Illinois to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Illinois to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Deep-Dish Pizza vs Poke), real estate & housing (prairie style and bungalows vs plantation style and modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Deep-Dish Pizza and Italian Beef Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pork
- Hawaii housing costs are 233% more expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Hawaii is 67.49% more expensive than in Illinois
- Our top recommended Illinois to Hawaii movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Flat landscapes
- High property taxes
- Traffic congestion
- Limited outdoor activities
- Mild climate
- Scenic views
- Lower taxes
- Relaxed pace
- Diverse outdoor recreation
- Distance from mainland
- Higher cost of living
- Limited space
- Tourism-driven jobs
- Isolated location
- Rich cultural heritage
- Varied economy
- Abundant farmland
- Ample job opportunities
- Accessible travel options
Pros of moving from Illinois to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Hawaii with scenic views
- Swap the high property taxes of Illinois for lower taxes in Hawaii
- Get ready for a relaxed pace in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Illinois to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich cultural heritage in Illinois to live with distance from the mainland in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of a varied economy and have to settle with the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to abundant farmland and get used to limited space in Hawaii
- Swap ample job opportunities for tourism-driven jobs
Illinois vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep-Dish Pizza | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef Sandwich | Kalua Pork |
Most popular street food item | Chicago-style Hot Dog | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Chicago Vegan Deep-Dish Pizza | Laulau (Vegan Version) |
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 Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Deep-Dish Pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef Sandwich and sumptuous Chicago-style Hot Dog, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pork and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chicago Vegan Deep-Dish Pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Laulau (Vegan Version) of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Illinois eateries like Lou Malnati's, Portillo's, and Alinea. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Alan Wong's.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Hawaii
Comparison | Illinois | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie Style and Bungalows | Plantation Style and Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Ocean view, Outdoor living space |
- The Prairie Style and Bungalows architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Plantation Style and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Hawaii is less walkable than Illinois.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Illinois.
- Hawaii has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Hawaii housing costs are 233% more expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in Hawaii is 67.49% more expensive than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Hawaii
Comparison | Illinois | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 88/75 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/20 | 80/65 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 63 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Illinois to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 43% more sunshine days than Illinois.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Illinois.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Illinois, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and hurricanes in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 3 degrees warmer than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 45 degrees warmer than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 24 more inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Hawaii
Comparison | Illinois | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 4.00% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.16% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.83% | 4.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Finance | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Average | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Average | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 21% more than in Illinois
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 76% higher than what you are used to living in Illinois
- The state income tax in HI is 4.00% compared to 4.95% in IL
- The affluence in Hawaii is moderate compared to average in Illinois
- The poverty level is low in Hawaii compared to moderate in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is average in Illinois and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Illinois | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Varies by region; urban areas more liberal | Focus on indigenous rights and environmental issues |
Religion | Christian majority, with a significant number of non-religious residents | Christian majority, but notable Buddhist and Shinto communities |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority, but with notable Buddhist and Shinto communities
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a significant number of non-religious residents
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Hawaii
Comparison | Illinois | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary School Skokie; South Loop Elementary School Chicago; Meadow Glens Elementary School Naperville | Mililani Mauka Elementary School Mililani; Momilani Elementary School Pearl City; Manoa Elementary School Honolulu |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Woodlawn Middle School Long Grove; Maple School Northbrook; Kennedy Junior High School Lisle | Hawaii Preparatory Academy Kamuela; Iolani School Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus Honolulu |
Top 3 High Schools | Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire; Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago; New Trier Township High School Winnetka | Punahou School Honolulu; 'Iolani School Honolulu; Moanalua High School Honolulu |
Top 3 private high schools | University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Chicago; Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest; Francis W. Parker School Chicago | Punahou School Honolulu; 'Iolani School Honolulu; Hawaii Preparatory Academy Kamuela |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Latin School of Chicago Chicago; North Shore Country Day School Winnetka; Francis W. Parker School Chicago | Iolani School Honolulu; Le Jardin Academy Kailua; Honolulu Waldorf School Honolulu |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township High School District 203 Northfield; Niles Township Community High School District 219 Skokie; Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Naperville | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) |
Top Illinois to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.