Hawaii to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living expenses), food & health (like Poke vs Chicago-style deep dish pizza), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs prairie, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style deep dish pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 70% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Illinois is 40.29% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Illinois movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Hawaii to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Illinois
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Remote location
- Limited travel options
- Lower living expenses
- Diverse job opportunities
- Central location
- Extensive transport network
- Cold winters
- No ocean access
- Less cultural diversity
- Longer indoor seasons
- Tropical climate
- Beautiful beaches
- Rich culture
- Outdoor lifestyle
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Illinois
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living expenses
- Look forward to moving away from the limited job market and moving to Illinois with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the remote location of Hawaii for a central location in Illinois
- Get ready for an extensive transport network in Illinois
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the tropical climate in Hawaii to live with the cold winters in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful beaches and have to settle for the con of no ocean access
- Time to bid farewell to the rich culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Illinois
- Swap the outdoor lifestyle for longer indoor seasons
Hawaii vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Chicago-style deep dish pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Taro-based dishes | Seitan dishes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Chicago-style deep dish pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Shave Ice, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef Sandwich and Chicago-style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Taro-based dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan dishes of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Alan Wong's Honolulu, and Honolulu Grill. 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 Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Illinois
Comparison | Hawaii | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Prairie, Colonial |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Colonial architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanai, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and granite countertops.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Illinois is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Illinois is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Illinois housing costs are 70% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Illinois is 40.29% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Illinois
Comparison | Hawaii | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Volcanic Eruptions | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 85°F / 65°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 35°F / 22°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.70 | 39.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Illinois. Illinois gets 32% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Illinois has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Illinois.
- The average summer high temperature in Illinois is the same as in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 41 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 24.5 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Illinois
Comparison | Hawaii | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 11% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 2.31% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.44% | 8.81% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Aerospace, Agribusiness |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 17% less than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in Illinois is 43% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95% compared to 11% in HI
- The affluence in Illinois is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Illinois
Comparison | Hawaii | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mostly Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Environmental & Indigenous rights focus | Industrial & social reform focus |
Religion | Christianity, Buddhism | Christianity, Islam |
- Hawaii tends to lean mostly Democratic in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as Christianity and Islam
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity and Buddhism
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Illinois
Comparison | Hawaii | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University University of Hawaii at Hilo | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Momilani Elementary (Pearl City) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) | South Park Elementary (Deerfield) Lincoln Elementary School (River Forest) Walden Elementary School (Deerfield) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Maple School (Northbrook) Daniel Wright Junior High School (Lincolnshire) Wood Oaks Junior High School (Northbrook) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Moanalua High School (Honolulu) | Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) New Trier Township High School (Winnetka) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) | University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) | New Trier Township H.S. District 203 (Northfield) Niles Township Community High School District 219 (Skokie) Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 (Lincolnshire) |
Top Hawaii to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.