Illinois to Alabama Moving Guide
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Updated September 25, 2026
Planning a 738 mile interstate move from Illinois to Alabama? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Alabama across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh, snowy winters vs mild, short winters), food & health (like Chicago-style deep dish pizza vs Alabama BBQ), real estate & housing, weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chicago-style deep dish pizza and Italian Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Alabama BBQ & Pulled pork
- Moving from Illinois to Alabama will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000 see full breakdown
- Our top recommended Illinois to Alabama movers is MoveDaddy

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

MoveDaddy
Best moving company overall for Illinois to Alabama

A1 Movers, Inc

Move-tastic!
How Much Do Illinois to Alabama Movers Cost?
Moving 738 miles from Illinois to Alabama 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: 2-9.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
| HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,621 | 300 ft3 | $5.40 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,409 | 450 ft3 | $5.35 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,977 | 750 ft3 | $5.30 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,778 | 1100 ft3 | $5.25 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $8,325 | 1600 ft3 | $5.20 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $9,275 | 1800 ft3 | $5.15 |
Illinois to Alabama Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Alabama
- Harsh, snowy winters
- High property taxes
- Expensive housing
- Chicago traffic jams
- Higher living costs
- Frequent toll roads
- Flat prairie scenery
- Lake-effect wind chill
- Limited outdoor months
- Costly city parking
- Higher gas prices
- Congested urban density
- Mild, short winters
- Low property taxes
- Affordable homes
- Lighter commutes
- Lower cost of living
- Fewer toll roads
- Mountains and coast
- Beaches and sunshine
- Year-round outdoor time
- Easier, cheaper parking
- Cheaper gasoline
- Roomier small cities
- Limited transit options
- Fewer major museums
- No major leagues
- Fewer nonstop flights
- Hotter, humid summers
- Lower average pay
- Lower walkability
- Smaller job market
- Limited snow sports
- Smaller dining scene
- Robust public transit
- World-class museums
- Big-league sports
- International flight hub
- Milder summer heat
- Higher median wages
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Diverse job market
- Snow sports nearby
- Extensive dining scene
Pros of moving from Illinois to Alabama
- Say goodbye to harsh, snowy winters and hello to mild, short winters
- Look forward to moving away from high property taxes and moving to Alabama with low property taxes
- Swap the expensive housing of Illinois for affordable homes in Alabama
- Get ready for lighter commutes in Alabama
Cons of moving from Illinois to Alabama
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from robust public transit in Illinois to live with limited transit options in Alabama
- You'll lose out on the pro of world-class museums and have to settle for the con of fewer major museums
- Time to bid farewell to big-league sports and get used to no major leagues in Alabama
- Swap an international flight hub for fewer nonstop flights
Illinois vs. Alabama: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
| Comparison | Illinois | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Chicago-style deep dish pizza | Alabama BBQ |
| Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef | Pulled pork |
| Most popular street food item | Chicago-style hot dog | Fried Green Tomatoes |
| Most popular vegan food | Chicago-style vegan pizza | Vegan soul food |
| Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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| 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 Alabama, you will be trading the iconic Chicago-style deep dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Alabama BBQ of Alabama. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef and sumptuous Chicago-style hot dog, Alabama residents know they have tasty pulled pork and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chicago-style vegan pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan soul food of Alabama. 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 Alabama, don't wait too long before making your way to Alabama's acclaimed eateries like Saw's BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Big Bad Breakfast.
When comparing lifestyles, Alabama shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alabama compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alabama.
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Alabama
| Comparison | Illinois | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chicago | University of Alabama Tuscaloosa |
| Northwestern University Evanston | Auburn University Auburn | |
| DePaul University Chicago | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham | |
| Top 3 Elementary Schools | Skinner North Elementary School Chicago | Vestavia Hills Elementary School Vestavia Hills |
| The Edison Regional Gifted Center Chicago | Mountain Brook Elementary School Mountain Brook | |
| Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy Chicago | Bluff Park Elementary School Hoover | |
| Top 3 Middle Schools | Daniel Wright Junior High School Lincolnshire | Pizitz Middle School Vestavia Hills |
| The Young Magnet High School Chicago | Mountain Brook Junior High School Mountain Brook | |
| McHenry Middle School McHenry | Homewood Middle School Homewood | |
| Top 3 High School Schools | Payton College Preparatory High School Chicago | Mountain Brook High School Mountain Brook |
| Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago | Vestavia Hills High School Vestavia Hills | |
| Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire | Hoover High School Hoover | |
| Top 3 private high schools | University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Chicago | Briarwood Christian School Birmingham |
| Latin School of Chicago Chicago | Indian Springs School Indian Springs | |
| St. Ignatius College Prep Chicago | Randolph School Huntsville | |
| Top 3 private K-12 schools | Parker Junior High School Flossmoor | The Webb School Bell Buckle |
| Latin School of Chicago Chicago | Indian Springs School Indian Springs | |
| University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Chicago | Randolph School Huntsville | |
| Top 3 School Districts | Northfield Township High School District 225 Glenview | Mountain Brook City Schools Mountain Brook |
| New Trier Township High School District 203 Winnetka | Vestavia Hills City Schools Vestavia Hills | |
| Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 New Lenox | Hoover City Schools Hoover |


