California to Illinois
Moving from California to Illinois
Reviewers who moved from California to Illinois paid a median $3,847. 15,128 people made the move in 2024, and 19,953 went the other way. Los Angeles to Chicago, the most common run in our file, is 2,018 miles.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Reviewers paid
$3,847
median, 71 priced reviews
Moved last year
15,128
CA to IL, 2024
Typical drive
2,018 mi
Los Angeles to Chicago
Cost of living
-9.7%
IL vs CA, US = 100
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 3 Nov 2026 (reviewer-reported); US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, 2024; OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (driving route); BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Try another route
Now tap where you are moving to.
California to Illinois · median paid
$3,847
71 reviewed moves
2,018 road miles
Median and middle half of what 71 reviewers paid on this lane. A mover's written estimate is what counts.
What it costs
California to Illinois moving cost
Across 71 priced reviews of moves from California to Illinois, the median was $3,847 and the middle half paid $2,115 to $6,000. Home sizes and distances are mixed; the table below is by size.
Planning ranges for 2,000+ miles moves, by home size, as of September 2026. Research fallback, not a first-party median and not a bid.
| Home size | Full-service range |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,800 to $5,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,600 to $6,400 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,800 to $8,600 |
| 3 bedroom | $6,400 to $11,200 |
| 4+ bedroom | $8,200 to $14,500 |
Source: Haulest research bands, September 2026 (band set by the Los Angeles to Chicago drive).
Live numbers: US on-highway diesel $6.29 per gallon for the week of 2026-11-02 (EIA weekly US on-highway diesel via FRED GASDESW). A fuel surcharge on a long lane follows the diesel line; ask how the mover sets it.
From the review file
Movers with reviews on the California to Illinois run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from California to Illinois. Sorted by how many matching reviews each mover has, not by rating. Corpus as of 3 Nov 2026. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.
| Mover | Based | Record | Matching reviews | All reviews | Median reported, this run | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seventh Generation Moving snd Storage | Canoga Park, CA | No FMCSA match | 7 | 455.0 mean, dated | $6,954 | 19 Jan 2024 |
| Excellent Van Lines LLC | Los Angeles, CA | CarrierUSDOT 4428044 | 2 | 485.0 mean, dated | $5,388 | 25 Jun 2026 |
| Pacific Coast Moving | Los Angeles, CA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3355534 | 2 | 301.0 mean, dated | $9,000 | 18 Feb 2021 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 3 Nov 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved California to Illinois
1 of 5 · 13 Jul 2026 · reported $500
“BEWARE: DO NOT USE THEM. A 800.00 Brand New Jackery Solar Generator “disappeared” while there movers were loading a POD. It was shown to the movers to load in the POD, moments later it was gone, assuming it was in the POD, but it never arrived to the new location. FILED a Claim with them, provided…”
5 of 5 · 25 Jun 2026 · reported $5,388
“Movers were right on time and helped figure out how to move an extremely large item that had to be disassembled to fit down a narrow stairwell. Instead of just claiming it couldn't be moved they thought outside the box to get the job done which I really appreciated. They were careful with several…”
5 of 5 · 17 Oct 2025 · reported $5,844
“I had such a great experience with them. From the very first phone call to the moment the truck pulled away, everything went perfectly. The office staff was super helpful with scheduling and gave me a clear estimate upfront ,no hidden fees or surprises! Highly recommend!”
What went wrong on this run: of 71 reviews, 32% mention damage and 17% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Who makes this move
The reverse flow is larger: 19,953 people moved from Illinois to California in the same year.
Census counts a real stream. ACS 2024 puts 15,128 people moving from California to Illinois, with a margin of plus or minus 2,843. The reverse flow is larger: 19,953 people moved from Illinois to California in the same year. Those are headcounts, not reasons.
Price levels differ at each end. BEA regional price parity for 2024, with the US at 100, is 110.7 in California and 100.0 in Illinois. Both states tax wages. Haulest does not quote rates, and a parity index is not a personal budget.
What the job looks like
In our file the most common trip is Los Angeles to Chicago, 2,018 miles and about 35 hours of driving.
