2019 Moving to Illinois Relocation Guide
Welcome to 2019 Ultimate Moving to Illinois Relocation Guide! Before this big step, find out all important information about Illinois.
Take a look at the list of housing, transportation and childcare costs, and learn about the living cost index in Illinois.
All information regarding costs and pricing is compared with average US pricing.
For moving tips in general check out our Moving Checklist and Paperwork page.
Welcome to the state of corn, the state of nature and urban landscapes, the state of art and history. Welcome to the state of sports and food, welcome to the Prairie State, welcome to the Land of Lincoln, welcome to Illinois. Illinois will provide you with a great education and job opportunities.
You will be able to choose your lifestyle between urban spots like Chicago or Springfield. You will be living in a state that is 85% cornfields, one of the top states for agriculture, and you will be able to enjoy fresh produce. You will also learn how to love sports, and you will become an animal lover.
There are numerous natural preserves that will leave you breathless and numerous cities that you will want to come back to. People in Illinois are welcoming and friendly, they are hard-working and they know how to enjoy. You will be able to visit some of the best music festivals in America and visit some of the most important art and culture centers.
It is not all about Chicago. Illinois will provide you with some of the most beautiful landscapes, fresh food, and diverse cities and towns. Illinois is full of festivals and fairs and there is always something new to enjoy and explore. But still, there are some cons that you should consider. Go ahead and read all about the pros and cons of moving to Illinois, get prepared for this step, the perks of living in Illinois are endless:
If you are not planning to move to Chicago, you will enjoy living costs. In most parts of the state living costs are the same as the national averages, and in some parts are even lower. You will be able to find affordable housing too.
Food production, clinical researches, engineering, project development, and many other business fields are currently blooming in the state of Illinois. Mostly in Chicago and other big cities, but in the whole state too.
State of Illinois is home to some of the best universities in the USA. There are a lot of education options and choices.
Illinois is one of the leading producers of soybeans, pumpkins, and corn, and it is one of the top 10 agricultural states of America. You will start to eat much healthier food after you move to Illinois. Fresh produce and livestock are everywhere, and farmers' markets are huge.
Illinois is a flat country, there are no many mountains and hills, but nature is breathtaking anyway. There are numerous state parks and nature preserves that you will be able to enjoy. The state is filled with diverse landscapes, and you will be able to enjoy perfect sunsets.
If you are a fan of sports Illinois is the perfect state for you. Illinois is home to professional NFL, MLB, NBA, and WNBA teams. You will have a lot of opportunities to enjoy live sports.
Illinois is home to numerous music festivals and some of them are ranked as the best in the country. Summer Camo, Lollapalooza, and Spring Awakening are probably the most important ones, one you should explore more, especially if you are planning to move to Chicago.
If you love animals, you will enjoy Illinois. The state is pet-friendly, and it has a lot of places where you can explore wildlife. The Wildlife state park is home to numerous animal species native to Illinois.
As it was mentioned before, fresh produce is everywhere. But that is not all, you will be able to enjoy amazing deep dish pizza, hotdogs and other types of fast food. Chicago is known for its great restaurants, and there are several annual food festivals in the state.
Lately, Illinois is becoming famous for local breweries and craft beers. The trend started in Chicago but it is spreading throughout the whole state. Springfield and Peoria are home to some of the best breweries. You should explore the beer scene.
Overall crime rates in Illinois are high, mostly because of the City of Chicago but not only. Several cities across the state have problems with property and violent crime.
Illinois has a big problem with corruption and bribery.
Illinois has second-highest effective real-estate tax in the country, and the overall tax burden is quite high.
You will be able to experience all 4 seasons in Illinois but be prepared for extremes. Summers can get really hot but winters are bigger problems, they are extremely cold and you will have to deal with the snowstorms.
Chicago is ranked as the #3 most congested US city so if you are planning to move to Chicago be prepared to log commutes.
Moving to Illinois is a big, challenging step and the state offers so many different opportunities. Whether you are moving for work or for pleasure you will find our tips useful. Here are 10 TIPS about moving to Illinois, 10 facts that will help you prepare for this step.
This ultimate moving checklist will help you complete your moving without stress.
You know you want to live in the Prairie State but you don't know which city to choose? Take a look at the list of top 6 best places to live in Illinois according to niche. Every city in Illinois has its pros and cons and you should choose wisely, there are a lot of factors that you should consider.
Naperville
Chicago
Springfield
Peoria
Elgin
Rockford
There are certain costs associated with moving that most people tend to neglect. Even if you have opted for a self-moving job that does not involve hiring a professional moving company, you will have to pay extra for certain things. Here is a list of moving and packing costs you may have forgotten.
