Moving from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL
About 1,142 miles across a state line, from Texas 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 Austin, TX to Chicago, IL covers about 1,142 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,139 – $6,852 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 880 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 1,142 miles between Texas 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 $5,139 – $6,852 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Austin to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,854 – $5,139 | $2,775 – $3,700 | $1,850 – $2,467 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,625 – $6,167 | $3,330 – $4,440 | $2,220 – $2,960 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,139 – $6,852 | $3,700 – $4,933 | $2,467 – $3,289 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,910 – $7,880 | $4,255 – $5,673 | $2,837 – $3,782 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,681 – $8,908 | $4,810 – $6,413 | $3,207 – $4,276 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,709 – $10,278 | $5,550 – $7,400 | $3,700 – $4,933 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,142 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, Austin to Chicago
1,142 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $5,710. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,139 to $6,852, 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 Austin to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 880 people a year (±266) moved from Travis County, TX, home to Austin, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 629 people a year (±234). Movers from Travis County make up 0.7% 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 18,189 people a year (±3,474) moving from Texas to Illinois and about 23,509 people a year (±4,417) from Illinois to Texas — a net gain for Texas of about 5,320 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Williamson County, TX | 16,454 ±1,845 |
| Hays County, TX | 5,639 ±1,063 |
| Harris County, TX | 3,974 ±791 |
| Bexar County, TX | 3,130 ±757 |
| Bastrop County, TX | 2,447 ±809 |
| 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
51 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Austin (323 counting those licensed only inside Texas). 24 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 26.4% of their 110 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MovingUSDOT 3538096 | Austin · 9 mi | 185 trucks | 37 | 23.5% of 17 |
| Next Stop Moving & StorageUSDOT 3756197 | Taylor · 30 mi | 18 trucks | 56 | 31.3% of 32 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Austin LLCUSDOT 902281 | Pflugerville · 15 mi | 12 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Unicorn Moving and StorageUSDOT 3592100 | Austin · 9 mi | 11 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Heavenly Care MovingUSDOT 3429695 | Austin · 12 mi | 11 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Quality Van Lines IncUSDOT 2292865 | Round Rock · 20 mi | 10 trucks | 24 | 30.0% of 10 |
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 Texas 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 Austin 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 1,142 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 Austin
All routes from Austin, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin to San Antonio, TX | ~86 mi | $445 – $733 |
| Austin to Houston, TX | 162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Austin to Dallas, TX | 196 mi | $882 – $1,176 |
| Austin to Fort Worth, TX | ~202 mi | $909 – $1,212 |
| Austin to Arlington, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Austin to Corpus Christi, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Austin to McKinney, TX | ~247 mi | $1,112 – $1,482 |
| Austin to Laredo, TX | ~251 mi | $1,130 – $1,506 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Austin to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Austin to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,142 miles cost about $3,854 – $5,139 for a studio, $5,139 – $6,852 for a two-bedroom home and $5,910 – $7,880 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Austin to Chicago take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 21 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 Austin to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,467 – $3,289 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,139 – $6,852 with full-service movers; a moving container is $3,700 – $4,933.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Austin to Chicago?
Yes. Austin is in Texas and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 51 listed movers within 30 miles of Austin hold it.
How many people move from Austin to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 880 people a year (margin of error ±266) moved from Travis County, which contains Austin, 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.