($1,144) Movers From Illinois to Austin, TX

Quick answer: Moving from Illinois to Austin, TX, costs $739 to $5,558 and takes two to seven 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 989-mile move.

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  • Family owned
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  • Certified crews
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  • Specialty packing services
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  • 80+ years' experience
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
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  • 24/7 cust. service
  • Competitive rates
  • 10% discounts

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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Austin, TX to Illinois guide.

The best Illinois to Austin, TX, full-service moving companies

Hiring an interstate moving company from Illinois to Austin 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 Austin.

Best for personalized service
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
(980) 217-6841
At A Glance
  • 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
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(980) 217-6841
Best Overall Value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
(855) 650-0657
At A Glance
  • GPS tracking en route
  • Veteran-owned
  • Dedicated move coordinator
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Donates a portion of moves to charity
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(855) 650-0657
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(866) 825-0554
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  • Experienced & fully trained moving crews
  • Specializes in moving art & antiques
  • Competitive pricing
  • Can handle last-minute moves
  • Climate-controlled storage
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(866) 825-0554
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5
(866) 935-3437
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  • Fragile packing
  • Storage options
  • 24/7 shipment tracking
  • Quick & efficient
  • Accurate quotes
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(866) 935-3437
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
(855) 929-4120
At A Glance
  • 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
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(855) 929-4120

Cost to hire professional movers from Illinois to Austintoggle

Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from Illinois to Austin will cost between $1,144 to $4,398. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from Illinois to Austin will range from $2,308 to $5,558, and a large move from Illinois to Austin will cost from $4,120 to $7,868.

The best moving containers for your Illinois to Austin 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 Austin, TX:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
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  • Unlimited storage
  • 3 container sizes
  • 10% discount
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  • Fast delivery
  • Nationwide
  • 100+ miles moves
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Affordable pricing
  • Offers car shipping
  • No hidden fees

Cost of moving containers from Illinois to Austintoggle

Moving containers from Illinois to Austin will cost you $820 to $2,018 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,517 to $3,103. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $2,004 to $4,119.

Here are the cheapest moving containers for your move to Austin.

The best moving truck rentals for your Illinois to Austin move

If you don’t mind a little DIY, renting a moving truck is the most affordable way to relocate to Illinois to Austin. 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:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
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  • Affordable pricing
  • Online pricing
  • Several discounts
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4 / 5
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  • Most expensive
  • 4 truck sizes
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.15 / 5
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  • Greatest coverage
  • 7 truck sizes
  • One way rentals

Cost of moving truck rentals from Illinois to Austintoggle

A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option for moving from Illinois to Austin, 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 $644 to $1,209. A larger move will cost $739 to $1,511, and a four-bedroom or more move from Illinois to Austin costs from $918 to $1,802. These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.

These are the cheapest rental truck companies for your move from Illinois

The best hourly movers for your Illinois to Austin move

Labor-only movers are a great option if you’ve already arranged transportation for your move to Austin, TX, 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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  • Hire moving labor
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  • Online booking
  • Move Concierge
  • Affordable

How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Austin, TX?

The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Illinois to Austin 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
Studio / 1 Bedroom $1,144 - $4,398 $820 - $2,018 $644 - $1,209
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,308 - $5,558 $1,517 - $3,103 $739 - $1,511
4+ bedrooms $4,120 - $7,868 $2,004 - $4,119 $918 - $1,802

*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 989 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 Austin, TX, 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 Austin, TX

Cost of living: Illinois vs Austin, TX

Illinois Austin
Average rent cost $1,179 $1,765
Average home value $249,224 $508,841
Average income (per capita) $78,433 $68,258
Unemployment rate 5% 4%
State income tax 5% 0%
  • Rent is about 50% more expensive in Austin than in Illinois.
  • Home prices are about 104% higher in Austin than in Illinois.
  • The average income is about 13% lower in Austin than in Illinois.
  • Austin has a lower unemployment rate than Illinois by about 34%.
  • Income taxes are 100% lower in Austin than in Illinois.

