Best Salem to Chicago Movers

How Much Do Salem to Chicago Movers Cost?

Moving 2,256 miles from Salem, OR 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 Salem. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Chicago from Salem 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 Salem to Chicago moving option

Hire local Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem, OR to Chicago, IL long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 40 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Salem and Chicago areas.

From these 40 companies, we analyzed a total of 25,074 reviews dating all the way back to February 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 31 state and federal moving licenses from these 40 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 16,056 Salem 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 All Service Moving).

Hire Trusted Movers

The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Salem 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.

8.63/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 18,528 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.23/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 6,900 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.77/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 3,852 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.61/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 6,814 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.46/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 3,321 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.86/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 9,797 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.10/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 9,287 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.36/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 17,557 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.55/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 10,062 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.41/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 2,076 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.37/10 avg (Salem & Chicago combined) from 9,298 reviews

From Salem to Chicago: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• South Salem in Salem & Lincoln Park in Chicago are both known for their: family-friendly, parks & schools
• Salem's Downtown Salem neighborhood & Chicago's River North both share: central business district, dining & nightlife
• If you're moving from Sunnyslope, check out Gold Coast in the Chicago area for the: upscale, scenic & historic homes
• Do you enjoy Highland's family-oriented, community shops & schools? You're sure to love Lincoln Square
• Move from East Salem to Bridgeport and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: affordable bungalows, working-class history
• South Gateway & West Loop are both known for their: new mixed-use developments, commercial growth
• Salem's Lancaster Drive neighborhood & Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood both have: residential with retail corridor & dining

Pros and Cons of Moving from Salem to Chicago

ConsSalem, OR

• Smaller city vibe
• Less diverse cuisine
• Lower job opportunities
• Fewer cultural venues
• Minimal public transit

ProsChicago, IL

• Vibrant urban life
• World-class dining
• Broader employment market
• Rich arts scene
• Extensive transit network

---

Chicago, IL

• More crowded
• Less green space
• Higher cost of living
• More traffic congestion
• Harsher winters

Salem, OR

• Quaint community feel
• Access to nature
• Affordable living
• Less traffic
• Calm weather

Pros of moving from Salem to Chicago

• Say goodbye to smaller city vibe and hello to vibrant urban life
• Look forward to moving away from less diverse cuisine and moving to Chicago with world-class dining
• Swap the lower job opportunities of Salem for a broader employment market in Chicago
• Get ready for a rich arts scene in Chicago

Cons of moving from Salem to Chicago

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a quaint community feel in Salem to live with more crowding in Chicago
• You'll lose out on the pro of access to nature and have to settle for the con of less green space
• Time to bid farewell to affordable living and get used to a higher cost of living in Chicago
• Swap less traffic for more traffic congestion

Salem vs. Chicago: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Salem to Chicago, you will be trading the iconic Marionberry Pie of Salem for the equally delicious Deep Dish Pizza of Chicago. And while the locals in Salem rave about their flavorful Northwest Salmon and sumptuous Tacos, Chicago residents know they have tasty Italian Beef Sandwich and Chicago-Style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reubens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Deep Dish Pizza of Chicago. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Salem eateries like Word of Mouth Bistro, Busick Court Restaurant, and Archive Coffee and Bar. 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, Portillo's, and Alinea.

When comparing lifestyles, Chicago shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Salem. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Chicago compared to what you are used to in Salem. Also, the overall foodie scene is more 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 Salem favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Word of Mouth Bistro, Rudy's Steakhouse, and Busick Court in Salem, we're sure you'll love Avec, Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse, and Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe in Chicago. See our Chicago restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Salem hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Minto Island Tea Company, head to Kopi Cafe on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Salem and Chicago

• The Northwest Craftsman architecture that Salem is known for will be replaced with the Greystone and Chicago Bungalow architecture typical of Chicago.
• Compared to Salem's real estate listings that commonly reference quiet neighborhoods and proximity to parks, Chicago real estate listings often highlight features like downtown accessibility and lake views.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Chicago is more walkable than Salem.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Chicago is more bike-friendly than Salem.
• Chicago has more of an urban feel than Salem.
• Chicago housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in Salem, with a median home price of $289,909 compared to Salem’s $427,534.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Chicago have increased by 17% compared to a 44% increase in Salem.
• Rent in Chicago is 31.56% more expensive than in Salem.

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 Salem and Chicago

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Salem to Chicago. Chicago gets 31% more sunshine days than Salem.
• Chicago has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Salem.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Salem and be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in Chicago.
• The average summer high temperature in Chicago is 3 degrees warmer than in Salem.
• The average winter lows are 19 degrees colder than they are in Salem.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Chicago, as it receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to Salem.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Salem and Chicago

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Chicago tend to earn about 4% more than in Salem
• The COLI in Chicago is 6% higher than what you are used to living in Salem
• The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 9.9 in OR
• The affluence in Chicago is high compared to moderate in Salem
• The poverty level is significant in Chicago compared to moderate in Salem
• In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Salem and severe in Chicago

Political and Religious Climate in Salem vs. Chicago

• Salem tends to lean Liberal-leaning with a mix of conservative rural influences in its political climate
• Chicago, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic with a history of active political engagement
• Chicago's religious environment can be described as diverse with a significant presence of Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious individuals
• Salem's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix of Protestant and Catholic with a growing non-religious population

Salem vs. Chicago Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 48% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Chicago compared to your Salem commute. That's 5720 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Chicago to be worse than it is in Salem.
• Public transit is more readily available in Chicago.