($1,275) Movers From Illinois to San Diego, CA
Quick answer: Moving from Illinois to San Diego, CA, costs $1,291 to $7,265 and takes five to 16 days. How much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself will affect the overall cost of your 1,972-mile move.

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Our track record
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from San Diego, CA to Illinois guide.
The best Illinois to San Diego, CA, full-service moving companies
Hiring an interstate moving company from Illinois to San Diego 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 San Diego.
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- International Van Lines: 4.45 out of 5 stars
- 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
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- 10% discount for veterans and seniors
- Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
- Services local, long-distance, and international moves
- Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
- 24/7 customer service
Cost to hire professional movers from Illinois to San Diego
The best moving containers for your Illinois to San Diego move
If you want a budget-friendly move without driving a rental truck, moving containers are a great middle-ground option. You handle the packing and loading, while the company takes care of transportation.
Many providers also offer storage options, giving you extra flexibility if your new home isn’t ready yet. It’s an easy way to move at your own pace while skipping the hassle of long-distance driving.
Here are our moving container companies in Illinois, that can get your belongings safely to your new home in San Diego, CA:
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Cost of moving containers from Illinois to San Diego
The best moving truck rentals for your Illinois to San Diego move
If you don’t mind a little DIY, renting a moving truck is the most affordable way to relocate to Illinois to San Diego. You’ll have to handle the packing, loading, and driving — but the upside is you control the timeline from start to finish.
Check out these top-rated truck rental companies in Illinois:
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Cost of moving truck rentals from Illinois to San Diego
The best hourly movers for your Illinois to San Diego move
Labor-only movers are a great option if you’ve already arranged transportation for your move to San Diego, CA, but want to avoid the strain of moving bulky furniture and heavy boxes on your own.
A moving labor company will provide you with a professional moving crew with enough members to match your move size. They’ll load your items into your moving container or rental truck and you’ll pay them by the hour for their assistance.
We recommend using one of these labor-only moving companies in Illinois to make your move faster and easier:
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How much does it cost to move from Illinois to San Diego, CA?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Illinois to San Diego for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
Hiring a professional Illinois moving company will be on the more expensive side, while renting a truck or a moving container is usually cheaper but requires more work.
Size of the Move | Moving Company | Moving Container | Rental Truck |
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Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,275 - $5,011 | $1,133 - $2,775 | $1,100 - $2,165 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,427 - $7,265 | $2,142 - $4,148 | $1,291 - $2,524 |
4+ bedrooms | $5,841 - $10,782 | $2,791 - $5,420 | $1,612 - $3,284 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 1,972 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect the final cost of your move.
The cost to move from Illinois to San Diego, CA, will depend on:
- Move size: The amount of items you have — as well as your home size and layout — will impact the total cost of your relocation.
- Time of year: Summer is peak moving season in Illinois, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are usually cheaper but involve more work and stress compared to letting the pros handle your move.
Use our moveBuddha moving cost calculator to get a more accurate estimate for your moving costs.
Things to know before moving from Illinois to San Diego, CA
Cost of living: Illinois vs San Diego, CA
Illinois | San Diego | |
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Average rent cost | $1,179 | $2,881 |
Average home value | $249,224 | $1,003,444 |
Average income (per capita) | $78,433 | $72,963 |
Unemployment rate | 5% | 7% |
State income tax | 5% | 13% |
San Diego sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo
- Rent is about 144% more expensive in San Diego than in Illinois.
- Home prices are about 303% higher in San Diego than in Illinois.
- The average income is about 7% lower in San Diego than in Illinois.
- San Diego has a higher unemployment rate than Illinois by about 25%.
- Income taxes are 169% higher in San Diego than in Illinois.
How life is different in San Diego from Illinois
San Diego | Illinois | |
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Population | 1,386,932 | 12,549,689 |
Political leaning | Democratic 60-37 | Democratic 55-45 |
Summer high | 79ºF | 86ºF |
Winter low | 46ºF | 17ºF |
Annual rain | 12" | 40" |
Annual snow | 0" | 22" |
Crime index | 39.83 | 19.7 |
San Diego sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow
- The population of San Diego is approximately 89% lower than the population of Illinois.
- In the last presidential election, San Diego voted Democratic and Illinois voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in San Diego is 79ºF and in Illinois, it’s 86ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, San Diego reaches the temperature of 46ºF and Illinois gets down to 17ºF.
- You can expect about 12 inches of annual rainfall in San Diego vs 40 inches of rainfall in Illinois.
- In San Diego, it snows about 0 inches annually vs 22 inches of snow in Illinois.
- San Diego has a higher crime rate than Illinois with a crime index of 39.83 vs 19.7.
Things to do in San Diego
Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in San Diego.
Museums in San Diego
Parks in San Diego
Sports Teams in San Diego
Universities in San Diego
Other considerations when moving to San Diego, CA
- Weather: San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round.
- 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: When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a California moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: California 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 and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to California. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
FAQ
How long does a move from Illinois to San Diego take?
The time frame for a move from Illinois to San Diego, CA, varies based on your moving method and starting location. The actual loading up of your items should not take more than a day, even with DIY moves.
Obviously, the further upstate you are in Illinois, the longer the drive time to San Diego will be. If you’re driving a rental truck, the move could be completed in one or two days, on average, depending on your route and how often you stop.
With professional movers or moving containers, delivery times to San Diego from Illinois can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the company’s schedule and transit logistics. You can always ask for a general timeline before booking.
How far in advance should I book movers when moving from Illinois to San Diego?
Because of the 1972-mile move, it’s best to book your move from Illinois to San Diego as soon as you have your moving details. Ideally, you’d book your move two to three months ahead of time.
What time of year is the cheapest to move to San Diego, CA?
With the summer highs of 79ºF and the winter lows of 46ºF, most people move to San Diego from Illinois during the spring and fall months. To avoid competing during those busy moving seasons, you could save some money by booking your move to San Diego during summer or winter.