If you plan to move on a budget and want to fo the packing yourself, you must know that you will need to invest in packing supplies like boxes, tape or bubble wrap.
During the move something almost always brake. Getting moving insurance is always recommended. Most of the moving companies offer insurance and you can decide how much to get, considering how valuable your things are.
For renting new space start-up costs include things like your first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, a pet deposit or an application fee.
If you are buying start-up costs are much bigger. They include closing costs for your new mortgage which is often measured in thousands of dollars. Average closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the cost of your home. These costs include things like a fee for running your credit report, a loan origination fee, attorney’s fees, the cost of a home inspection, a title search, an appraisal fee, and a survey fee, etc.
You can expect extra costs for boarding your pets. Often enough, people tend to move their pets overnight, that way pets are not exposed to the stress.
Some of the moving companies will ask you to pay a stair fee.
It is always best to check with moving companies about extra fees and inform them about your large items, like piano or pool table, in advance. That way you will avoid surprises on a moving day.
There are professionals who are trained to handle valuable items. Packing and moving valuable items is more complex than regular moving. So you can expect to pay extra on moving those kinds of pieces.
Sometimes, you don't want to bring all of your things to your new home, but you don't want to throw them either. If you find yourself in this situation you will have to find storage space for those things. Having to store items could mean an additional monthly expense.
While you shouldn't get rid of everything before a move, there are going to be some items that you're not going to want to bring to your new space.
Your movers are doing a lot of hard work and heavy lifting, and they deserve to be compensated. Just note, that tips are always expected by your movers.
Here you can find a list of shipping costs. Please note that the cost of international shipping (calculated with reallymoving) is solely the cost of shipping itself. Costs are calculated for moving entire two bedroom home, in the next three monts.
| Moving From | Cost |
|---|---|
| Vancouver (Canada) | $5,400 - $7,400 |
| Sydney (Australia) | $6,200 - $8,400 |
| Auckland (New Zealand) | $6,100 - $8,300 |
| Beijing (China) | $6,300 - $8,700 |
| Tokyo (Japan) | $6,100 - $8,300 |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | $4,900 - $8,300 |
| Mexico City (Mexico) | $4,500 - $7,500 |
| London (United Kingdom) | $5,200 - $7,100 |
| Dublin (Ireland) | $5,200 - $7,000 |
| Singapore | $6,100 - $8,300 |
The culture in Illinois is mostly influenced by the arts and culture scene of Chicago. Other cities are rich in culture too. You will be able to enjoy music, theatre, libraries, art and all sorts of festivals and fairs in Illinois. There are a lot of important historical spots around the state that you should visit. Take a look at our list of top 6 cultural venues in Illinois.
Arts and Theatre Center
Centralia Area Historical Museum
History Museum
Holocaust Museum
Historic Site
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Library and Museum
Tourist Destination, Museums, Theater, Movies
Costs of living in Illinois are mostly affordable, close to the national average and in some cases even lower. Chicago is expensive, but compared to other major cities in the USA it is still reasonable. Housing and rent costs are below national averages in most parts of the state. Moving to a new state is always challenging and you need to learn all about the costs. Taxes in Illinois are higher than the national average. For more information about living costs visit numbeo or BestPlaces.
$156.67
$0.10
$65.30
4.30
| Cost of Living | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 79.5 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106.2 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97.7 | 100 |
| Grocery | 94 | 100 |
| Health | 97.2 | 100 |
| Other | 98.1 | 100 |
| Housing | Buy per Sq Ft | Monthly Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $367.46 | $1,886.00 |
| Aurora | $137.19 | $1,000.00 |
| Rockford | $367.46 | $683.33 |
| Joliet | $162.00 | $1,566.67 |
| Naperville | $162.00 | $1,566.67 |
| Springfield | $92.50 | $683.33 |
| US Average | $242.48 | $1,294.88 |
| Transportation | One Way Ticket | Monthly Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $2.50 | $105.00 |
| Aurora | $7.50 | $165.00 |
| Rockford | $2.00 | $67.50 |
| Joliet | $7.25 | $215.12 |
| Naperville | $7.25 | $215.12 |
| Springfield | $2.00 | $30.00 |
| US Average | $2.25 | $70.00 |
| Child Care | Preschool | Primary School |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $1,176.28 | $17,007.86 |
| Aurora | $800.00 | $13,000.00 |
| Rockford | $750.00 | $11,600.00 |
| Joliet | $800.00 | $11,600.00 |
| Naperville | $800.00 | $11,600.00 |
| Springfield | $600.00 | $17,007.86 |
| US Average | $896.05 | $16,125.51 |
Average Yearly Salary in Illinois is $65,000
Currently, most popular and best-paid jobs in Illinois are:
All the information is provided by Glassdoor and Payscale where you can get more detailed information about the job of interest. If you don't have a specific job in mind, you can also check this list of 10 common jobs and professions in the United States with an average salary for each of them.
