Real cost estimates, top mover reviews, and a cost-of-living breakdown for your Newark to Illinois move. Everything you need before booking.
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If you're moving from Newark to Illinois, the financial logic is hard to argue with. Rent runs nearly 49% cheaper. Home prices are roughly half what you'd pay in Newark. The overall cost of living is about a third lower. The move itself costs real money — but the monthly savings start stacking up the moment you land.
What this guide focuses on: which movers are actually worth hiring for this ~900-mile haul, what to realistically budget, and what's waiting for you on the other end.
Out of 158 Newark-area movers capable of handling state-to-state relocations, here are the five I'd recommend for a move to Illinois:
For a long interstate move, you want a company with proven experience beyond local jobs. These five have it. Full profiles below.
235 W 1st St, Bayonne, NJ 07002 4.72 / 5 | 90% positive reviews | Yelp (521) | Google (865) | BBB: A+
29 years in business | DOT #648262
Across 741 customer reviews, White Glove holds up unusually well. Nearly 90% of customers report positive experiences, and the recurring themes are consistent: careful wrapping, professional crews, and reliable communication. On a long-distance move, handling consistency is exactly what matters most — a lot of companies do fine locally but get sloppy once distance enters the equation.
Negative reviews do surface — damaged goods, delayed delivery windows, or unexpected fees on longer jobs. None of that is disqualifying, but it's worth protecting yourself: get delivery timelines and all fees in writing before you sign anything.
White Glove is also DOD certified, which tells you they can perform under demanding logistical standards. If you're moving pianos, antiques, or high-value artwork, they have the specialty capability to handle it.
Phone: (877) 941-0568
Services: Local, interstate & international moves | Packing & unpacking | Offices | Pianos | Hot tubs | Pool tables | Art | Antiques | Grandfather clocks | Crating | Crane vans | Full-valuation coverage | Storage | Credit cards accepted | DOD certified
99 Evergreen Ave, Newark, NJ 07114 4.66 / 5 | 80% positive reviews | Yelp (30) | Google (72) | BBB: A+
33 years in business | DOT #488466
Thirty-three years in the business is the kind of tenure that earns a base level of credibility. Crews arrive on time, move efficiently, and handle belongings carefully — that's what four out of five customers report. On move day, Flatrate generally delivers.
The 18% negative rate deserves a closer look, though. Damaged items, communication breakdowns, and surprise price increases appear frequently enough in critical reviews to look like a pattern rather than isolated incidents. Post-move problem-solving — handling claims, resolving disputes — is where some customers have hit walls. If you book Flatrate, nail down pricing upfront and get clear answers on the claims process before anything gets loaded onto the truck.
Phone: (917) 781-3898
Services: Local, interstate & international moves | Packing & unpacking | Offices | Pianos | Crating | Storage | Credit cards accepted
58 2nd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 4.72 / 5 | 95% positive reviews | Yelp (551) | Google (2,203) | BBB: A+
13 years in business | DOT #2180117
A 95% positive rate across more than 2,700 reviews is hard to fake. Great Movers earns consistent praise for efficient crews, careful handling, accurate pricing, and clear communication — the exact four things that tend to fall apart on a long-distance move. Seeing them highlighted repeatedly across a large review sample is meaningful.
The 5% of negative feedback centers on item damage, insurance disputes, and occasional surprise charges. Serious when they happen, but statistically rare here. Great Movers also tends to price competitively, which makes them a strong option if you're watching the budget without wanting to gamble on an unknown company.
Phone: (718) 306-9980
Services: Local, interstate & international moves | Packing & unpacking | Offices | Pianos | Art | Antiques | Grandfather clocks | Crating | Full-valuation coverage | Storage | Safes | Cash & credit cards accepted | Deposit required
48 Wall St #1100, New York, NY 10005 4.70 / 5 | 85% positive reviews | Yelp (250) | Google (60) | BBB: A+
7 years in business | DOT #3014539 | Also operates as: Seka Moving Corporation
Seka is younger than the others on this list — 7 years in — but they've built a credible track record quickly. Customers consistently single out speed, careful property handling, and accurate estimates. On a long interstate move, pricing accuracy upfront is one of the clearest markers of a professional operation, and Seka seems to understand that.
At 13% negative, the complaints worth noting are damaged items, delayed arrivals or delivery windows, and unexpected charges — particularly on longer-distance jobs. These are industry-wide friction points, but they show up in a small enough share of reviews that most Seka customers come through cleanly. Confirm your delivery window in writing if you're booking them for this route.
Phone: (212) 203-0280
Services: Local & interstate moves | Packing & unpacking | Offices | Pianos | Hot tubs | Pool tables | Art | Antiques | Grandfather clocks | Crating | Full-valuation coverage | Storage | Fragile-only packing | Cash, money order & credit cards accepted | Deposit required
900 S 2nd St., Harrison, NJ 07029 4.56 / 5 | 79% positive reviews | Yelp (35) | Google (41) | BBB: A+
46 years in business | DOT #125563 | Also operates as: Molloy Brothers Moving & Storage, Molloy Bros. Mayflower, Advance Relocation and Storage of NJ
Forty-six years in the business — out of the Newark area, no less — is a track record you can't manufacture. Nearly four in five customers report positive experiences, with efficient crews, careful handling, and smooth coordination cited most often. Molloy Bros has been doing long-distance moves long enough to know the operational details that trip up younger companies.
