33 | 5 of 81 |
| College Hunks MovingHauppauge, NY · USDOT 2177516 | 74 | 6 of 41 | 8 of 74 |
| Arnoff Moving & StorageMalta, NY · USDOT 1041699 | 52 | 1 of 30 | 2 of 52 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
954 listed household-goods carriers are based in New York, 335 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the New York directory ranks them. At the Illinois end, 341 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Illinois, moving costs in Illinois, or the reverse trip, Illinois to New York. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from New York
New York to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from New York to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, New York City and Chicago, the distance is 791 miles. From our model that is $3,560 – $4,746 for a two-bedroom home and $4,093 – $5,458 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,563 – $3,417 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,709 – $2,278. Across the 30 city pairs we price between New York and Illinois, distances run from 527 to 988 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from New York to Illinois take?
New York City to Chicago is 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for New York to Illinois?
Yes. A move from New York into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 954 listed movers based in New York, 335 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within New York.
What is the cheapest way to move from New York to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,709 – $2,278 for a two-bedroom home over 791 miles against $3,560 – $4,746 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,563 – $3,417, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from New York to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 11,082 people (±3,600) moved from New York to Illinois that year, against about 7,781 (±1,903) from Illinois to New York. That makes New York the 6th-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.