Best Chicago to Birmingham Movers

How Much Do Chicago to Birmingham Movers Cost?

Moving 700 miles from Chicago, IL to Birmingham, AL will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 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 Birmingham that already have a booked job heading from Birmingham to Chicago. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Birmingham from Chicago entirely empty. If you can find a Birmingham moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Chicago to Birmingham moving option

Hire local Chicago 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 Birmingham movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Chicago to Birmingham 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 Chicago to Birmingham 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 Chicago, IL to Birmingham, AL long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 42 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Chicago and Birmingham areas.

From these 42 companies, we analyzed a total of 25,099 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 24 state and federal moving licenses from these 42 companies and 218 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~25,000 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 19,125 Chicago to Birmingham 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 New Latitude Movers).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.33/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 18,933 reviews

Punctuality

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

7.89/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 6,983 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.33/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 4,096 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.23/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 6,754 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

5.91/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 3,623 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.51/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 10,089 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

8.93/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 9,269 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.06/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 17,802 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.23/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 10,310 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

3.88/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 2,287 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

7.96/10 avg (Chicago & Birmingham combined) from 9,422 reviews

From Chicago to Birmingham: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Lincoln Park in Chicago & Homewood in Birmingham are both known for their tree-lined streets & family-friendly downtown
• Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood & Birmingham's Downtown both share sports venues & bars
• If you're moving from Wicker Park, check out Avondale in the Birmingham area for the artsy district & craft breweries
• Do you enjoy River North's upscale eateries & nightlife? You're sure to love Five Points South
• Move from Logan Square to Avondale and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: craft breweries & hip restaurants
• Hyde Park & Southside are both known for their university community & cultural events
• Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood & Birmingham's Crestwood neighborhood both have local cafes & a residential vibe
• If you're moving from Ukrainian Village, look into Crestwood for the historic bungalows & boutique shops
• Do you cherish living in Old Town's historic district & architectural landmarks? Move into Highland Park for something similar
• The similar vibes of Gold Coast & Mountain Brook are both known for upscale boutiques & luxury homes

Pros and Cons of Moving from Chicago to Birmingham

ConsChicago, IL

• Higher cost of living
• Colder winters
• Dense traffic
• Higher crime rates

ProsBirmingham, AL

• Lower cost of living
• Milder winters
• Less congestion
• Lower crime rates

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Birmingham, AL

• Smaller city vibe
• Less cultural variety
• Fewer global cuisines
• Limited public transport

Chicago, IL

• Vibrant city life
• Rich cultural scene
• Diverse food options
• Extensive public transit

Pros of moving from Chicago to Birmingham

• Say goodbye to the higher cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
• Look forward to moving away from the colder winters and moving to Birmingham with milder winters
• Swap the dense traffic of Chicago for less congestion in Birmingham
• Get ready for lower crime rates in Birmingham

Cons of moving from Chicago to Birmingham

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant city life in Chicago to live with the smaller city vibe in Birmingham
• You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural scene and have to settle for the con of less cultural variety
• Time to bid farewell to the diverse food options and get used to fewer global cuisines in Birmingham
• Swap extensive public transit for limited public transport

Chicago vs. Birmingham: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Chicago to Birmingham, you will be trading the iconic Deep-Dish Pizza of Chicago for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Birmingham. And while the locals in Chicago rave about their flavorful Italian Beef and sumptuous Hot Dog (Chicago style), Birmingham residents know they have tasty Fried Catfish and Gourmet Popsicles to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan-based dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich of Birmingham. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Chicago eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Alinea. After the boxes are unpacked in Birmingham, don't wait too long before making your way to Birmingham's acclaimed eateries like Saw's BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Post Office Pies.

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

Discover Birmingham Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Birmingham is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Chicago favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Alinea, Portillo’s, and Girl & The Goat in Chicago, we're sure you'll love Highlands Bar and Grill, Saw’s Soul Kitchen, and Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Birmingham. See our Birmingham restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Chicago hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Giordano’s, head to Post Office Pies on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Chicago and Birmingham

• The Modern and Brick Buildings architecture that Chicago is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival and Bungalows architecture typical of Birmingham.
• Compared to Chicago's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to public transport and Lake Michigan, Birmingham real estate listings often highlight features like quiet neighborhoods and spacious yards.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Birmingham is less walkable than Chicago.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Birmingham is less bike-friendly than Chicago.
• Birmingham has less of an urban feel than Chicago.
• Birmingham housing costs are 55% less expensive than they are in Chicago, with a median home price of $131,290 compared to Chicago’s $289,909.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Birmingham have increased by 48% compared to a 17% increase in Chicago.
• Rent in Birmingham is 38.90% more affordable than in Chicago.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Birmingham, AL

1. Highland Park : You’ll love Highland Park for its abundant green spaces and pet-friendly walking trails.
2. Forest Park : In Forest Park, you and your pets can enjoy a tight-knit community vibe and easy access to local parks.
3. Homewood : Homewood offers a welcoming environment with numerous pet-friendly cafes and a dog park nearby.

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

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Chicago to Birmingham. Birmingham gets 11% more sunshine days than Chicago.
• Birmingham has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Chicago.
• Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and cold waves in Chicago, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and thunderstorms in Birmingham.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Birmingham is 5 degrees warmer than in Chicago.
• The average winter lows are 17 degrees warmer than they are in Chicago.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Birmingham. Birmingham receives 17 more inches of rain compared to Chicago.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Chicago and Birmingham

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Birmingham tend to earn about 45% less than in Chicago
• The COLI in Birmingham is 22% lower than what you are used to living in Chicago
• The state income tax in AL is 2-5% compared to 4.95% in IL
• The affluence in Birmingham is moderately low compared to moderate affluence in Chicago
• The poverty level is high in Birmingham compared to noticeable levels in Chicago
• In terms of homelessness, it is evident in Chicago and considerable in Birmingham

Political and Religious Climate in Chicago vs. Birmingham

• Chicago tends to lean strongly Democratic in its political climate
• Birmingham, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Democratic
• Birmingham's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant, with a notable <a href="https://www.bsc.edu/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">baptist</a> presence
• Chicago's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with significant Catholic and Protestant communities

Chicago vs. Birmingham Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 29% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Birmingham compared to your Chicago daily drive. That's an annual savings of 5,200 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Birmingham to be better than it is in Chicago.
• Public transit is less readily available in Birmingham.