Real costs, top-rated Dallas movers, and a cost-of-living breakdown for moving from Dallas to Illinois. Covers studios to 4+ bedroom homes.
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If you're moving from Dallas to Illinois, you're looking at roughly 794 miles and a meaningful lifestyle shift — not just a change of address. The financial picture alone is worth understanding before you start booking movers. You're leaving Texas's zero-income-tax environment for Illinois's 4.95% flat rate. But housing costs drop, rent drops, and the overall cost of living is lower. Whether that math nets out in your favor depends on your income and where in Illinois you're landing.
Here's what you actually need before you start making calls: which Dallas movers hold up on long-haul jobs, what this route realistically costs across different service types, and what life in Illinois looks like compared to what you're leaving behind.
Out of 73 Dallas-based movers capable of handling interstate moves, these five rank highest for the Dallas-to-Illinois corridor based on verified customer reviews:
12011 Denton Dr., Dallas, TX 75234
92% positive | 7% negative | 14 years in business | DOT #: 2038052
Element leads this list for a reason. Across 251 analyzed reviews, 92% are positive — and the praise tracks the same themes every time: efficient crews, careful handling, and communication that holds from booking to delivery. Customers note that movers work fast without getting careless, which matters more on a cross-state run than a local job.
The complaints that surface cluster around claims handling — slow response times when something gets damaged on a complex or long-distance move. That's not unique to Element, but it's worth addressing before you sign. Ask specifically how their claims process works and what their typical resolution timeline looks like.
Services: Local, interstate, international; packing/unpacking; pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques; crating; full-valuation coverage; storage; safes
Phone: (972) 805-0988 | State license: 006519926C
325 North St. Paul Street, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75201
62% positive | 37% negative | 25 years in business | DOT #: 1939700
AB Moving has real strengths: 25 years of experience, competitive pricing, and crews that work fast. But that 62% positive rate deserves scrutiny. Nearly four in ten reviews flag legitimate concerns — rushed jobs, surprise charges, or damaged items. That negative rate is higher than I'd normally be comfortable recommending for a long interstate haul.
If budget is the priority and you're moving relatively light, AB can get it done. Just make sure your quote is fully itemized and in writing before anyone shows up.
Services: Local, interstate, international; packing/unpacking; pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks; crating; shipment tracking; full-valuation coverage; storage; fragile-only packing; safes
Phone: (469) 378-5844 | State license: 000571862B
5641 SMU Blvd., #128, Dallas, TX 75206
81% positive | 17% negative | 9 years in business | DOT #: 2571411 | DOD certified
AM Moving earns repeat business the straightforward way — showing up on time, working efficiently, and treating belongings with actual care. Out of 711 analyzed reviews, more than 80% are positive. That's a meaningful number at that volume; this isn't a small sample propped up by a few fans. Pricing comes in at or below industry average on most Dallas jobs.
The 17% negative share is mostly furniture damage and delayed claims communication — nothing catastrophic, but worth knowing. They're DOD certified, which makes them worth a serious look for military relocations.
Services: Local, interstate; packing/unpacking; pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks; full-valuation coverage; storage; fragile-only packing; safes. Deposit required.
Phone: (469) 278-2304 | State license: 006870171C
11884 Greenville Ave #100A, Dallas, TX 75243
96% positive | 3% negative | 11 years in business | DOT #: 2467590
That 96% positive rate across 271 reviews is hard to argue with. Customers consistently mention transparent pricing, crews who finish ahead of schedule, and communication that holds from the first call to delivery day. The handful of negatives — surprise charges, transit damage, the occasional communication gap — are the same issues you'd find at any mover of this size. They're not patterns specific to Evolution.
For a company that's been around only 11 years, the track record here rivals much older operators.
Services: Local, interstate; packing/unpacking; pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, art, antiques, grandfather clocks; crating; full-valuation coverage; storage; safes
Phone: (682) 651-5505 | State license: 006779351C
646 Bronze Way, Dallas, TX 75236
75% positive | 21% negative | 125 years in business | DOT #: 286130 | DOD certified
125 years in the business. That kind of longevity means institutional knowledge, and Johnson's customers tend to notice: careful packing, organized crews, and communication that keeps clients in the loop. DOD certified, which makes them a solid option for military relocations.
The 21% negative rate is real, though. Damage and delivery delays are the main complaints across 105 reviews, with some customers noting slow claims resolution. Not a dealbreaker, but factor it in if you're moving high-value furniture or tight on delivery timing.
Services: Local, interstate, international; packing/unpacking; pianos, pool tables, art, antiques; crating; shipment tracking; storage. DOD certified.
Phone: (817) 987-6490 | State license: 006615079C
Here's a quick look at how many Dallas interstate movers offer specific add-on services:
| Service | Movers Offering | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate moves | 51 | 69.9% |
| Small moves | 48 | 65.8% |
| Pianos | 49 | 67.1% |
| Antiques | 40 | 54.8% |
| Art | 36 | 49.3% |
| Fragile-only packing | 18 | 24.7% |
Pianos, antiques, and art handling are broadly available among Dallas movers. Fragile-only packing is the outlier — only about one in four operators offers it. If that's what you need, confirm availability before you commit to a company.
