Best Chicago to Philadelphia Movers

How Much Do Chicago to Philadelphia Movers Cost?

Moving 760 miles from Chicago, IL to Philadelphia, PA will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 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 Philadelphia that already have a booked job heading from Philadelphia to Chicago. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Philadelphia from Chicago entirely empty. If you can find a Philadelphia moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

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

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Chicago to Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia areas.

From these 63 companies, we analyzed a total of 33,704 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 38 state and federal moving licenses from these 63 companies and 318 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~33,000 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 22,086 Chicago to Philadelphia 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 Move-tastic!).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.60/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 24,256 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.36/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 9,168 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.77/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 5,519 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.68/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 8,998 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.53/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 4,587 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.83/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 12,603 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.12/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 12,577 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.33/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 23,205 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.52/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 13,521 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.16/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 2,884 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.22/10 avg (Chicago & Philadelphia combined) from 12,052 reviews

From Chicago to Philadelphia: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Lincoln Park in Chicago & Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia are both known for their upscale, family-friendly, leafy parks
• Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood & Philadelphia's Fishtown both share an artsy community & vibrant nightlife
• If you're moving from Lakeview, check out Fishtown in the Philadelphia area for lively bars & waterfront-adjacent spots
• Do you enjoy Logan Square's cultural district with museums? You're sure to love Fairmount
• Move from Hyde Park to University City and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: a university-centered, student-focused vibe
• River North & Old City are both known for their art galleries & nightlife hotspots
• Chicago's West Loop neighborhood & Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood both have upscale dining & trendy shops
• If you're moving from Bucktown, look into Northern Liberties for trendy eateries & creative studios
• Do you cherish living in Andersonville's walkable main street shopping district? Move into Manayunk for something similar
• The similar vibes of Pilsen & South Philadelphia are both known for a strong Latino community & street art

Pros and Cons of Moving from Chicago to Philadelphia

ConsChicago, IL

• Harsh winters
• Higher crime rate
• Expensive living
• Dense traffic

ProsPhiladelphia, PA

• Milder winters
• Lower crime rate
• More affordable
• Less congestion

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Philadelphia, PA

• Quieter nightlife
• Smaller food scene
• Fewer parks
• Lesser museums

Chicago, IL

• Vibrant nightlife
• Diverse food scene
• Great public parks
• Extensive museums

Pros of moving from Chicago to Philadelphia

• Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
• Look forward to moving away from a higher crime rate and moving to Philadelphia with a lower crime rate
• Swap the expensive living of Chicago for something more affordable in Philadelphia
• Get ready for less congestion in Philadelphia

Cons of moving from Chicago to Philadelphia

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant nightlife in Chicago to live with a quieter nightlife in Philadelphia
• You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse food scene and have to settle for the con of a smaller food scene
• Time to bid farewell to great public parks and get used to fewer parks in Philadelphia
• Swap extensive museums for fewer museums

Chicago vs. Philadelphia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Chicago to Philadelphia, you will be trading the iconic Deep Dish Pizza of Chicago for the equally delicious Cheesesteak of Philadelphia. And while the locals in Chicago rave about their flavorful Italian Beef and sumptuous Chicago-style Hot Dog, Philadelphia residents know they have tasty Roast Pork Sandwich and Pretzels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Cheesesteak of Philadelphia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Chicago eateries like Lou Malnati's, Portillo's, and Alinea. After the boxes are unpacked in Philadelphia, don't wait too long before making your way to Philadelphia's acclaimed eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Pat's King of Steaks, and Zahav.

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

Discover Philadelphia Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Philadelphia 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 Hot Dogs, and Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Chicago, we're sure you'll love Vetri Cucina, John's Roast Pork, and Barclay Prime in Philadelphia. See our Philadelphia restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Chicago hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Girl & The Goat, head to Zahav on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Chicago and Philadelphia

• The Modern and Victorian architecture that Chicago is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Georgian architecture typical of Philadelphia.
• Compared to Chicago's real estate listings that commonly reference lake views and proximity to parks, Philadelphia real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and downtown access.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Philadelphia is more walkable than Chicago.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Philadelphia is more bike-friendly than Chicago.
• Philadelphia has less of an urban feel than Chicago.
• Philadelphia housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in Chicago, with a median home price of $217,849 compared to Chicago’s $289,909.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Philadelphia have increased by 27% compared to a 17% increase in Chicago.
• Rent in Philadelphia is 18.81% more affordable than in Chicago.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Philadelphia, PA

1. Fishtown : You’ll love Fishtown for its abundance of pet-friendly cafes and walking trails that welcome both you and your furry friends.
2. Northern Liberties : This neighborhood is known for its spacious dog parks and pet-friendly restaurants that make it easy to include your pet in your city adventures.
3. Passyunk Square : You’ll find Passyunk Square is perfect for pet owners, featuring a strong sense of community and many green spaces for walks and playtime with your pets.

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

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Chicago to Philadelphia. Philadelphia gets 10% more sunshine days than Chicago.
• Philadelphia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Chicago.
• Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and cold waves in Chicago, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and heavy snow in Philadelphia.
• The average summer high temperature in Philadelphia is 2 degrees warmer than in Chicago.
• The average winter lows are 8 degrees warmer than they are in Chicago.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Philadelphia as it receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Chicago.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Chicago and Philadelphia

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Philadelphia tend to earn about 21% less than in Chicago
• The COLI in Philadelphia is 8% higher than what you are used to living in Chicago
• The state income tax in PA is 3.07 (flat rate) compared to 4.95 (flat rate) in IL
• The affluence in Philadelphia is moderate compared to moderate in Chicago
• The poverty level is high in Philadelphia compared to high in Chicago
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Chicago and significant in Philadelphia

Political and Religious Climate in Chicago vs. Philadelphia

• Chicago tends to lean Democratic majority in its political climate
• Philadelphia, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic majority
• Philadelphia's religious environment can be described as religious diversity with prominent Catholic and Protestant communities
• Chicago's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse and having a strong Catholic presence

Chicago vs. Philadelphia Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 6% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Philadelphia compared to your daily drive in Chicago. That's an annual savings of 1,040 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Philadelphia to be better than it is in Chicago.
• Public transit is less readily available in Philadelphia.