Moving From Chicago to St. Louis: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

They’ve been calling it “Chiraq” for a couple of years now, so we’re not sure why you took so long to look us up. Whether you’re moving from Chicago to St. Louis because you’re just that desperate, or you actually like the sound of Missouri, we can help you get there in one piece.

iMoving is the only online marketplace that lets you shop, compare prices, and book your long distance movers entirely online.

No phone calls, no house calls, and no sketchy, scammy companies. Think of us as your personal one-stop shop to get your Chicago to St. Louis move done right.

Still on the fence about getting out of town? Kevlar has an expiration date. Read on to see what you can expect on moving day, and check out some of our top choices for the Chicago - St. Louis route.

First things first: It’ll cost you from $2,696 to $7,099 to move from Chicago to St. Louis. If it seems like a pretty big window to you, that’s because it is.

But the final price of your move really depends on a few important variables. We’ll get into the other fees and add-ons later, but the biggest factors behind your price are the distance and volume.

When we say distance, we’re talking the absolute distance between point A and B. Chicago and St. Louis are only about 300 miles apart, so thankfully you won’t be paying out the nose like those poor folks moving from New York to California.

As for volume, this means the physical size of your move. Your long distance movers will either inspect all your belongings or work from an inventory list to come up with a pound or cubic-foot value.

(Protip: when you use iMoving, we let you build a virtual inventory.)

More stuff means a higher price, so we recommend downsizing before you shop around for quotes. Just keep in mind, a smaller move isn’t necessarily going to get done faster…

Moving from Chicago to St. Louis will take between 2 and 21 days. Under federal law, movers can’t clock more than 400 miles of interstate travel per day. But Chicago and St. Louis are only like 300 miles apart. What gives?

Movers don’t like sending half empty trucks all over the place. It’s wasted money. Instead, they’ll bundle smaller moves together in the same truck (while keeping everything secure and separated, of course). This means no wasted space, but it also means delays for pickups and deliveries along the way.

If you’re moving a studio apartment, you may end up waiting a little longer for your belongings to arrive. But if you somehow manage to fill an entire truck with only your stuff, expect a faster delivery.

When you’re comparing quotes from Chicago to St. Louis movers, you’ll end up with estimates that range from $2,696 to $7,099. It’s a big window, so let’s take a look at all the factors behind your final price:

1. Distance

The actual distance between point A and point B makes up a big part of your final price. Fortunately, Chicago and St. Louis are just about 300 miles apart. It’s still a lengthy drive, but it’s by no means a coast to coast relocation.

2. Volume

Next to the distance, your volume is probably the biggest factor behind the final price. This is usually assigned a pound or cubic foot value.

Some movers may claim to weigh a truck before and after all your stuff is loaded up, but that’s more of a marketing gimmick. Instead, they’ll usually do the math with an inventory list that you provide them.

3. Packing

We’re not just saying this because we’re in the moving and packing business: Doing your own packing is a huge pain. It’s time-consuming, frustrating, and there’s never enough tape in the house.

While paying your movers for packing may cost a little extra, it’s a small price to pay for your sanity (and more free time).

4. Storage

It’s tough to figure out where all your stuff should go on moving day, especially if you haven’t had time to really get used to your new place.

Storage gives you some extra flexibility so you can unload and rearrange your furniture at your own pace. Be on the lookout for good deals - some movers throw in 30 days of free storage as a nice bonus.

4. Insurance

Moving companies are required by law to provide basic coverage for all your items, but this bare-minimum coverage is usually only good for $0.60 per pound of lost, damaged, or destroyed belongings.

If you think your 4-pound computer monitor is worth more than $2.40, you’ll have to pay for full-value coverage.

5. Access Fees

Access fees are a catch-all that covers all those tricky obstacles between your front door and the moving truck. Gates, elevators, multiple flights of stairs, and tight parking can all boost your price.

Communicate with your movers ahead of time so they know what they’re getting into, and so you know how much you’ll have to pay.

6. Shuttle Fees

Some cities get pretty strict with their parking rules. Semi trucks block up a lot of traffic, and to keep things moving, it’s oftentimes illegal to park a gigantic moving truck downtown.

Your movers will have to park that big truck someplace on the outskirts, and use a smaller box truck to haul stuff back and forth from your place to the truck that does the actual long haul. It’s not convenient, it’s not cheap, but it’s out of your hands. Thank your city council.

7. Time of Year

The time of year makes a big difference. As a general rule of thumb, any time kids are out of school, moving prices spike. This means June, July, and August are the most expensive months, followed by pretty much any long weekend or holiday.

Leases usually run out at the end or beginning of the month, too. If you want to save, shoot for a mid-week, mid-month move, far away from summer.

8. Gratuity

While this one isn’t usually included in your quote, it’s a good idea to budget out a tip for your movers. 15-20% of the total cost of your move is a good figure, to be divided up between your whole moving team.

There’s a lot of reason to get out of Chicago, but why move to St. Louis? Here’s why some people are making the Gateway City their new home:

• Less crime: When you tell people where you’re from, do they immediately ask you if you feel safe there? If so, it’s probably not very safe where you live. Chicago is dangerous. St. Louis is still a pretty big city, but it’s nowhere near as sketchy.

• Cheaper: If you’re tired of paying out the nose just to get robbed on the L train, have we got the place for you. St. Louis is cheaper than Chicago. Houses are like a third of the price, and you won’t even be living in the trap.

• Slower pace: There’s not so much go-go-go. St. Louis may be a relatively major city, but it’s no New York or Los Angeles. It’s got a slower pace, and you’ll have a bit more time (and room) to breathe.

• Better weather: Sure, St. Louis gets the occasional tornado. But it’s not exactly the Pan-Arctic Ice Bomb (or whatever the Weather Channel wants to call it) that you have to deal with in Chicago. Besides, you already know how to handle snow.

• Different culture: People in St. Louis can be pretty friendly. This is a welcome change from the people in Chicago, who may or may not be shooting at you while you read this.

What can I do in St. Louis? Good question. It may not be a hotbed of activity, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that there’s actually plenty to do in the Gateway City.

• The Gateway Arch: Not only is it a giant metal arch, there’s actually these weird little elevators that go all the way to the top. You can get a wide view of scenic St. Louis, and knock out the go-to tourist trap at the same time.

• Missouri Botanical Garden: A green patch in the big city. If you want some white-knuckle excitement, you can check out a bunch of plants in a greenhouse. There’s actually a huge indoor area that’s kept a constant temperature, so on cold days, this is great.

• City Museum: This one’s a little hard to describe. It’s like a giant art gallery or museum made of repurposed stuff. There’s a lot of interactive exhibits, so it’s really part museum and part playground for folks of all ages.

• St. Louis Zoo: Want to go out and enjoy your new town on the cheap? The zoo is FREE. Not only that, but the zoo is also PRETTY SWEET. There’s a ton of critters, and since the zoo is dedicated to conservation, they treat the animals with a great deal of respect.

• Busch Stadium: St. Louis comfortably in the midwest, so you know sports is pretty much one of the only things the locals have to live for. Come out and show your Cardinals pride, or just tailgate in the parking lot!

You’ve made it to the end! Hopefully by now you’ve got a better idea of what to expect from your Chicago to St. Louis move, and you’re ready to get packing. Fortunately, iMoving is here to help.

iMoving is the only place where you can shop, compare prices, and book a move from the comfort of your web browser. It’s simple and quick, and we made it easier than ever. Tell us a little more about your move, and let’s get shopping!