Illinois to Iowa Moving Guide
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Updated September 25, 2026
Planning a 260 mile interstate move from Illinois to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower property taxes), food & health (like Chicago-style deep dish pizza vs Iowa pork tenderloin), 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 Iowa pork tenderloin & Grilled pork chop
- Moving from Illinois to Iowa will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000 see full breakdown
- Our top recommended Illinois to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Top Illinois to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Illinois to Iowa
Adamantine Spine Moving
A1 Movers, Inc
How Much Do Illinois to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 260 miles from Illinois to Iowa will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
| HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,350 | 300 ft3 | $4.50 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,002 | 450 ft3 | $4.45 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,300 | 750 ft3 | $4.40 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,785 | 1100 ft3 | $4.35 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,879 | 1600 ft3 | $4.30 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,649 | 1800 ft3 | $4.25 |
Illinois to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Iowa
Illinois- High property taxes
- Higher income taxes
- Costly housing markets
- Congested Chicago traffic
- Frequent tollways
- Higher car insurance
- Budget pension woes
- Expensive sales taxes
- Urban crime hotspots
- Parking is costly
Iowa- Lower property taxes
- Lower income taxes
- Cheaper home prices
- Lighter traffic flows
- No toll roads
- Lower car insurance
- Stronger state finances
- Slightly lower sales tax
- Lower crime rates
- Easier, cheaper parking
Iowa- Fewer urban options
- Limited transit systems
- Few pro teams
- Fewer direct flights
- Smaller job market
- Fewer cultural venues
- No Great Lake beaches
- Lower wage levels
- More car-dependent
- Fewer dining choices
Illinois- Big-city amenities
- Extensive public transit
- Major sports teams
- International flights hub
- Diverse job market
- Renowned museums
- Lake Michigan beaches
- Higher average salaries
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Dining variety
Pros of moving from Illinois to Iowa
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from higher income taxes and moving to Iowa with lower income taxes
- Swap the costly housing markets of Illinois for cheaper home prices in Iowa
- Get ready for lighter traffic flows in Iowa
Cons of moving from Illinois to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from big-city amenities in Illinois to live with fewer urban options in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of extensive public transit and have to settle for the con of limited transit systems
- Time to bid farewell to major sports teams and get used to fewer pro teams in Iowa
- Swap an international flights hub for fewer direct flights
Illinois vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
| Comparison | Illinois | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Chicago-style deep dish pizza | Iowa pork tenderloin |
| Most popular meat dish | Italian beef | Grilled pork chop |
| Most popular street food item | Chicago-style hot dog | Sweet corn |
| Most popular vegan food | Seitan dishes | Black bean burger |
| 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 Illinois to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Chicago-style deep dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Iowa pork tenderloin of Iowa. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian beef and sumptuous Chicago-style hot dog, Iowa residents know they have tasty grilled pork chop and sweet corn to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the seitan dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the black bean burger of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Illinois eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Alinea, and Portillo's. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Jethro's BBQ, Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, and The Sumatanga.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
