Moving from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL
About 2,046 miles across a state line, from Oregon into Illinois, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL covers about 2,046 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $9,207 – $12,276 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 293 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,046 miles from Oregon 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 $9,207 – $12,276 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 37 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 Portland to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,905 – $9,207 | $4,972 – $6,629 | $3,315 – $4,419 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,286 – $11,048 | $5,966 – $7,955 | $3,977 – $5,303 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,207 – $12,276 | $6,629 – $8,839 | $4,419 – $5,892 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,588 – $14,117 | $7,623 – $10,165 | $5,082 – $6,776 |
| 4 bedrooms | $11,969 – $15,959 | $8,618 – $11,490 | $5,745 – $7,660 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $13,811 – $18,414 | $9,944 – $13,258 | $6,629 – $8,839 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,046 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, Portland to Chicago
2,046 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $10,230. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $9,207 to $12,276, 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 Portland to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 293 people a year (±124) moved from Multnomah County, OR, home to Portland, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 355 people a year (±135). Movers from Multnomah County make up 0.2% 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 1,114 people a year (±770) moving from Oregon to Illinois and about 1,653 people a year (±840) from Illinois to Oregon — a net gain for Oregon of about 539 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Clackamas County, OR | 9,470 ±1,192 |
| Washington County, OR | 8,650 ±1,135 |
| Clark County, WA | 5,403 ±773 |
| King County, WA | 1,552 ±436 |
| Lane County, OR | 1,425 ±453 |
| 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
59 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Portland (111 counting those licensed only inside Oregon). 43 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.2% of their 216 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Service MovingUSDOT 1863079 | Portland · 2 mi | 100 trucks | 78 | 17.4% of 46 |
| Suddath Moving & StorageUSDOT 2482348 | Portland · 5 mi | 29 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Terminal Transfer IncUSDOT 59571 | Portland · 7 mi | 25 trucks | 22 | 25.0% of 16 |
| PDX Movers LLCUSDOT 2353055 | Tualatin · 12 mi | 15 trucks | 34 | 10.3% of 29 |
| Rose City Moving & StorageUSDOT 295098 | Portland · 5 mi | 13 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| A-1 Premium Moving LLCUSDOT 2033832 | Portland · 7 mi | 12 trucks | 0 | — |
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 Oregon 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 Portland to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 2,046 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 2,046 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 Portland
All routes from Portland, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland to Vancouver, WA | ~9 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Portland to Salem, OR | ~51 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Portland to Eugene, OR | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| Portland to Olympia, WA | ~123 mi | $554 – $738 |
| Portland to Tacoma, WA | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Portland to Seattle, WA | 174 mi | $783 – $1,044 |
| Portland to Spokane, WA | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Portland to Boise, ID | ~402 mi | $1,809 – $2,412 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Portland to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Portland, OR to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,046 miles cost about $6,905 – $9,207 for a studio, $9,207 – $12,276 for a two-bedroom home and $10,588 – $14,117 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Portland, OR to Chicago take?
The drive is 5 days on the road (about 37 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 Portland, OR to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $4,419 – $5,892 for a two-bedroom home, against $9,207 – $12,276 with full-service movers; a moving container is $6,629 – $8,839.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Portland, OR to Chicago?
Yes. Portland is in Oregon and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 59 listed movers within 30 miles of Portland hold it.
How many people move from Portland, OR to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 293 people a year (margin of error ±124) moved from Multnomah County, which contains Portland, 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.