Best Chicago to Madison Movers

How Much Do Chicago to Madison Movers Cost?

Moving 148 miles from Chicago, IL to Madison, WI will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 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 Madison that already have a booked job heading from Madison to Chicago. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Madison from Chicago entirely empty. If you can find a Madison moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

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

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 50 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Chicago and Madison areas.

From these 50 companies, we analyzed a total of 26,032 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 41 state and federal moving licenses from these 50 companies and 257 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~26,000 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 19,705 Chicago to Madison 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 The Go To Guys, LLC) 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 Madison moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.54/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 20,241 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.13/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 7,368 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.70/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 4,347 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.49/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 7,285 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.31/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 3,764 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.82/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 10,637 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.03/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 10,040 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.27/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 19,079 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.41/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 10,975 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.12/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 2,355 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.16/10 avg (Chicago & Madison combined) from 9,961 reviews

From Chicago to Madison: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Lincoln Park in Chicago & Shorewood Hills in Madison are both known for their upscale lakeside community with family homes
• Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood & Madison's Tenney-Lapham both share walkable bars & lakefront proximity
• If you're moving from Wicker Park, check out Willy Street in the Madison area for the trendy boutiques & artsy vibe
• Do you enjoy Bucktown's street art & local breweries? You're sure to love Willy Street
• Move from Logan Square to Westmorland and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: leafy boulevards & nature trails
• River North & Mansion Hill are both known for their upscale galleries & vibrant nightlife
• Chicago's West Loop neighborhood & Madison's Hilldale neighborhood both have converted industrial spaces & trendy eateries
• If you're moving from Hyde Park, look into University Heights for the campus-adjacent cultural institutions
• Do you cherish living in Andersonville's indie shops & community-oriented cafes? Move into Monroe Street for something similar

Pros and Cons of Moving from Chicago to Madison

ConsChicago, IL

• Higher Crime Rates
• More Expensive Housing
• Denser Traffic
• Longer Winters
• Higher Sales Tax

ProsMadison, WI

• Lower Crime Rates
• More Affordable Housing
• Less Traffic Congestion
• Shorter, Milder Winters
• Lower Sales Tax

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Madison, WI

• Quieter Nightlife
• Lesser Variety
• Fewer Public Transit Options
• Fewer Cultural Sites
• Fewer Job Opportunities

Chicago, IL

• Vibrant Nightlife
• Diverse Cuisine
• Extensive Public Transit
• Cultural Landmarks
• More Job Opportunities

Pros of moving from Chicago to Madison

• Say goodbye to higher crime rates and hello to lower crime rates
• Look forward to moving away from more expensive housing and moving to Madison with more affordable housing
• Swap the denser traffic of Chicago for less traffic congestion in Madison
• Get ready for shorter, milder winters in Madison

Cons of moving from Chicago to Madison

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from vibrant nightlife in Chicago to live with quieter nightlife in Madison
• You'll lose out on the pro of diverse cuisine and have to settle with the con of lesser variety
• Time to bid farewell to extensive public transit and get used to fewer public transit options in Madison
• Swap cultural landmarks for fewer cultural sites

Chicago vs. Madison: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Chicago to Madison, you will be trading the iconic Deep-Dish Pizza of Chicago for the equally delicious Cheese Curds of Madison. And while the locals in Chicago rave about their flavorful Italian Beef Sandwich and sumptuous Chicago-style Hot Dog, Madison residents know they have tasty Bratwurst and Food Cart Brats to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Cheese Dishes of Madison. 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 Madison, don't wait too long before making your way to Madison's acclaimed eateries like Graze, Lombardino's, and Old Sugar Distillery.

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

Discover Madison Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Madison 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, Girl & The Goat, and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in Chicago, we're sure you'll love L'Etoile, Graze, and Ian's Pizza in Madison. See our Madison restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Chicago hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at The Purple Pig, head to Heritage Tavern on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Chicago and Madison

• The Modern & Historic Mix architecture that Chicago is known for will be replaced with the Prairie & Contemporary architecture typical of Madison.
• Compared to Chicago's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to transit and lake views, Madison real estate listings often highlight features like access to nature and quiet neighborhoods.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Madison is less walkable than Chicago.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Madison is more bike-friendly than Chicago.
• Madison has less of an urban feel than Chicago.
• Madison housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in Chicago, with a median home price of $380,800 compared to Chicago's $289,909.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Madison have increased by 44% compared to a 17% increase in Chicago.
• Rent in Madison is 27.19% more affordable than in Chicago.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Madison, WI

1. Willy Street : You'll love Willy Street for its numerous parks and open spaces perfect for walking or playing with your pets.
2. Schenk-Atwood : This neighborhood offers pet-friendly cafes and shops, making it easy for you to spend quality time with your furry friends.
3. Near West Side : With its extensive trails and proximity to Lake Mendota, you and your pets will enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures here.

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

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Chicago to Madison. Madison gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Chicago.
• Madison has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Chicago.
• Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in Chicago, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in Madison.
• The average summer high temperature in Madison is 1 degree colder than in Chicago.
• The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in Chicago.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Madison. Madison receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to Chicago.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Chicago and Madison

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Madison tend to earn about 1% more than those in Chicago
• The COLI in Madison is 18% lower than what you are used to living in Chicago
• The state income tax in WI is 4.00 to 7.65 (progressive) compared to a 4.95 flat rate in IL
• The affluence in Madison is high compared to moderate in Chicago
• The poverty level is moderate in Madison compared to significant in Chicago
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Chicago and moderate in Madison

Political and Religious Climate in Chicago vs. Madison

• Chicago tends to lean strongly Democratic in its political climate
• Madison, on the other hand, is often described as very Progressive and Democratic
• Madison's religious environment can be described as predominantly Protestant, with notable community churches
• Chicago's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly diverse, with a significant Catholic presence

Chicago vs. Madison Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 35% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Madison compared to your daily drive in Chicago. That's an annual savings of 6,240 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Madison to be better than it is in Chicago.
• Public transit is less readily available in Madison.