Real cost estimates, top mover reviews, and cost of living data for the Philadelphia to Illinois move. 846 miles of straight talk, no fluff.
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If you're moving from Philadelphia to Illinois, you're looking at roughly 846 miles — a real interstate haul that takes more planning than most people expect going in. Whether you're relocating for a job in Chicago (see our Philadelphia to Chicago guide for a more targeted breakdown), chasing lower living costs, or just ready for a change, the decisions you make now — which mover, which service type, which time of year — will determine what you actually spend.
Below is what I'd walk a friend through if they asked me to break this move down for them.
Out of 69 Philadelphia-area movers that handle interstate moves, here are five worth considering for a run to Illinois.
1450 S Warfield Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 Yelp reviews | BBB: A+
98% positive across 25 Yelp reviews. That's a number that's hard to argue with. The consistent feedback: fast, careful crews who communicate well and typically come in at or under the original estimate. Repeat customers are mentioned frequently, which is usually the clearest signal of actual service quality. 44 years in business. State license: 373544 | DOT: 373544.
Where it can go sideways: claims handling after damage is slow, and a few reviewers describe difficulty getting responses once a problem is acknowledged. Rare, but if something breaks, don't expect a quick resolution.
Services: Local, interstate, international, packing/unpacking, pianos, crane vans, storage, offices — credit card accepted.
925 N Lenola Rd, Moorestown, NJ 08057 (Philly metro) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB: A+
92% positive across 257 analyzed reviews. Transtar has 63 years in the business, and the reviews reflect that depth — professional crews, careful handling, and consistently smoother experiences than customers expected. The negatives, when they appear, involve damage during storage or delivery and some billing confusion, which tends to be more common in long-haul moves regardless of who you use. State license: 39PC00058806 | DOT: 939629.
For a Philadelphia-to-Illinois move, the combination of experience and review volume makes Transtar one of the stronger options on this list.
Services: Local, interstate, international, packing/unpacking, pianos, art, antiques, grandfather clocks, crating, full-valuation coverage, safes, storage — credit card accepted.
8295 National Hwy Ste B, Pennsauken, NJ 08110 (Philly metro) Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB: A+
88% positive across 237 reviews, and 51 years in business. What stands out in Anchor's feedback is the specificity — customers regularly name individual crew members, which usually signals consistent quality at the crew level, not just good PR from management. Estimates tend to match final charges, which matters more than people realize until it doesn't. State license: 125550 | DOT: 125550.
Anchor is also DOD certified — worth noting if you're military or need a contractor that meets federal standards. Negative feedback mirrors the industry pattern: slow damage claims and occasional unexpected charges. Confirm their claims process before you sign.
Services: Local, interstate, international, packing/unpacking, pianos, art, antiques, crating, shipment tracking, full-valuation coverage, storage — DOD certified.
300 E Godfrey Ave Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19120 Yelp reviews | Google reviews | BBB: F
I'll be direct: the BBB F grade and 26% negative review rate put Keep It Moving in a different risk category than the others on this list. The positives are real — customers describe professional, on-time crews and competitive pricing. But complaints are consistent enough to take seriously: damaged items, delays, and unreturned calls after problems arise. State license: 8915205 | DOT: 2313514, 19 years in business.
For a short local job, maybe. For an 846-mile move to Illinois, I'd want better claims-handling credentials before recommending them outright. Check the FMCSA database, ask for references, and get everything in writing before any deposit changes hands.
Services: Local, interstate, packing/unpacking, offices, antiques, crating, storage — cash and credit card accepted.
230 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 Yelp reviews | BBB: C
58% positive, 38% negative — and the gap matters. Bellhop operates more like a tech-enabled platform than a traditional moving company, which explains both its appeal (lower prices, easy booking) and its failure modes. When crews show up ready, customers love them. But last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and slow damage resolution all appear in the negatives with more frequency than you'd see from established operators. DOT: 2878240, 14 years in business.
If your schedule has flexibility and nothing fragile is moving, Bellhop can be cost-effective. If you have a hard move-out date or anything you'd hate to replace, the more established operators above are a better bet.
Services: Local, interstate, packing/unpacking, storage — credit card accepted.
A quick look at what's available among the 69 Philadelphia-area movers handling interstate moves:
| Service | # of Movers | % Offering |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate | 61 | 88% |
| Small moves | 26 | 38% |
| Antiques | 41 | 59% |
| Art | 37 | 54% |
| Pianos | 53 | 77% |
| Fragile-only packing | 13 | 19% |
Use the table below as a baseline, then run your numbers through the moving cost calculator to get a sharper estimate based on your actual home size and timeline.
| Move Size | Moving Company | Moving Container | Rental Truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,024 – $3,932 | $719 – $1,745 | $521 – $1,085 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $2,048 – $5,241 | $1,319 – $2,523 | $616 – $1,277 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,469 – $7,244 | $1,736 – $3,399 | $733 – $1,535 |
Estimates are based on an 846-mile move from Philadelphia, PA to Illinois, using verified rate data updated monthly. Final costs depend on inventory, add-ons, access constraints, fuel, and timing. Get multiple quotes before committing.
