Illinois to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 3,013 mile interstate move from Illinois to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs no state income tax), food & health (like Deep Dish Pizza vs Salmon), real estate & housing (georgian and prairie vs log cabin and modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Deep Dish Pizza and Italian Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Reindeer Sausage
- Alaska housing costs are 38% more expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Alaska is 0.50% more affordable than in Illinois
- Our top recommended Illinois to Alaska movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Alaska
- High property taxes
- Traffic congestion
- Hot summers
- Lack of natural wonders
- No state income tax
- Less crowded roads
- Cooler temperatures
- Spectacular landscapes
- Limited urban amenities
- Fewer dining options
- Remote locations
- Limited cultural venues
- Vibrant city life
- Access to diverse cuisine
- Plenty of entertainment
- Rich history and culture
Pros of moving from Illinois to Alaska
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to no state income tax
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Alaska with less crowded roads
- Swap the hot summers of Illinois for cooler temperatures in Alaska
- Get ready for spectacular landscapes in Alaska
Cons of moving from Illinois to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from vibrant city life in Illinois to live with limited urban amenities in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of access to diverse cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer dining options
- Time to bid farewell to plenty of entertainment and get used to remote locations in Alaska
- Swap rich history and culture for limited cultural venues
Illinois vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep Dish Pizza | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular street food item | Chicago-style Hot Dog | King Crab Legs |
Most popular vegan food | Chicago-style Vegan Deep Dish | Seaweed Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Illinois to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef and sumptuous Chicago-style Hot Dog, Alaska residents know they have tasty Reindeer Sausage and King Crab Legs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chicago-style Vegan Deep Dish they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seaweed Salad of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Illinois eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Alinea. After the boxes are unpacked in Alaska, don't wait too long before making your way to Alaska's acclaimed eateries like The Salmon Hookup, Simon and Seafort's, and Glacier Brewhouse.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Alaska
Comparison | Illinois | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Georgian and Prairie | Log Cabin and Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, granite countertops | Wood stoves, scenic views |
- The Georgian and Prairie architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Log Cabin and Modern architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like wood stoves and scenic views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away, as Alaska is less walkable than Illinois.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike, as Alaska is less bike-friendly than Illinois.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Alaska housing costs are 38% more expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 0.50% more affordable than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Alaska
Comparison | Illinois | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Floods | Earthquakes, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Varies widely by region, Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 64Β°F | 60Β°F / 44Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F / 22Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 inches | 22 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 inches | 75 inches (varies widely) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Illinois to Alaska. Alaska gets 21% fewer sunshine days than Illinois.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Illinois.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Illinois, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and avalanches in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 25 degrees colder than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 32 degrees colder than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 17 inches less rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Alaska
Comparison | Illinois | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.16% | 1.19% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.83% | 1.76% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Fishing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 15% more than in Illinois
- The COLI in Alaska will be 41% higher than what you are used to living in Illinois
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is high compared to moderate in Illinois
- The poverty level is low in Alaska compared to moderate in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Illinois and low in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Alaska
Comparison | Illinois | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Diverse, urban areas more liberal | Local interests often focus on natural resources |
Religion | Protestant, Catholic | Protestant, unaffiliated |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as Protestant and unaffiliated
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Alaska
Comparison | Illinois | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of Alaska Fairbanks University of Alaska Anchorage Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary School Naperville; South Loop Elementary School Chicago; Meadow Glens Elementary School Naperville | Aurora Elementary School Anchorage; Northern Lights ABC K-8 School Anchorage; Aquarian Charter School Anchorage |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wood Oaks Junior High School Northbrook; Twin Groves Middle School Buffalo Grove; Maple School Northbrook | Mears Middle School Anchorage; Gruening Middle School Eagle River; Mirror Lake Middle School Chugiak |
Top 3 High School Schools | Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire; Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago; New Trier High School Winnetka | West High School Anchorage; South Anchorage High School Anchorage; Service High School Anchorage |
Top 3 private high schools | University of Chicago Lab School Chicago; North Shore Country Day Winnetka; Francis W. Parker School Chicago | Grace Christian School Anchorage; Holy Rosary Academy Anchorage; Anchorage Christian Schools Anchorage |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest; Morgan Park Academy Chicago; Francis W. Parker School Chicago | Pacific Northern Academy Anchorage; Birchwood Christian School Chugiak; Cook Inlet Academy Soldotna |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township HSD 203 Northfield; Niles Township Community High School District 219 Skokie; Township High School District 214 Arlington Heights | Anchorage School District Anchorage; Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Palmer; Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Soldotna |
Top Illinois to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.