Moving from San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL
1,262 miles across a state line, from Texas into Illinois, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from San Antonio, TX to Chicago, IL covers 1,262 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,679 – $7,572 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 186 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,262 miles from Texas 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 $5,679 – $7,572 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 23 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 San Antonio to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,259 – $5,679 | $3,067 – $4,089 | $2,044 – $2,726 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,111 – $6,815 | $3,680 – $4,907 | $2,453 – $3,271 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,679 – $7,572 | $4,089 – $5,452 | $2,726 – $3,635 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,531 – $8,708 | $4,702 – $6,270 | $3,135 – $4,180 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,383 – $9,844 | $5,316 – $7,087 | $3,544 – $4,725 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,519 – $11,358 | $6,133 – $8,178 | $4,089 – $5,452 |
Transport only, for 1,262 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, San Antonio to Chicago
1,262 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,310. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,679 to $7,572, 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 San Antonio to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 186 people a year (±84) moved from Bexar County, TX, home to San Antonio, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 623 people a year (±229). Movers from Bexar County make up 0.1% 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 |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 4,773 ±970 |
| Travis County, TX | 3,813 ±659 |
| Comal County, TX | 3,072 ±787 |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 2,733 ±643 |
| Tarrant County, TX | 2,198 ±620 |
| 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
22 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of San Antonio (176 counting those licensed only inside Texas). 7 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 9.6% of their 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scobey Moving & Storage LtdUSDOT 1274056 | San Antonio · 9 mi | 123 trucks | 47 | 12.1% of 33 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of San Antonio LLCUSDOT 917162 | San Antonio · 12 mi | 20 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 2965894 | San Antonio · 8 mi | 17 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Jackson Movers LLCUSDOT 3138126 | San Antonio · 8 mi | 16 trucks | 15 | 0.0% of 7 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 2965956 | San Antonio · 14 mi | 8 trucks | 0 | — |
| Jonas Bros Transfer IncUSDOT 1944794 | San Antonio · 4 mi | 4 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 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 San Antonio to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 1,262 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 1,262 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 San Antonio
All routes from San Antonio, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio to Austin, TX | ~86 mi | $445 – $733 |
| San Antonio to Corpus Christi, TX | ~155 mi | $698 – $930 |
| San Antonio to Laredo, TX | ~166 mi | $747 – $996 |
| San Antonio to Houston, TX | 197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| San Antonio to McAllen, TX | ~258 mi | $1,161 – $1,548 |
| San Antonio to Arlington, TX | ~283 mi | $1,274 – $1,698 |
| San Antonio to Dallas, TX | 293 mi | $1,319 – $1,758 |
| San Antonio to Plano, TX | ~316 mi | $1,422 – $1,896 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
San Antonio to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Antonio to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over 1,262 miles cost about $4,259 – $5,679 for a studio, $5,679 – $7,572 for a two-bedroom home and $6,531 – $8,708 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Antonio to Chicago take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 23 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 San Antonio to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,726 – $3,635 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,679 – $7,572 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,089 – $5,452.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for San Antonio to Chicago?
Yes. San Antonio 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. 22 listed movers within 30 miles of San Antonio hold it.
How many people move from San Antonio to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 186 people a year (margin of error ±84) moved from Bexar County, which contains San Antonio, 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.