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Georgia to Illinois Moving Guide

Updated June 10, 2025

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Planning a 854 mile interstate move from Georgia to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Georgia vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs milder summers), food & health (like Peach Cobbler vs Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (traditional, craftsman vs prairie, mid-century modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Peach Cobbler and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef
  • Illinois housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in Georgia
  • Rent in Illinois is 3.57% more affordable than in Georgia
  • Moving from Georgia to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
  • Our top recommended Georgia to Illinois movers is Moving Etc

Georgia to Illinois Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Georgia to Illinois

ConsGeorgia iconGeorgia
  • Hot summers
  • Traffic congestion
  • Limited cultural venues
  • Hurricane risk
  • Lower elevation variety
ProsIllinois iconIllinois
  • Milder summers
  • Better public transport
  • Rich cultural scene
  • Minimal natural disasters
  • Diverse landscapes

Illinois iconIllinois
  • Higher living costs
  • Busy urban life
  • Heavier urban diet
  • Cold winters
  • High-density areas
Georgia iconGeorgia
  • Lower living cost
  • Friendly community
  • Southern cuisine
  • Warm winters
  • Charming small towns

Pros of moving from Georgia to Illinois

  • Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to milder summers
  • Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Illinois with better public transport
  • Swap the limited cultural venues of Georgia for a rich cultural scene in Illinois
  • Get ready for minimal natural disasters in Illinois

Cons of moving from Georgia to Illinois

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower living cost in Georgia to live with higher living costs in Illinois
  • You'll lose out on the pro of a friendly community and have to settle with the con of a busy urban life
  • Time to bid farewell to southern cuisine and get used to a heavier urban diet in Illinois
  • Swap warm winters for cold winters

Georgia vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonGeorgiaIllinois
Most iconic local food itemPeach CobblerDeep Dish Pizza
Most popular meat dishFried ChickenItalian Beef
Most popular street food itemBoiled PeanutsChicago-style Hot Dog
Most popular vegan foodCollard GreensSeitan Sandwiches
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • The Varsity
  • Mary Mac's Tea Room
  • The Fox Theatre
  • Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
  • Portillo's
  • Alinea
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Georgia to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Peach Cobbler of Georgia for the equally delicious Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Georgia rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef and Chicago-style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Sandwiches of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Georgia eateries like The Varsity, Mary Mac's Tea Room, and The Fox Theatre. After the boxes are unpacked in Illinois, don't wait too long before making your way to Illinois' acclaimed eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Alinea.

When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Georgia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Georgia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Georgia and Illinois

ComparisonGeorgiaIllinois
Typical Architecture StyleTraditional, CraftsmanPrairie, Mid-Century Modern
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingSpacious backyard, open floor planClose to transit, eco-friendly features
  • The Traditional and Craftsman architecture that Georgia is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Mid-Century Modern architecture typical of Illinois.
  • Compared to Georgia's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and open floor plans, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to transit and eco-friendly attributes.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Illinois is more walkable than Georgia.
  • Illinois is similarly bike-friendly to Georgia.
  • Illinois has more of an urban feel than Georgia.
  • Illinois housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in Georgia, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Georgia’s $327,174.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased 35% compared to a 64% increase in Georgia.
  • Rent in Illinois is 3.57% more affordable than in Georgia.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Georgia and Illinois

ComparisonGeorgiaIllinois
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersHurricanes, TornadoesTornadoes, Winter Storms
Air QualityModerateModerate to Good
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)89/6885/64
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)52/3335/18
Annual Rainfall (Inches)5039
Annual Snowfall (Inches)136
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from Georgia to Illinois. Illinois gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Georgia.
  • Illinois has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Georgia.
  • Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Georgia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and winter storms in Illinois.
  • Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 4 degrees colder than in Georgia.
  • The average winter lows are 15 degrees colder than they are in Georgia.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 11 fewer inches of rain compared to Georgia.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Georgia and Illinois

