Best Chicago to Los Angeles Movers

How Much Do Chicago to Los Angeles Movers Cost?

Moving 2,079 miles from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 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 Los Angeles that already have a booked job heading from Los Angeles to Chicago. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Los Angeles from Chicago entirely empty. If you can find a Los Angeles moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Chicago to Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Chicago to Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 63 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Chicago and Los Angeles areas.

From these 63 companies, we analyzed a total of 39,632 reviews dating all the way back to August 2006.

We also reviewed a total of 39 state and federal moving licenses from these 63 companies and 320 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~39,000 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 25,560 Chicago to Los Angeles 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 Best California Movers) vs older more established companies (like Move-tastic!).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.64/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 29,841 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.36/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 10,993 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.70/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 6,736 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.77/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 11,519 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.43/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 5,415 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.88/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 15,654 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.16/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 14,950 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.39/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 28,641 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.57/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 16,432 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.46/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 3,485 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.36/10 avg (Chicago & Los Angeles combined) from 15,272 reviews

From Chicago to Los Angeles: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Lincoln Park in Chicago & Silver Lake in Los Angeles are both known for their: reservoir, parks & family-friendly vibe
• Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood & Los Angeles' Echo Park both share: artsy boutiques & nightlife
• If you're moving from Logan Square, check out Silver Lake in the Los Angeles area for the: hipster cafes & arts scene
• Do you enjoy Lakeview's lakeshore activities & beach-like atmosphere? You're sure to love Santa Monica
• Move from West Loop to Arts District and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: industrial-chic, galleries & eateries
• South Loop & Downtown LA are both known for their: high-rises & business district
• Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood & Los Angeles' Mar Vista neighborhood both have: residential & local café culture
• If you're moving from Hyde Park, look into Westwood for the: university area & student scene
• Do you cherish living in Pilsen's Latino heritage & street murals? Move into Echo Park for something similar
• The similar vibes of Edgewater & Venice are both known for: waterfront recreation & boardwalk vibe

Pros and Cons of Moving from Chicago to Los Angeles

ConsChicago, IL

• Harsh winters
• Higher crime rates
• Less sunshine
• Lower public transit usage

ProsLos Angeles, CA

• Milder winters
• Lower crime rates
• More sunshine
• Better public transit options

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Los Angeles, CA

• Expensive living costs
• Higher housing costs
• Traffic congestion
• Less seasonal variation

Chicago, IL

• Rich cultural scene
• Affordable housing
• Great sports culture
• Distinct seasons

Pros of moving from Chicago to Los Angeles

• Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
• Look forward to moving away from higher crime rates and moving to Los Angeles with lower crime rates
• Swap the less sunshine of Chicago for more sunshine in Los Angeles
• Get ready for better public transit options in Los Angeles

Cons of moving from Chicago to Los Angeles

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich cultural scene in Chicago to live with the expensive living costs in Los Angeles
• You'll lose out on the pro of affordable housing and have to settle for the con of higher housing costs
• Time to bid farewell to the great sports culture and get used to traffic congestion in Los Angeles
• Swap distinct seasons for less seasonal variation

Chicago vs. Los Angeles: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Chicago to Los Angeles, you will be trading the iconic Deep-dish pizza of Chicago for the equally delicious Fish tacos of Los Angeles. And while the locals in Chicago rave about their flavorful Italian Beef and sumptuous Chicago-style hot dog, Los Angeles residents know they have tasty Korean BBQ and Tacos 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 Avocado toast of Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles, don't wait too long before making your way to Los Angeles' acclaimed eateries like Guisados, Pizzana, and n/naka.

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

Discover Los Angeles Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Los Angeles 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, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, and Girl & the Goat in Chicago, we're sure you'll love Providence, Mozza Pizzeria, and Bestia in Los Angeles. See our Los Angeles restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Chicago hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Portillo's, head to Pink's Hot Dogs on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Chicago and Los Angeles

• The Prairie School and Chicago Bungalow architecture that Chicago is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial and Modern architecture typical of Los Angeles.
• Compared to Chicago's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and in-unit laundry, Los Angeles real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor space and ocean views.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Los Angeles is more walkable than Chicago.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Los Angeles is more bike-friendly than Chicago.
• Los Angeles has more of an urban feel than Chicago.
• Los Angeles housing costs are 236% more expensive than they are in Chicago, with a median home price of $974,105 compared to Chicago’s $289,909.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Los Angeles have increased by 37% compared to a 17% increase in Chicago.
• Rent in Los Angeles is 31.84% more expensive than in Chicago.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Los Angeles, CA

1. Silver Lake: You and your pet will love Silver Lake's many dog-friendly cafes and the vast green spaces of the Silver Lake Reservoir.
2. West Hollywood: Your furry friend can roam freely in this neighborhood's dog parks and join you in pet-welcoming shops and restaurants.
3. Santa Monica: Enjoy the ocean breeze with your pet as you explore pedestrian-friendly streets and beach paths where dogs are welcome.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Chicago and Los Angeles

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Chicago to Los Angeles. Los Angeles gets 50% more sunshine days than Chicago.
• Los Angeles has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Chicago.
• Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold waves in Chicago and be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Los Angeles.
• The average summer high temperature in Los Angeles is 1 degree colder than in Chicago.
• The average winter lows are 26 degrees warmer than they are in Chicago.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Los Angeles, as it receives 19.3 fewer inches of rain compared to Chicago.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Chicago and Los Angeles

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Los Angeles tend to earn about 6% more than in Chicago
• The COLI in Los Angeles will be 17% higher than what you are used to living in Chicago
• The state income tax in CA is 9.3 compared to 4.95 in IL
• The affluence in Los Angeles is highly variable compared to that in Chicago
• The poverty level is substantial in Los Angeles compared to that in Chicago
• In terms of homelessness, it is high in Chicago and severe in Los Angeles

Political and Religious Climate in Chicago vs. Los Angeles

• Chicago tends to lean democratically inclined in its political climate
• Los Angeles, on the other hand, is often described as democratically inclined
• Los Angeles' religious environment can be described as having significant Catholicism, with a wide range of other faiths represented
• Chicago's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having prominent Catholicism, alongside diverse religious communities

Chicago vs. Los Angeles Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 12% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Los Angeles compared to your daily drive in Chicago. That's an annual savings of 2,080 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Los Angeles to be worse than it is in Chicago.
• Public transit is less readily available in Los Angeles.