Best Salinas to Chicago Movers

How Much Do Salinas to Chicago Movers Cost?

Moving 2,268 miles from Salinas, CA to Chicago, IL will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Chicago that already have a booked job heading from Chicago to Salinas. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Chicago from Salinas entirely empty. If you can find a Chicago moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Salinas to Chicago moving option

Hire local Salinas movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Chicago movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Salinas to Chicago move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Salinas to Chicago movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Salinas, CA to Chicago, IL long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Salinas to Chicago moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 36 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Salinas and Chicago areas.

From these 36 companies, we analyzed a total of 20,532 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 24 state and federal moving licenses from these 36 companies and 189 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~20,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 14,378 Salinas to Chicago moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like 606 Movers, Inc.) vs older more established companies (like Cardinale Moving & Storage).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Salinas to Chicago moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.32/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 16,021 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.06/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 6,035 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.46/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 3,585 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.23/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 5,990 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.23/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 3,171 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.78/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 8,697 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

8.92/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 7,712 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.03/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 15,124 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.29/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 8,771 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.06/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 1,953 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.02/10 avg (Salinas & Chicago combined) from 8,037 reviews

From Salinas to Chicago: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Downtown Salinas in Salinas & West Loop in Chicago are both known for their: urban core redevelopment, lively dining scene
• Salinas' Oldtown neighborhood & Chicago's Old Town both share: historic district, cobblestone streets
• If you're moving from Toro Park, check out Lincoln Park in the Chicago area for the: upscale residential, abundant green spaces
• Do you enjoy Madonna Heights' scenic views and family-friendly vibe? You're sure to love Lakeview
• Move from Skyview at Old Stage to Logan Square and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: modern homes, artsy community
• Springtown & Bridgeport are both known for their: blue-collar roots, tight-knit community
• Salinas' East Salinas neighborhood & Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood both have: industrial edge, creative murals
• If you're moving from West Salinas, look into Albany Park for the: affordable family housing, diverse population

Pros and Cons of Moving from Salinas to Chicago

ConsSalinas, CA

• Higher living costs
• Less cultural diversity
• Smaller job market
• Less public transportation
• Minimal night life

ProsChicago, IL

• More affordable housing
• Rich cultural scene
• Larger job market
• Extensive public transit
• Vibrant night life

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Chicago, IL

• Harsher winters
• More urbanized
• Higher traffic
• More populated
• Higher crime rate

Salinas, CA

• Milder climate
• Close to nature
• Less congested
• Smaller community
• Lower crime rate

Pros of moving from Salinas to Chicago

• Say goodbye to higher living costs and hello to more affordable housing
• Look forward to moving away from less cultural diversity and moving to Chicago with a rich cultural scene
• Swap the smaller job market of Salinas for a larger job market in Chicago
• Get ready for extensive public transit in Chicago

Cons of moving from Salinas to Chicago

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a milder climate in Salinas to live with harsher winters in Chicago
• You'll lose out on the pro of being close to nature and have to settle for the con of being more urbanized
• Time to bid farewell to less congestion and get used to higher traffic in Chicago
• Swap a smaller community for a more populated one

Salinas vs. Chicago: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Salinas to Chicago, you will be trading the iconic Artichoke dishes of Salinas for the equally delicious Deep-dish pizza of Chicago. And while the locals in Salinas rave about their flavorful Tri-tip and sumptuous Tacos, Chicago residents know they have tasty Italian beef sandwiches and Hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan wings of Chicago. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Salinas eateries like Gianni's Pizza and Pasta, Growers Pub, and Tarpy's Roadhouse. After the boxes are unpacked in Chicago, don't wait too long before making your way to Chicago's acclaimed eateries like Au Cheval, Girl and The Goat, and Alinea.

When comparing lifestyles, Chicago shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Salinas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Chicago compared to what you are used to in Salinas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Chicago.

Discover Chicago Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Chicago is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Salinas favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Patria, Giorgio's, and La Casa del Sazon in Salinas, we're sure you'll love Monteverde, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, and Xoco in Chicago. See our Chicago restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Salinas hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Eagle Restaurant, head to Avec on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Salinas and Chicago

• The Ranch and Mediterranean architecture that Salinas is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Greystone architecture typical of Chicago.
• Compared to Salinas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Chicago real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to transportation and lake views.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Chicago is more walkable than Salinas.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Chicago is more bike-friendly than Salinas.
• Chicago has more of an urban feel than Salinas.
• Chicago housing costs are 60% less expensive than they are in Salinas, with a median home price of $289,909 compared to Salinas’s $721,799.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Chicago have increased by 17% compared to a 47% increase in Salinas.
• Rent in Chicago is 11.86% more affordable than in Salinas.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Chicago, IL

1. Lincoln Park : You'll find plenty of green spaces and dog-friendly areas, including the popular Wiggly Field Dog Park.
2. Lakeview : This lively neighborhood offers numerous pet-friendly cafes and shops, along with the spacious Belmont Harbor Dog Beach.
3. Logan Square : Known for its welcoming community vibe, you and your furry friends can enjoy multiple pet-friendly parks and a variety of pet-oriented events.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Salinas and Chicago

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Salinas to Chicago. Chicago gets 28% fewer sunshine days than Salinas.
• Chicago has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Salinas.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes in Salinas, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in Chicago.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Chicago is 16 degrees warmer than in Salinas.
• The average winter lows in Chicago are 25 degrees colder than they are in Salinas.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Chicago. Chicago receives 21 more inches of rain compared to Salinas.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Salinas and Chicago

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Chicago tend to earn about 17% less than those in Salinas
• The COLI in Chicago is 14% lower than what you are used to living in Salinas
• The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 9.3 in CA
• The affluence in Chicago is variable compared to moderate affluence in Salinas
• The poverty level is high in Chicago compared to moderate poverty in Salinas
• In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Salinas and significant in Chicago

Political and Religious Climate in Salinas vs. Chicago

• Salinas tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
• Chicago, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
• Chicago's religious environment can be described as highly diverse with a significant Catholic presence, mosques like The Mecca Center, and synagogues
• Salinas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian, with a variety of churches like First United Methodist Church of Salinas

Salinas vs. Chicago Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 42% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Chicago compared to your Salinas commute. That's 5200 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Chicago to be worse than it is in Salinas.
• Public transit is more readily available in Chicago.