Studio or one-bedroom: $1,024–$3,932. Two to three bedrooms: $2,048–$5,241. Four-plus bedrooms: $3,469–$7,244.
The spread within each range is real and meaningful. What lands you at the low end versus the high end comes down to how much stuff you have, what services you add (packing, storage, specialty items), and which mover you pick. A one-bedroom move in October costs considerably less than the same move in July. Get at least three quotes and compare them on a level playing field — same inventory list, same service scope.
For a haul this long, prioritize long-distance movers who specialize in interstate moves over general local companies that occasionally take longer-distance jobs.
Moving containers are the middle-ground option: you handle the loading and unloading; the container company handles the 846-mile drive. Small load: $719–$1,745. Two to three bedrooms: $1,319–$2,523. Larger household: $1,736–$3,399.
More flexibility than hiring movers, less physical effort than driving a truck yourself. Worth comparing if your schedule allows time to load at your own pace.
A rental truck is your cheapest option when the numbers work. Studio/one-bedroom: $521–$1,085. Two to three bedrooms: $616–$1,277. Four-plus bedrooms: $733–$1,535. Those ranges already include estimated fuel costs.
What they don't include: 14+ hours behind the wheel across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, a night or two in a hotel, and doing all the loading and unloading yourself. The savings are real on a move like this — just go in with eyes open about what you're actually trading off.
Moving to Illinois from Philadelphia generally means a lower cost of living — but not uniformly across every category. Here's what the data actually shows.
| Philadelphia, PA | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $1,695 | $1,179 |
| Average home cost | $216,914 | $249,224 |
| Average income (per capita) | $70,746 | $78,433 |
| Cost of living index | 104 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 10.6% | 5.3% |
| State income tax | 3.07% | 4.95% |
Sources: World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, BLS, Tax Foundation, Zumper, Numbeo
What those numbers mean in practice:
| Philadelphia, PA | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,603,797 | 12,549,689 |
| Political leaning | Democratic 81-18 | Democratic 55-45 |
| Summer high | 87°F | 86°F |
| Winter low | 26°F | 17°F |
| Annual rain | 47" | 40" |
| Annual snow | 13" | 22" |
| Crime index | 66.09 | 19.7 |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 270toWin, NeighborhoodScout, BestPlaces, Wikipedia
Things worth flagging before you pack:
Sort out these details before moving day:
Illinois has more going on than just Chicago — though Chicago carries most of the cultural and entertainment weight.
Most Philadelphia-to-Illinois moves run two to seven days, depending on the mover, service level, and time of year. Summer can push that toward the longer end as movers work through packed schedules. Before booking, ask your mover for a written delivery window — not a vague estimate. "Two to four days" and "seven to ten business days" are very different commitments, and you want to know which one applies to your move.
There are 46 Philadelphia-area movers that offer custom crating for art, antiques, and electronics. If you have items that need it, confirm the mover is building crates to the right dimensions and using appropriate materials for your specific pieces — not a generic box that technically fits.
If you'd rather not put 850 miles on your car, auto transport is worth pricing out. Use our car shipping calculator to compare rates for getting your vehicle from Pennsylvania to your Illinois destination without the wear and the drive.
Economic opportunity — especially in Chicago — is the most common reason. Higher average incomes, roughly half the unemployment rate, and a lower overall cost of living make the trade-offs (higher income taxes, colder winters) feel worthwhile for a lot of people. Chicago pulls from across the country; the Philadelphia-to-Illinois flow is part of a broader national trend toward Midwest cities that still have real job markets and more affordable housing than coastal metros.
The five companies at the top of this page are what I'd look at first for this specific route. For a broader view, our roundup of best long-distance movers covers operators that specialize in cross-state hauls and have the infrastructure to back it up.
About 30 Philadelphia-area movers accept cash. That said, cash is the riskiest payment method for a move — no paper trail, no chargeback option, no formal dispute process if something goes sideways. If you pay cash, get a detailed written receipt at every stage: deposit, pickup, and delivery. Most movers will require a deposit upfront to hold your date regardless of how you pay, so build that into your planning.
Comparing quotes is the single most effective thing you can do to control costs on a move like this. Use the MoveFinders moving cost calculator to estimate your move before you start calling anyone — then get at least three real quotes and compare them on the same terms.
