Real cost estimates, top-rated movers, and an honest cost-of-living breakdown for moving from Arlington, VA to Illinois. Updated 2025.
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If you're weighing a move from Arlington, VA to Illinois, the cost-of-living math is working in your favor. Arlington is expensive — one of the pricier zip codes in the mid-Atlantic. Illinois generally isn't. But on a 778-mile haul, the mover you pick and the service type you choose can swing the total cost by thousands. Get that wrong and any financial upside evaporates fast.
Here's what I've pulled together: the top-rated Arlington movers for this specific route, real cost ranges across three service types, and a straight comparison of what life actually looks like before and after that drive west.
Out of 78 Arlington-area movers capable of handling interstate moves, these five rated highest for a Virginia-to-Illinois haul.
8370 Greensboro Dr, Apt 817, McLean, VA 22102
Across 353 reviews, My Pro Movers earns consistent praise for efficient crews and careful handling. The speed story is real — customers regularly mention crews that move faster than expected without getting sloppy. That said, the 5% negative reviews have a clear pattern: billing surprises. Quoted cost versus final invoice is the main complaint, with some damage reports mixed in. If you book them, nail down the pricing details in writing before moving day.
Services: Local, interstate, international, packing/unpacking, pianos, hot tubs, crating, storage, full-valuation coverage, safes. Cash and credit card accepted. Deposit required.
Contact: (703) 310-7333
4075 Wilson Blvd, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203
A 99% positive rate across 669 reviews is legitimately hard to argue with. BoxStar is a younger company — four years in — but the volume of reviews and consistency of feedback suggest they haven't let standards slip as they've grown. Customers call out punctuality, clear communication, and respectful crews. The rare negative mentions packing damage or a misplaced item, so if you have fragile or high-value belongings, have that conversation upfront rather than assuming it's handled.
Services: Local, interstate, packing/unpacking, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks, crating, shipment tracking, full-valuation coverage, storage, safes. Cash and credit card accepted.
Contact: (202) 875-7649
4814 Frolich Ln, Hyattsville, MD 20781
Thirty-two years in the business counts for something. Olympia has the range — international moves, DOD certification, crane vans — that makes sense for a complex relocation. But that 14% negative rate is real and worth your attention. The recurring complaints involve damaged or lost items, cost overruns relative to the estimate, and a claims process customers found slow and frustrating. For a standard household move to Illinois, they're a solid option. For high-value items or tight budgets, go through the fine print carefully before signing anything.
Services: Local, interstate, international, packing/unpacking, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks, crating, crane vans, shipment tracking, full-valuation coverage, storage, safes. Credit card accepted. Deposit required. DOD certified.
Contact: (703) 566-4391
6219 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852
Artisan's 94% positive rate across 259 reviews isn't just about efficiency — customers specifically flag careful handling of belongings and crews that communicate rather than go silent. The name fits: they handle art, antiques, and items that require more attention. The negatives are infrequent but include item damage and a billing dispute or two. Eight years in, no alarm bells in the complaint pattern.
Services: Local, interstate, international, packing/unpacking, pianos, art, antiques, crating, storage, safes. Credit card accepted.
Contact: (240) 570-8593
3431 Carlin Springs Road, Suite B, Falls Church, VA 22041
Over 3,400 Google reviews is serious volume, and 84% positive is a decent number. The crews get real praise for speed and professionalism. But that BBB F grade shouldn't just get skimmed past, and the 15% negative rate trends toward cost surprises and property damage on bigger moves. For local or smaller jobs, they're probably fine. For a full household move from Arlington to Illinois, I'd compare them carefully against the other options on this list before committing.
Services: Local, packing/unpacking, offices, storage. Credit card accepted.
Contact: (336) 810-1801
Here's a quick look at how many of the 78 Arlington movers offer key add-on services:
| Service | Number of Movers | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate | 69 | 88% |
| Small moves | 44 | 56% |
| Antiques | 43 | 55% |
| Art | 44 | 56% |
| Pianos | 56 | 72% |
| Fragile-only packing | 23 | 29% |
The ranges below cover a 778-mile move from Arlington across three service types. Use the moving cost calculator to dial in a more accurate number based on your specific home size and timeline.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 BR | $1,105 – $3,699 | $733 – $1,672 | $540 – $1,017 |
| 2–3 BR | $2,132 – $5,116 | $1,345 – $2,490 | $566 – $1,207 |
| 4+ BR | $3,576 – $7,304 | $1,699 – $3,213 | $730 – $1,436 |
Estimates based on real market data for a 778-mile haul, refreshed for seasonality. Final costs vary based on access, timing, add-ons, and fuel. These are starting points, not guarantees — compare multiple quotes before booking.