The usual run is long. In our file the most common trip is Los Angeles to Chicago, 2,018 miles and about 35 hours of driving. That is a long-distance move, priced by weight and miles, not by a flat local rate. Expect days on the road: the drive, then a delivery window set on the order, not a single appointment.
Reviews on this lane are mixed. Across 71 reviews, the median reported price is $3,847, drawn from 71 priced reviews. The middle half runs from $2,115 to $6,000, and those prices mix home sizes and distances. 32% mention damage, and 17% mention a delay or a no-show.
Before you book
On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver once you pay 110 percent of the estimate.
Check the carrier before the quote. An interstate household move needs a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Look the number up in the license lookup before you pay anyone. Haulest is not a carrier and does not book the truck.
Get the price form in writing. Ask for a binding or not-to-exceed estimate and read it with the estimate guide. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver once you pay 110 percent of the estimate. See the 110 percent rule before you treat a low number as the bill.
Put the window and the deposit on the order. Delivery is a window set on the order for service, so get that window in writing. Deposit terms belong in the same paperwork. The deposit guide covers what to ask before money leaves your account.
Leaving California, arriving in Illinois.
| California | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 110.7 | 100.0 |
| Median home sale price | $887,400 | $337,900 |
| Median days on market | 33 | 43 |
| State income tax on wages | Taxes wages | Taxes wages |
| People who moved in 2024 | 19,953 arrived from Illinois | 15,128 arrived from California |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, read 1 Oct 2026; State revenue departments (wage tax, 2026); US Census Bureau, ACS, 2024.
When to go: in California, the busiest month for home sales over the last year was Oct 2025 and the quietest was Jan 2026. Movers fill up on the same calendar. Check your date.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage (California homes sold by month).
Doing it yourself
Driving a rental truck from California to Illinois
2,018 road miles, about 35 hours at the wheel (4 driving days at nine hours a day). Fuel below uses this week's EIA price and the low end of each brand's mpg, because a loaded truck does worse than the brochure.
- Studio10 to 12 ft truckFuel $718 to $1,077gasoline
- 1 or 2 bedroom15 to 16 ft truckFuel $718 to $1,436gasoline
- 3 bedroom20 to 22 ft truckFuel $861 to $986gas or diesel, by brand
- 4 bedroom26 ft truckFuel $986 to $1,602gas or diesel, by brand
For comparison: reviewers who hired full-service movers on California to Illinois moves paid a median $3,847 (71 priced reviews). The truck line above is fuel only: add the rental, mileage or days, coverage, equipment, tolls, a night on the road, and your time.
Sources: Brand spec pages (U-Haul, Penske, Budget) (mpg and fuel type); US EIA weekly retail prices (week of 26 Oct 2026); OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (road miles).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How many people moved from California to Illinois?
- ACS 2024 counts 15,128 people moving from California to Illinois, with a margin of plus or minus 2,843. The other way, 19,953 people moved from Illinois to California. The two figures are headcounts for that year.
- How long is the most common California to Illinois run?
- In our file the most common trip is Los Angeles to Chicago, 2,018 miles and about 35 hours of driving. That drive is priced by weight and miles. Delivery is a window set on the order, so the truck is on the road for days, not a single appointment hour.
- What is the median price reported for this lane?
- The median reported price is $3,847 across 71 priced reviews, from 71 reviews in the file. The middle half runs from $2,115 to $6,000. Prices mix home sizes and distances, so the median is not a quote for your home.
- How often do reviews mention damage or a delay?
- Of those reviews, 32% mention damage and 17% mention a delay or a no-show. A review share is not a promise that your move will go the same way. Read the delivery window on the order before you treat a date as fixed.
- What checks matter before I book an interstate mover?
- The mover needs an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Ask for a binding or not-to-exceed estimate, and on a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. Get the delivery window and the deposit terms in writing.
Next
Keep going
- Illinois to CaliforniaThe same run the other way.
- Moving in CaliforniaWho regulates the move, and the top-rated movers there.
- Moving in IllinoisWho regulates the move, and the top-rated movers there.
- Long distance moversWeight, miles, and where the bill grows.
- What movers costNational medians by year and lane.
- The 110% ruleWhat you can be made to pay on delivery day.
About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a written California to Illinois quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
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Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.