Moving from Sioux Falls, SD to Chicago, IL
About 555 miles across a state line, from South Dakota 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 Sioux Falls, SD to Chicago, IL covers about 555 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $2,498 – $3,330 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 101 people a year move between the two metro areas (Census).
The route
At 555 miles between South Dakota and Illinois, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $2,498 – $3,330 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 2 days on the road (about 10 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Sioux Falls to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,873 – $2,498 | $1,349 – $1,798 | $899 – $1,199 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,248 – $2,997 | $1,618 – $2,158 | $1,079 – $1,439 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,498 – $3,330 | $1,798 – $2,398 | $1,199 – $1,598 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,872 – $3,830 | $2,068 – $2,757 | $1,379 – $1,838 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,247 – $4,329 | $2,338 – $3,117 | $1,558 – $2,078 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,746 – $4,995 | $2,697 – $3,596 | $1,798 – $2,398 |
Transport only, for an estimated 555 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, Sioux Falls to Chicago
555 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,775. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $2,498 to $3,330, 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 Sioux Falls to Chicago
The county-to-county table of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) has no estimate for Minnehaha County, SD to Cook County, IL, but the wider metro table does: about 101 people a year (±114) moved from the Sioux Falls, SD metro area to the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count. The other way: about 108 people a year (±83).
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 343 people a year (±284) moving from South Dakota to Illinois and about 349 people a year (±290) from Illinois to South Dakota — a net gain for South Dakota of about 6 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Lincoln County, SD | 2,577 ±528 |
| Pennington County, SD | 1,076 ±362 |
| Clay County, SD | 432 ±184 |
| Brookings County, SD | 355 ±127 |
| Rock County, MN | 343 ±176 |
| 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
6 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Sioux Falls (11 counting those licensed only inside South Dakota). 5 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 0.0% of their 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Transfer IncUSDOT 1741852 | Sioux Falls · 4 mi | 8 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 6 |
| ParkerUSDOT 945 | Sioux Falls · 4 mi | 5 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Advanced MovingUSDOT 4509871 | Tea · 10 mi | 5 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Advanced Moving LLCUSDOT 961086 | Dell Rapids · 21 mi | 5 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Jerry's Movers LLCUSDOT 3949161 | Sioux Falls · 2 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| Wimps Moving & RelocationUSDOT 4348883 | Sioux Falls · 5 mi | 1 truck | 1 | — |
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 South Dakota 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 Sioux Falls to Chicago
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 555 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
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 Sioux Falls
All routes from Sioux Falls, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls to Omaha, NE | ~190 mi | $855 – $1,140 |
| Sioux Falls to Lincoln, NE | ~221 mi | $995 – $1,326 |
| Sioux Falls to Minneapolis, MN | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Sioux Falls to Fargo, ND | ~268 mi | $1,206 – $1,608 |
| Sioux Falls to Rapid City, SD | ~380 mi | $1,710 – $2,280 |
| Sioux Falls to Wichita, KS | ~473 mi | $2,129 – $2,838 |
| Sioux Falls to Fort Collins, CO | ~554 mi | $2,493 – $3,324 |
| Sioux Falls to Aurora, CO | ~578 mi | $2,601 – $3,468 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Sioux Falls to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Sioux Falls to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 555 miles cost about $1,873 – $2,498 for a studio, $2,498 – $3,330 for a two-bedroom home and $2,872 – $3,830 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Sioux Falls to Chicago take?
The drive is 2 days on the road (about 10 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Sioux Falls to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,199 – $1,598 for a two-bedroom home, against $2,498 – $3,330 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,798 – $2,398.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Sioux Falls to Chicago?
Yes. Sioux Falls is in South Dakota and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 6 listed movers within 30 miles of Sioux Falls hold it.
How many people move from Sioux Falls to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 101 people a year (margin of error ±114) moved from the Sioux Falls, SD metro area to the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area. Its county table has no estimate for this pair, so the metro figure is the finest available.
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.