Best San Jose to Chicago Movers

How Much Do San Jose to Chicago Movers Cost?

Moving 2,206 miles from San Jose, 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 San Jose. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Chicago from San Jose 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 San Jose to Chicago moving option

Hire local San Jose 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 San Jose 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 San Jose 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 San Jose, CA to Chicago, IL long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 46 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the San Jose and Chicago areas.

From these 46 companies, we analyzed a total of 27,276 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 29 state and federal moving licenses from these 46 companies and 235 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~27,000 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 19,183 San Jose 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 Careful Movers).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every San Jose 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.

8.52/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 21,980 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.24/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 8,492 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.63/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 4,957 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.65/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 8,347 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.54/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 4,305 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.79/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 11,688 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.08/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 10,887 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.25/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 20,817 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.47/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 12,113 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.47/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 2,613 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.25/10 avg (San Jose & Chicago combined) from 11,319 reviews

From San Jose to Chicago: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Willow Glen in San Jose & Lincoln Park in Chicago are both known for their tree-lined streets & boutique shops
• San Jose's Rose Garden neighborhood & Chicago's Lincoln Square both share historic bungalows & quiet streets
• If you're moving from Japantown, check out Chinatown in the Chicago area for the Asian eateries & cultural shops
• Do you enjoy Downtown San Jose's urban core with condos & offices? You're sure to love The Loop
• Move from Almaden Valley to Mount Greenwood and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: suburban feel & family-oriented
• Cambrian Park & Irving Park are both known for their residential area with mid-range homes
• San Jose's Berryessa neighborhood & Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood both have a diverse population & affordable housing
• If you're moving from West San Jose, look into Lincoln Park for the affluent residential & lake proximity
• Do you cherish living in Evergreen's nature access & spacious parks? Move into Norwood Park for something similar
• The similar vibes of Santa Teresa & Beverly are both known for hilly terrain & single-family homes

Pros and Cons of Moving from San Jose to Chicago

ConsSan Jose, CA

• High living costs
• Less public transit
• Less cultural diversity
• Severe drought risk

ProsChicago, IL

• More affordable living
• Extensive public transit
• Rich cultural diversity
• Abundant water sources

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Chicago, IL

• Harsh winters
• Fewer tech opportunities
• More indoor life
• Far from tech epicenter

San Jose, CA

• Milder winters
• Tech job hub
• Outdoor lifestyle
• Proximity to Silicon Valley

Pros of moving from San Jose to Chicago

• Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to more affordable living
• Look forward to moving away from less public transit and moving to Chicago with extensive public transit
• Swap the less cultural diversity of San Jose for the rich cultural diversity in Chicago
• Get ready for abundant water sources in Chicago

Cons of moving from San Jose to Chicago

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from milder winters in San Jose to live with harsh winters in Chicago
• You'll lose out on the pro of being a tech job hub and have to settle for the con of fewer tech opportunities
• Time to bid farewell to the outdoor lifestyle and get used to more indoor life in Chicago
• Swap proximity to Silicon Valley for being far from the tech epicenter

San Jose vs. Chicago: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from San Jose to Chicago, you will be trading the iconic Banh mi of San Jose for the equally delicious Deep-dish pizza of Chicago. And while the locals in San Jose rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Tacos, Chicago residents know they have tasty Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable pho they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Chicago Diner's vegan shakes of Chicago. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic San Jose eateries like Original Joe’s, Falafel's Drive-In, and Manresa. After the boxes are unpacked in Chicago, don't wait too long before making your way to Chicago's acclaimed eateries like Lou Malnati’s, Au Cheval, and Girl & The Goat.

When comparing lifestyles, Chicago shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than San Jose. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Chicago compared to what you are used to in San Jose. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly 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 San Jose favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Adega, La Foret, and Original Joe's San Jose in San Jose, we're sure you'll love Porto, Alinea, and Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Chicago. See our Chicago restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished San Jose hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Manresa, head to Grace on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between San Jose and Chicago

• The Modern and Ranch architecture that San Jose is known for will be replaced with the Brick and Greystone architecture typical of Chicago.
• Compared to San Jose's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and sustainability features, Chicago real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and rooftop decks.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Chicago is more walkable than San Jose.
• Chicago is similarly bike-friendly to San Jose.
• Chicago has more of an urban feel than San Jose.
• Chicago housing costs are 80% less expensive than they are in San Jose, with a median home price of $289,909 compared to San Jose’s $1,461,923.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Chicago have increased by 17% compared to a 36% increase in San Jose.
• Rent in Chicago is 32.34% more affordable than in San Jose.

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 San Jose and Chicago

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from San Jose to Chicago. Chicago gets 26% fewer sunshine days than San Jose.
• Chicago has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to San Jose.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes in San Jose, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in Chicago.
• The average summer high temperature in Chicago is 2 degrees warmer than in San Jose.
• The average winter lows are 20 degrees colder than they are in San Jose.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Chicago. Chicago receives 21.1 more inches of rain compared to San Jose.

Financial & Community Snapshot: San Jose and Chicago

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Chicago tend to earn about 47% less than in San Jose
• The COLI in Chicago will be 25% lower than what you are used to living in San Jose
• The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 13.3 in CA
• The affluence in Chicago is moderate to high compared to very high in San Jose
• The poverty level is moderate in Chicago compared to low in San Jose
• In terms of homelessness, it is high in San Jose and significant in Chicago

Political and Religious Climate in San Jose vs. Chicago

• San Jose tends to lean predominantly Democratic in its political climate
• Chicago, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
• Chicago's religious environment can be described as diverse with a strong Catholic presence alongside Protestant and Jewish communities
• San Jose's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse including Catholic, Buddhist, and Hindu

San Jose vs. Chicago Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 13% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Chicago compared to your San Jose commute. That's 2,080 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Chicago to be worse than it is in San Jose.
• Public transit is more readily available in Chicago.