For a studio or one-bedroom, expect to pay $1,105 to $3,699 with a full-service mover. A two- or three-bedroom home runs $2,132 to $5,116, and larger households — four bedrooms and up — typically land between $3,576 and $7,304, with the upper end creeping higher for stairs, specialty items, or tight delivery windows.
For a long-distance move of this size, I always recommend getting at least three quotes. The spread between movers on a 778-mile haul can be substantial, and the cheapest bid isn't always the safest one.
Moving containers put the packing in your hands and the driving in theirs — a reasonable middle ground for people who want to control the process but don't want to drive a box truck across four states. For a small load, figure $733 to $1,672. Two- to three-bedroom homes typically run $1,345 to $2,490. Larger households can see prices from $1,699 to $3,213.
One advantage on a route this long: you set the packing timeline, which takes some of the chaos out of moving day.
A rental truck is the cheapest option on paper — but you're doing all the packing, loading, and driving yourself on a 778-mile route. For a studio or one-bedroom, rental costs run $540 to $1,017. Two- to three-bedroom moves land between $566 and $1,207, and four-plus bedrooms come in at $730 to $1,436. Fuel costs are baked into these estimates.
A few variables drive the final number on a move like this:
Arlington is one of the more expensive places to live in Virginia. Moving to Illinois resets a lot of those numbers — but not all of them evenly.
| Arlington, VA | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $2,718 | $1,179 |
| Average home cost | $810,670 | $249,224 |
| Average income (per capita) | $128,145 | $78,433 |
| Cost of living index | 164 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 5.3% |
| State income tax | 5.75% | 4.95% |
Sources: World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, US BLS, Tax Foundation, Zumper, Numbeo
What those numbers actually mean for your budget:
| Arlington, VA | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 238,643 | 12,549,689 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 81-17 | Democratic 55-45 |
| Summer high | 88°F | 86°F |
| Winter low | 27°F | 17°F |
| Annual rainfall | 43" | 40" |
| Annual snowfall | 15" | 22" |
| Crime index | 15.67 | 19.7 |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 270toWin, NeighborhoodScout, BestPlaces, Wikipedia, Walk Score, AirNow
A few things that matter in practice:
A few practical details that people often push off until the last minute:
Illinois has more going on than most people assume. Chicago drives a lot of it, but the state has real depth beyond the city.
Most moves on this route take two to seven days depending on service type, distance to your specific Illinois destination, and how busy the mover's schedule is. Summer moves often push toward the longer end. Get a written delivery window from your mover before you book — that number matters when you're coordinating utilities and work schedules on the other end.
There are 51 movers in the Arlington area that can build custom crates — useful for art, antiques, instruments, and sensitive electronics. Confirm the materials and dimensions match your specific items before assuming standard crating will work.
For auto transport on this route, use a licensed carrier who specializes in vehicle shipping rather than a general mover adding it as a service. Get quotes from at least two or three carriers, and verify their FMCSA registration before you commit to anything.
Chicago is the main draw — it's a major economic hub with a real job market across industries. Beyond the city, the cost-of-living gap relative to Arlington is significant for people who've stretched their housing budget thin. The numbers in the cost-of-living comparison above tell most of that story.
The best long-distance movers list covers vetted interstate options and gives you a baseline for comparison before you start requesting quotes. SafeShip Moving is one carrier I've seen handle mid-Atlantic to Midwest routes well — worth adding to your quote comparison if you're looking at national carriers alongside local options.
About 31 movers in Arlington accept cash. That said, it's not the industry standard — most movers prefer traceable payment for documentation purposes. If you go the cash route, expect to put down a deposit to hold your date, with the balance due at pickup or delivery. Get the exact payment schedule in writing before move day.
Compare quotes from multiple Arlington movers using the moving cost calculator before you book — it takes a few minutes and can save you from a pricing surprise on a move this size.
