($1,133) Moving From Illinois to Alabama
Quick answer: The average cost to move from Illinois to Alabama ranges from $578 to $5,078 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 Illinois 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 Illinois to Alabama separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Alabama to Illinois guide.
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The best Illinois to Alabama movers
Hiring an interstate moving company from Illinois to Alabama 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 Illinois to Alabama:
- 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 Illinois movers?
| Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
most popular
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Get A Quote |
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3918 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60618 (888) 225-7351 |
| STI Moving & Storage Inc. | Get A Quote |
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7400 Niles Center Rd, Skokie, IL, 60077 (847) 675-1223 |
| Mid-West Moving & Storage | Get A Quote |
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1255 Tonne Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007 (847) 593-7201 |
Visit our Best Movers in Illinois page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews.
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Alabama?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Illinois to Alabama for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,133 - $3,570 | $721 - $1,874 | $520 - $927 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,254 - $5,078 | $1,379 - $2,471 | $578 - $1,101 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,674 - $7,355 | $1,777 - $3,214 | $701 - $1,404 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 740 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 IL to AL
There are many factors that influence Illinois moving costs. The cost to move from Illinois to Alabama 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 Illinois 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 Illinois to Alabama?
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from Illinois to Alabama will cost between $1,133 and $3,570. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from IL to AL will range from $2,254 to $5,078, and a large move from Illinois to Alabama will cost from $3,674 to $7,355.
How much are moving containers like PODS from Illinois to Alabama?
Moving containers from Illinois to Alabama will cost you $721 to $1,874 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,379 to $2,471. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $1,777 to $3,214. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of Illinois.
How much is a moving truck from Illinois to Alabama?
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
$520 to $927.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$578 to $1,101,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from Illinois to Alabama costs from
$701 to $1,404.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Is moving from Illinois to Alabama a good idea?
If you’re moving to Alabama from Illinois, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: Illinois vs. Alabama
| Illinois | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,179 | $925 |
| Average home cost | $249,224 | $227,508 |
| Average income (per capita) | $78,433 | $59,609 |
| Cost of Living Index | 90 | 88 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 2.9% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.82% | 9.22% |
| State Income Tax | 4.95% | 5.0% |
- Rent is about 22% less expensive in Alabama than in Illinois.
- Home prices are about 9% lower in Alabama than in Illinois.
- The average income is about 24% lower in Alabama than in Illinois.
- Cost of living is 2% lower in Alabama than in Illinois.
- Alabama has a lower unemployment rate than Illinois by about 45%.
- Sales taxes are 5% higher in Alabama than in Illinois.
- Income taxes are 1% higher in Alabama than in Illinois.
How does life in Alabama differ from Illinois?
| Alabama | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,108,468 | 12,549,689 |
| Political leaning | Republican 65-35 | Democratic 55-45 |
| Summer high | 91ºF | 86ºF |
| Winter low | 33ºF | 17ºF |
| Annual rain | 56" | 40" |
| Annual snow | 1" | 22" |
| Crime index | 21.48 | 19.7 |
- The population of Alabama is approximately 59% lower than the population of Illinois.
- In the last presidential election, Alabama voted Republican and Illinois voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Alabama is 91ºF and in Illinois, it’s 86ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Alabama reaches the temperature of 33ºF and Illinois gets down to 17ºF.
- You can expect about fifty-six inches of annual rainfall in Alabama versus forty inches of rainfall in Illinois.
- In Alabama, it snows about one inches annually versus twenty-two inches of snow in Illinois.
- Alabama has a higher crime rate than Illinois with a crime index of 21.48 vs 19.7.
Comparing the pros of Illinois vs. Alabama
There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in Illinois versus Alabama side by side.
| Pros of living in Illinois | Pros of living in Alabama |
|---|---|
| Home of Chicago | Low cost of living |
| Ample economic opportunity | Tasty southern comfort food |
| Bountiful recreational opportunities | Bountiful recreational opportunities |
| Delicious food | Top-notch college football |
| World-class sports culture | Rich history |
Comparing the cons of living in Illinois vs. Alabama
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving Illinois for Alabama.
| Cons of living in Illinois | Cons of living in Alabama |
|---|---|
| Harsh winter weather | Poor quality of life |
| Bad traffic | Severe weather |
| High crime rate | Restrictive alcohol laws |
| Dull landscape | Poor healthcare |
| Strict laws | Cockroaches |
What to know before your move to Alabama
- Weather: Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
- 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: To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State Regulator: You can verify a Alabama moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving Permits: Alabama 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 Alabama. 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. Moving companies typically take responsibility for your belongings at a rate of 60 cents per pound (or even less) per item. This means that for a lightweight item weighing five pounds and valued at $500, the reimbursement would be only $3 in the event of loss or damage. To enhance your coverage, certain movers provide additional valuation options, such as declared value or lump sum value protection, which offer better protection compared to the basic released value protection. To better understand and explore these options, consider discussing them with your chosen moving company.
- Moving Checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Alabama
While you’re in Alabama, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- US Space & Rocket Center
- Birmingham Zoo
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
- Point Mallard Park
- Cheaha State Park
- USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
- Gulf Shores
- McWane Science Center
- Huntsville Botanical Garden
- Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Civil Rights Memorials of Montgomery
- Mobile Bay
- Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum
- W.C. Handy Home and Museum
- National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
- Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
- Montgomery Museum of Fine Art
- Bellingrath Gardens and Home
- Birmingham Museum of Art
- Cathedral Caverns State Park
- Unclaimed Baggage Center
- Alligator Alley
- Mobile Carnival Museum
- Fort Morgan State Historic Site
- Talladega Superspeedway
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from Illinois to Alabama?
The cheapest way to move from Illinois to Alabama 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 Illinois to Alabama?
The main reasons people are moving from Illinois to Alabama are the amazing upsides of living in Alabama such as low cost of living and tasty southern comfort food.
Is it cheaper to live in Illinois or Alabama?
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 8.7% lower than in Illinois. However, taxes are 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 Alabama?
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 Alabama you live For example, larger cities like Alabaster and Albertville will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