ComparisonGeorgiaIllinois
Avg. Household Income$72,837$76,708
Cost of Living Index93.3594.25
State Income Tax5.75%4.95%
Avg. Property Tax0.91%2.27%
Avg. Sales Tax7.32%8.81%
Top 3 IndustriesAgriculture, Manufacturing, FilmFinance, Manufacturing, Education
AffluenceModerateHigh
PovertyModerateModerate
HomelessnessLowModerate
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 5% more than in Georgia
  • The COLI in Illinois will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Georgia
  • The state income tax in IL is 4.95% compared to 5.75% in GA
  • The affluence in Illinois is high compared to moderate in Georgia
  • The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to moderate in Georgia
  • In terms of homelessness, it is low in Georgia and moderate in Illinois

Political and Religious Climate in Georgia vs. Illinois

ComparisonGeorgiaIllinois
Political Make-upMix of conservative and liberal, with recent shifts towards blue in urban areasGenerally liberal, especially in Chicago and other urban areas
Local PoliticsSignificant influence from Democratic Party of Georgia and Georgia Republican PartyStrong presence of Illinois Democratic Party across state, with some Republican strongholds
ReligionHighly religious, with a strong evangelical Christian presenceMore religiously diverse with significant Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities
  • Georgia tends to lean towards a mix of conservative and liberal in its political climate
  • Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as generally liberal, especially in Chicago and other urban areas
  • Illinois' religious environment can be described as more religiously diverse, with significant Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities
  • Georgia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, with a strong evangelical Christian presence

Education Guide When Moving from Georgia to Illinois

ComparisonGeorgiaIllinois
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)Georgia State University
University of Georgia
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Northwestern University
University of Chicago
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsBrandon Elementary School
Atlanta; Britt David Elementary School
Columbus; Kittredge Magnet School
Atlanta
South Loop Elementary School
Chicago; Meadow Glens Elementary School
Naperville; Lincoln Elementary School
Springfield
Top 3 Middle SchoolsDavidson Magnet School
Augusta; River Trail Middle School
Johns Creek; South Forsyth Middle School
Cumming
Woodlawn Middle School
Long Grove; Daniel Wright Junior High School
Lincolnshire; Twin Groves Middle School
Buffalo Grove
Top 3 High SchoolsNorthview High School
Johns Creek; Walton High School
Marietta; Lambert High School
Suwanee
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Lincolnshire; Naperville North High School
Naperville; New Trier High School
Winnetka
Top 3 private high schoolsThe Westminster Schools
Atlanta; Pace Academy
Atlanta; The Lovett School
Atlanta
Phillips Academy
Andover; Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest; University of Chicago Lab School
Chicago
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsAtlanta International School
Atlanta; Woodward Academy
College Park; Pace Academy
Atlanta
University of Chicago Lab School
Chicago; Francis W. Parker School
Chicago; Latin School of Chicago
Chicago
Top 3 School DistrictsForsyth County Schools
Buford City Schools
and Decatur City Schools
New Trier Township High School District 203
Naperville School District 203
and Community High School District 128

How Much Do Georgia to Illinois Movers Cost?

Moving 854 miles from Georgia to Illinois will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-7.5 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Atlanta Home Movers
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,687300 ft3$5.62
1 Bedroom$2,507450 ft3$5.57
2 Bedrooms$4,142750 ft3$5.52
3 Bedrooms$6,0191100 ft3$5.47
4 Bedrooms$8,6751600 ft3$5.42
5+ Bedrooms$9,6701800 ft3$5.37

Top Georgia to Illinois Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best Georgia to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
Moving Etc

Moving Etc

Best moving company overall for Georgia to Illinois

9.50/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Atlanta Home Movers featured image

Atlanta Home Movers

9.42/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
606 Movers, Inc. featured image

606 Movers, Inc.

9.37/10
ExceptionalView details

Augusta to Illinois

Columbus to Illinois

Macon to Illinois