The negatives focus on inaccurate estimates, damage claims, and communication gaps during difficult relocations. A few reviewers reported unexpected charges or missing items, which is always a flag worth taking seriously. Get an itemized quote in writing and nail down the claims procedure before anything moves.
Phone: (201) 444-7711
Services: Local, interstate & international moves | Packing & unpacking | Offices | Pianos | Pool tables | Art | Antiques | Grandfather clocks | Crating | Crane vans | Shipment tracking | Full-valuation coverage | Storage | Fragile-only packing | Safes | Cash, money order & credit cards accepted | Deposit required
Here's a quick snapshot of specialty service availability among Newark movers:
| Service | Movers available |
|---|---|
| Interstate moves | 145 (91.8%) |
| Pianos | 139 (88.0%) |
| Art | 118 (74.7%) |
| Antiques | 111 (70.3%) |
| Small moves | 57 (36.1%) |
| Fragile-only packing | 32 (20.3%) |
If you need something specific — custom crating, piano handling, fragile-only packing — confirm availability with any company before you get too far into the booking process.
Use our moving cost calculator to get a personalized estimate based on your home size, dates, and any specialty items. The table below is built on ~900-mile move data and gives you a solid working baseline.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,018 – $3,958 | $788 – $1,914 | $566 – $1,070 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $2,218 – $5,340 | $1,414 – $2,718 | $624 – $1,324 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,667 – $6,749 | $1,773 – $3,598 | $814 – $1,625 |
Estimates based on pricing data as of January 2026. Your actual quote will vary with move size, timing, optional services, access conditions, and fuel costs. Always compare estimates from at least three companies.
For a studio or one-bedroom, hiring a full-service moving company runs $1,018 to $3,958. A two- to three-bedroom home lands between $2,218 and $5,340. Four or more bedrooms pushes that to $3,667 to $6,749.
The spread in those ranges is real. Timing, volume, and packing services all move your number. Summer moves — June through August — consistently hit the higher end.
Moving containers are a solid middle path: you load and unload on your own schedule, a driver handles the long haul. For a studio or one-bedroom, expect $788 to $1,914. Two to three bedrooms run $1,414 to $2,718. Larger homes fall in the $1,773 to $3,598 range.
It's a meaningful step down from full-service pricing, and a lot of people on this route find the trade-off worth it — especially if you're not on a tight delivery timeline.
Renting a truck is the cheapest option, but remember: you're loading, unloading, and driving roughly 900 miles yourself. Factor that in before you commit.
If it still makes sense — a studio or one-bedroom runs $566 to $1,070. Two to three bedrooms come in at $624 to $1,324. Four-plus bedrooms land between $814 and $1,625. These estimates include fuel.
A few variables that will move your number significantly:
The financial case for this move is strong. New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the country, and Illinois runs significantly cheaper across almost every category. Here's how the numbers actually line up.
| Newark, NJ | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $2,300 | $1,179 |
| Average home price | $475,797 | $249,224 |
| Per capita income | $41,335 | $78,433 |
| Cost of living index | 135 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 13.0% | 5.3% |
| State income tax | 10.7% | 4.95% |
Newark sources: World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, US BLS, Tax Foundation. Illinois sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo.
A few things jump out:
| Newark, NJ | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 304,960 | 12,549,689 |
| Political leaning | Democratic (49.8–48.3) | Democratic (55–45) |
| Summer high | 86°F | 86°F |
| Winter low | 23°F | 17°F |
| Annual rain | 48" | 40" |
| Annual snow | 26" | 22" |
| Crime index | 75.24 | 19.7 |
Newark sources: US Census Bureau, 270toWin, NeighborhoodScout, BestPlaces. Illinois sources: Wikipedia, NeighborhoodScout.
What's worth paying attention to:
A few logistics beyond just booking movers and packing boxes:
Whether you end up in Chicago or somewhere smaller, Illinois has more going on than most people expect.
Plan on two to seven days door-to-door, depending on the service and time of year. Summer moves — June through August — can push toward the longer end due to high demand. Confirm delivery windows explicitly with your mover before you sign, and build in buffer if you're on a tight schedule.
125 Newark-area movers offer custom crating for artwork, antiques, electronics, and other fragile or oddly shaped items. If you have pieces that require it, confirm the specific crating method with any mover before booking — don't assume it's included.
Use the car shipping calculator to compare quotes from vetted auto transporters on this route. When evaluating car shipping companies, look for confirmed insurance coverage on your vehicle's actual value and verifiable experience on the New Jersey to Illinois corridor.
Mostly economics and quality of life. Chicago is the main draw — it's a genuine world-class city at a fraction of the New York metro cost. Outside Chicago, mid-sized cities and smaller communities offer even lower costs, a much lower crime rate, and a noticeably different pace. For a lot of people leaving Newark, that combination is compelling.
See our rankings of the best long-distance movers to compare options with proven interstate experience.
Yes — 68 Newark movers accept cash. That said, traceable payment methods give you more recourse if something goes wrong, and they're standard in the industry for a reason. You'll typically pay a deposit at booking and the balance at pickup or delivery. Confirm both the payment schedule and accepted methods with your mover before move day.
Compare moving quotes for your Newark to Illinois move and see what your specific situation actually costs before you commit to anything.