This route runs about 794 miles. Use the moving cost calculator to dial in an estimate based on your specific home size and move date. Here are the realistic ranges across service types:
| Move Size | Moving Company | Moving Container | Rental Truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,151 – $4,086 | $718 – $1,848 | $508 – $997 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $2,243 – $5,327 | $1,319 – $2,644 | $549 – $1,184 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,611 – $7,309 | $1,839 – $3,280 | $702 – $1,478 |
Estimates based on a ~794-mile move from Dallas, TX to Illinois, using verified rate data refreshed monthly. Final costs vary based on scope, access, fuel, timing, and add-ons. Get multiple quotes before committing.
Studio or one-bedroom: expect $1,151–$4,086. Two to three bedrooms typically runs $2,243–$5,327 on this route. Larger homes — four bedrooms or more — usually come in between $3,611 and $7,309. The upper end of each range reflects peak-season pricing, packing services, or complicated access at one or both ends of the move.
For long-distance movers on this corridor, compare quotes from both local Dallas operators and national carriers. SafeShip Moving handles Texas-to-Illinois runs and vets its carrier network carefully — worth including in your comparison.
If you want to load on your own schedule and take a few extra days, moving containers sit squarely between DIY and full-service. Small loads run $718–$1,848. Two to three bedrooms lands in the $1,319–$2,644 range. Larger households should budget $1,839–$3,280. You'll save compared to hiring movers, but you're handling all the loading and unloading yourself.
The cheapest option on this route — if you're willing to do the work. Studios and one-bedrooms: $508–$997. Two to three bedrooms: $549–$1,184. Four bedrooms or more: $702–$1,478. Those figures already include estimated fuel costs for the ~800-mile drive. If you're comfortable behind the wheel of a large vehicle and moving relatively light, a rental truck makes financial sense. If either of those conditions doesn't apply, the savings probably aren't worth the trade-off.
Three things move the needle most on this route:
The financial shift here is real, and the income tax change is the one most Dallas residents underestimate. You're moving from a zero-income-tax state to one with a 4.95% flat rate — on a $70,000 salary, that's more than $3,400 a year that doesn't come home with you. The upside is that housing costs and overall cost of living drop. Whether it's a net positive depends heavily on where in Illinois you're settling and what you're earning.
| Dallas, TX | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $1,774 | $1,179 |
| Average home cost | $303,900 | $249,224 |
| Average income (per capita) | $68,291 | $78,433 |
| Cost of living index | 100 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 5.3% |
| State income tax | 0.0% | 4.95% |
Sources: Dallas — World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, BLS, Tax Foundation. Illinois — Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo.
| Dallas, TX | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,304,379 | 12,549,689 |
| Political leaning | Republican 56–42 | Democratic 55–45 |
| Summer high | 96°F | 86°F |
| Winter low | 36°F | 17°F |
| Annual rain | 39″ | 40″ |
| Annual snow | 1″ | 22″ |
| Crime index | 51.4 | 19.7 |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 270toWin, NeighborhoodScout, BestPlaces, Wikipedia.
A few things worth calling out before you pack:
| Pros of Living in Dallas | Pros of Living in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Strong economic opportunity | Home of Chicago |
| Favorable weather year-round | Ample economic opportunity |
| Quality education options | Rich recreational options |
| Abundant entertainment options | Excellent food scene |
| Thriving restaurant scene | World-class sports culture |
| Cons of Living in Dallas | Cons of Living in Illinois |
|---|---|
| High housing costs | Harsh winter weather |
| Heavy traffic | Chicago-area congestion |
| Limited green space | Higher crime in some urban areas |
| High cost of living | State income tax |
| Flat landscape in much of the state |
A few practical details that are easy to overlook until they become problems:
Expect two to seven days, depending on the service type and time of year. Full-service movers on this ~794-mile route typically deliver in the three-to-five day range under normal conditions. Summer and peak moving weekends push toward the upper end. Ask any carrier for a specific delivery window — not a rough estimate — before you sign a contract.
There are 44 Dallas-area movers that build custom crates for items like art, antiques, and sensitive electronics. Before booking, confirm that the crating materials and dimensions actually match your items — "custom crating" covers a wide range of quality in practice.
Auto transport is the right call here. Driving it adds 800 miles of wear and takes a full day away from your move. Check our car shipping guide for vetted options on the Texas-to-Illinois corridor, or get a quick estimate from the car shipping calculator.
Chicago is the main pull — a major metro with a strong job market, world-class food and arts, and a different pace of life than Dallas offers. On the push side, Dallas's housing costs and traffic congestion are the most common reasons people start looking elsewhere. If you're weighing the reverse direction, the Chicago to Dallas route has its own set of dynamics worth reviewing.
Our best long-distance movers page covers the top picks for interstate moves from Texas. On a route this long, it's worth comparing at least three quotes — pricing for the same home size can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on the carrier and the timing.
Nineteen Dallas movers currently accept cash, but it's not the industry norm. Moving companies generally prefer traceable payment methods — which protects both parties if there's a dispute. If you do pay cash, get a receipt for every transaction. Most companies require a deposit to hold your move date, with the balance due at pickup or delivery. Confirm the exact payment schedule and accepted forms before moving day arrives.
Ready to see what your Dallas to Illinois move will actually cost? Run your numbers through the moving cost calculator and compare quotes across service types before you commit.
