($1,190) Moving From Alabama to Illinois
Quick answer: The average cost to move from Alabama to Illinois ranges from $533 to $5,493 and takes one-six days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
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Hiring a full-service Alabama moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually cheaper but requires more work.
You may also want to consider the potential added cost of getting your vehicle or boat to your new home as part of your move. Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from Alabama to Illinois separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Illinois to Alabama guide.
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The best Alabama to Illinois movers
Hiring an interstate moving company from Alabama to Illinois is a big deal.
There are more than 8,000 moving companies in the U.S. But don’t worry, you won’t have to filter through all of them. We’ve done the research for you and narrowed the list based on customer satisfaction, cost, and services.
Here are the best long-distance moving companies serving Alabama to Illinois:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- BLVD Moving: Best for quick quotes
- PODS: Best nationwide coverage
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
If you’re just trying to ship a few items, here’s a list of our recommended services for small moves.
Looking for local Alabama movers?
| Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
most popular
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Get A Quote |
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1040 Broadway Park, Birmingham, AL, 35209 (205) 209-4551 |
| Applewhite Movers LLC | Get A Quote |
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5640 Oakwood Road Northwest, Huntsville, AL, 35806 (256) 430-1198 |
| Coleman Worldwide Moving | Get A Quote |
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1285 Parker St, Montgomery, AL, 36108 (877) 693-7060 |
Visit our Best Movers in Alabama page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews.
How much does it cost to move from Alabama to Illinois?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Alabama to Illinois for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,190 - $4,183 | $744 - $1,713 | $504 - $1,005 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,252 - $5,493 | $1,300 - $2,653 | $533 - $1,182 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,214 - $7,712 | $1,688 - $3,315 | $708 - $1,348 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 731 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Factors affecting the cost of moving from AL to IL
There are many factors that influence Alabama moving costs. The cost to move from Alabama to Illinois will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in Alabama is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
How much does it cost to hire movers from Alabama to Illinois?
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from Alabama to Illinois will cost between $1,190 and $4,183. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from AL to IL will range from $2,252 to $5,493, and a large move from Alabama to Illinois will cost from $4,214 to $7,712.
How much are moving containers like PODS from Alabama to Illinois?
Moving containers from Alabama to Illinois will cost you $744 to $1,713 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,300 to $2,653. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $1,688 to $3,315. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of Alabama.
How much is a moving truck from Alabama to Illinois?
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around
$504 to $1,005.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$533 to $1,182,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from Alabama to Illinois costs from
$708 to $1,348.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Is moving from Alabama to Illinois a good idea?
If you’re moving to Illinois from Alabama, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: Alabama vs. Illinois
| Alabama | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $925 | $1,179 |
| Average home cost | $227,508 | $249,224 |
| Average income (per capita) | $59,609 | $78,433 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 5.3% |
| Average Sales Tax | 9.22% | 8.82% |
| State Income Tax | 5.0% | 4.95% |
- Rent is about 27% more expensive in Illinois than in Alabama.
- Home prices are about 10% higher in Illinois than in Alabama.
- The average income is about 32% higher in Illinois than in Alabama.
- Cost of living is 2% lower in Illinois than in Alabama.
- Illinois has a higher unemployment rate than Alabama by about 83%.
- Sales taxes are 4% lower in Illinois than in Alabama.
- Income taxes are the same in Illinois and Alabama.
How does life in Illinois differ from Alabama?
| Illinois | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,549,689 | 5,108,468 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 55-45 | Republican 65-35 |
| Summer high | 86ºF | 91ºF |
| Winter low | 17ºF | 33ºF |
| Annual rain | 40" | 56" |
| Annual snow | 22" | 1" |
| Crime index | 19.7 | 21.48 |
- The population of Illinois is approximately 146% greater than the population of Alabama.
- In the last presidential election, Illinois voted Democratic and Alabama voted Republican.
- The average high in the summertime in Illinois is 86ºF and in Alabama, it’s 91ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Illinois reaches the temperature of 17ºF and Alabama gets down to 33ºF.
- You can expect about forty inches of annual rainfall in Illinois versus fifty-six inches of rainfall in Alabama.
- In Illinois, it snows about twenty-two inches annually versus one inches of snow in Alabama.
- Illinois has a lower crime rate than Alabama with a crime index of 21.48 vs 19.7.
Comparing the pros of Alabama vs. Illinois
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in Alabama versus Illinois side by side.
| Pros of living in Alabama | Pros of living in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Low cost of living | Home of Chicago |
| Tasty southern comfort food | Ample economic opportunity |
| Bountiful recreational opportunities | Bountiful recreational opportunities |
| Top-notch college football | Delicious food |
| Rich history | World-class sports culture |
Comparing the cons of living in Alabama vs. Illinois
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving Alabama for Illinois.
| Cons of living in Alabama | Cons of living in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Poor quality of life | Harsh winter weather |
| Severe weather | Bad traffic |
| Restrictive alcohol laws | High crime rate |
| Poor healthcare | Dull landscape |
| Cockroaches | Strict laws |
What to know before your move to Illinois
- Weather: Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
- HOA Rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator Reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking Permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State Licensing: In Illinois, regulations on in-state moves and local movers are set forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission. To move household goods locally and intrastate, companies need to have a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, so make sure the companies you’re considering have one and that it’s current. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State Regulator: You can verify a Illinois moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving Permits: Illinois does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of Address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to Illinois. Get started here.
- Mover's Insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound. For more extensive protection matching your items' full value, consult your moving company for alternative options or consider a third-party insurance provider.
- Moving Checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Illinois
While you’re in Illinois, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Millennium Park
- Navy Pier
- The Magnificent Mile
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
- Shedd Aquarium
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Starved Rock State Park
- Garden of the Gods - Shawnee National Forest
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
- Dana-Thomas House
- Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site
- Discovery Center Museum
- Buffalo Rock State Park
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Illinois Beach State Park
- Grand View Drive
- Mississippi Palisades State Park
- Matthiessen State Park
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from Alabama to Illinois?
The cheapest way to move from Alabama to Illinois is with a DIY move. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.
What are the benefits of moving from Alabama to Illinois?
The main reasons people are moving from Alabama to Illinois are the amazing upsides of living in Illinois such as home of Chicago and ample economic opportunity.
Is it cheaper to live in Alabama or Illinois?
It is generally cheaper to live in Alabama than in Illinois. While the overall cost of living is similar for both states, housing is more affordable in Alabama, with average rent about 22% less and home prices 9% lower than in Illinois. Taxes are also lower in Illinois, most notably income taxes, which are more than 1% less than those paid by Alabama residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Illinois?
You should make approximately $0 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in Arizona. The cost of living in Arizona is approximately $0 per month for an individual and $0 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in Illinois you live For example, larger cities like Addison and Algonquin will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