How life is different in Austin from Illinois

Austin Illinois
Population 974,447 12,549,689
Political leaning Democrat 71-26 Democratic 55-45
Summer high 96ºF 86ºF
Winter low 38ºF 17ºF
Annual rain 35" 40"
Annual snow 0" 22"
Crime index 42.91 19.7
  • The population of Austin is approximately 92% lower than the population of Illinois.
  • In the last presidential election, Austin voted Democrat and Illinois voted Democratic.
  • The average high in the summertime in Austin is 96ºF and in Illinois, it’s 86ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, Austin reaches the temperature of 38ºF and Illinois gets down to 17ºF.
  • You can expect about 35 inches of annual rainfall in Austin vs 40 inches of rainfall in Illinois.
  • In Austin, it snows about 0 inches annually vs 22 inches of snow in Illinois.
  • Austin has a higher crime rate than Illinois with a crime index of 42.91 vs 19.7.

Things to do in Austin

Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Austin.

Museums in Austintoggle

  • Texas Memorial Museum
  • George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center
  • Thinkery
  • Blanton Museum of Art
  • Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Parks in Austintoggle

  • Pease Park
  • Butler Metro Park
  • Zilker Park
  • Sculpture Falls
  • Onion Creek Metropolitan Park
  • Givens Park
  • Emma Long Metropolitan Park

Sports Teams in Austintoggle

  • Round Rock Express
  • Austin Spurs
  • Texas Stars
  • Austin Outlaws
  • Austin Huns
  • Austin Gilgronis
  • Austin Bold FC
  • Austin FC

Universities in Austintoggle

  • Acton School of Business
  • Austin Community College District
  • Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
  • Concordia University Texas
  • Huston–Tillotson University
  • Lipscomb University - Austin Center
  • National American University
  • Seminary of the Southwest
  • St. Edward's University
  • St. Edward's University‎
  • Texas Culinary Academy
  • Texas Health and Science University
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • University of Texas at Austin‎
  • University of Texas School of Law‎

Other considerations when moving to Austin, TX

  • Weather: Austin has mild winters and hot summers, the rainiest months are typically May, June, and October so your move may be affected in these months.
  • 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-state movers operating in the Lone Star State are legally required to be licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TXDMV), which issues 10-digit TXDMV numbers to commercial carriers. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
  • State regulator: You can verify a Texas moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
  • Moving permits: Texas 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 Texas. Get started here.
  • Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. In Texas, movers typically provide Released Value Protection at no additional cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For enhanced protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company. Alternatively, explore third-party insurance providers for customized plans. It's crucial to understand coverage limits, potential additional costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision about your moving insurance in Texas.
  • Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.

Compare the pros and cons of Illinois vs. Austin, TX

Comparing the pros of Illinois vs. Austin, TX:

There are always a lot of reasons to get excited about living somewhere new. These are the best parts of living in Illinois vs Austin side-by-side.

Pros of living in Illinois Pros of living in Austin, TX
Home of Chicago Delicious barbecue
Ample economic opportunity Phenomenal live music
Bountiful recreational opportunities Relaxed atmosphere
Delicious food Amazing festivals
World-class sports culture Abundant lakes

Comparing the cons of living in Illinois vs. Austin, TX:

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, these are the things to be aware of when leaving Illinois for Austin.

Cons of living in Illinois Cons of living in Austin, TX
Harsh winter weather Hot summers
Bad traffic Terrible traffic
High crime rate Limited sports and art venues
Dull landscape High cost of living
Strict laws Xenophobic locals

FAQ

How long does a move from Illinois to Austin take?

The time frame for a move from Illinois to Austin, TX, 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 Austin 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 Austin 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 Austin?

Because of the 989-mile move, it’s best to book your move from Illinois to Austin 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 Austin, TX?

With the summer highs of 96ºF and the winter lows of 38ºF, most people move to Austin 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 Austin during summer or winter.

Helpful moving resources