| Job | Illinois | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $13.07/h | $10.57/h |
| Receptionist | $13.47/h | $13.34/h |
| Repair Technician | $17.06/h | $16.24/h |
| Actor | $15.98/h | $11.06/h |
| Registered Nurse | $33.93/h | $33.87/h |
| Secretary | $13.95/h | $13.96/h |
| Preschool Teacher | $13.51/h | $12.52/h |
| High School Teacher | $18.74/h | $19.20/h |
| Lawyer | $67.51/h | $65.62/h |
Illinois supports 49 public community colleges in the Illinois Community College System. Illinois also has more than 20 accredited four-year universities, both public and private, and dozens of small liberal arts colleges across the state. The University of Chicago is continuously ranked as one of the world's top ten universities on various independent university rankings. There are a lot of primary and secondary school options to choose from throughout the whole state. Take a look at the list of top 6 universities in Illinois, according to UniRank.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Acronuym: UIUC
University of Illinois at Chicago
Acronuym: UIC
Acronuym: DPU
Acronuym: LUC
State of Illinois
Illinois is a state in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It has the sixth-largest population and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states. The capital of Illinois is Springfield, which is located in the central part of the state. Three U.S. presidents have been elected while living in Illinois: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama. Illinois honors Lincoln with its official state slogan Land of Lincoln.
Springfield
Chicago
www2.illinois.gov
English
Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic, Korean and other.
Length - 390 mi (628 km)
Width - 210 mi (338 km)
| Illinois Demographics by Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| White | 9,236,701 | 71.86% |
| Asian | 671,811 | 5.23% |
| Other Race | 767,145 | 5.97% |
| Black or African American | 1,833,501 | 14.26% |
| Two or More Races | 311,397 | 2.42% |
| Native American | 29,696 | 0.23% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 4,275 | 0.03% |
| Temperature | Annual High | Annual Low | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 13.7°C | 5.8°C | 9.75°C |
| Aurora | 15°C | 5.1°C | 10.05°C |
| Rockford | 15.1°C | 3.9°C | 9.5°C |
| Joliet | 15.5°C | 5°C | 10.25°C |
| Naperville | 15°C | 5.1°C | 10.05°C |
| Springfield | 17.3°C | 6°C | 11.65°C |
Very low: 0 - 20, Low: 20 - 40, Moderate: 40 - 60, High: 60 - 80, Very high: 80 - 100. By numbeo.
| City | Crime Index | Safety Index | Level of crime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 63.76 | 36.24 | 77.05 |
| Aurora | 35.29 | 64.71 | 33.33 |
| Rockford | 73.78 | 26.22 | 85.29 |
| Joliet | 35.29 | 64.71 | 33.33 |
| Naperville | 13.49 | 86.51 | 9.38 |
| Springfield | 32.84 | 67.16 | 42.86 |
The state of Illinois has numerous man-made attractions but nature is the most beautiful Illinois feature. The corn state, the prairie state will provide you with the dreamlike sights. Apart from the popular attractions throughout the cities you should go out and explore state parks and national preserves, take a forest walk, swim in the lakes, and learn about wildlife. Take a look at our list of top 6 nature attractions to visit in Illinois.
Giant City State Park is a National Natural Landmark. Famous for numerous outdoor activities visitors can enjoy, including hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and rock climbing. This park is also home toThe Giant City Stone Fort Site.
Cave-in-Rock's most important spot is a 55-foot wide riverside cave formed by wind and water, a landmark of the Ohio River. This area was one of the first in Illinois to be labeled as "State Parks". The park is a world famous location for river tourism.
Bell Smith Springs is a natural recreational area that includes marked trails, four creeks, and sandstone cliffs. Bell Smith Springs is located in Shawnee National Forest and it is home to the natural stone arch, the largest in Shawnee National Forest.
Matthiessen State Park's most important feature is the Matthiessen Lake with numerous lake falls and canyons. Those canyons provide an ideal habitat for many plant species. This area is also home to a large population of white-tail deers.
The Shawnee National Forest is a United States National Forest famous for Little Grand Canyon and Cedar Lake. There are seven officially designated wilderness areas lying within Shawnee National Forest and three natural vegetation research areas.
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge area includes numerous different habitats, including prairie grassland, cypress-tupelo swamp, upland hardwood forests and more. The refuge protects over 16,000 acres of the Cache River wetlands.
