Illinois to Mississippi Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 655 mile interstate move from Illinois to Mississippi? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Mississippi across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Deep-dish pizza vs Catfish), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs colonial revival and victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Deep-dish pizza and Italian Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Catfish & Pulled pork BBQ
- Mississippi housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Mississippi is 21.80% more affordable than in Illinois
- Moving from Illinois to Mississippi will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Illinois to Mississippi movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to Mississippi Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Mississippi
- Harsh winters
- High taxes
- Dense traffic
- High cost of living
- Limited outdoor activities
- Mild winters
- Lower taxes
- Less congestion
- Affordable living
- Natural beauty
- Fewer job options
- Less diversity
- Limited transit options
- Fewer higher education options
- Hotter, humid summers
- Job opportunities
- Cultural diversity
- Public transportation
- Renowned universities
- Varied climates
Pros of moving from Illinois to Mississippi
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from high taxes and moving to Mississippi with lower taxes
- Swap the dense traffic of Illinois for less congestion in Mississippi
- Get ready for affordable living in Mississippi
Cons of moving from Illinois to Mississippi
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from job opportunities in Illinois to live with fewer job options in Mississippi
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural diversity and have to settle with the con of less diversity
- Time to bid farewell to public transportation and get used to limited transit options in Mississippi
- Swap renowned universities for fewer higher education options
Illinois vs. Mississippi: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep-dish pizza | Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef | Pulled pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Tamales |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan dishes | Black-eyed pea hummus |
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 Mississippi, you will be trading the iconic deep-dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious catfish of Mississippi. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian beef and sumptuous hot dogs, Mississippi residents know they have tasty pulled pork BBQ and tamales 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-eyed pea hummus of Mississippi. 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 Mississippi, don't wait too long before making your way to Mississippi's acclaimed eateries like Mayflower Cafe, Weidmann's, and Bully's Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Mississippi shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Mississippi, compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Mississippi.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Mississippi
Comparison | Illinois | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Colonial Revival and Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Chicago, energy-efficient appliances | Large lots, historic homes |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival and Victorian architecture typical of Mississippi.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to Chicago and energy-efficient appliances, Mississippi real estate listings often highlight features like large lots and historic homes.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Mississippi is less walkable than Illinois.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Mississippi is less bike-friendly than Illinois.
- Mississippi has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Mississippi housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $178,490 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Mississippi have increased by 31% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in Mississippi is 21.80% more affordable than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Mississippi
Comparison | Illinois | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | 189 days | 211 days |
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 | Hurricanes, tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 65Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F / 20Β°F | 56Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 inches | 59 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 inches | 1 inch |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Illinois to Mississippi. Mississippi gets 12% more sunshine days than Illinois.
- Mississippi has higher 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 hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Mississippi is 6 degrees warmer than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Mississippi. Mississippi receives 20 more inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Mississippi
Comparison | Illinois | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $52,719 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 92.1 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.27% | 0.81% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.82% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Finance | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Manageable | Uncommon |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Mississippi tend to earn about 31% less than in Illinois
- The COLI in Mississippi will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Illinois
- The state income tax in MS is 4% compared to 4.95% in IL
- The affluence in Mississippi is modest compared to moderate in Illinois
- The poverty level is high in Mississippi compared to moderate in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Illinois and uncommon in Mississippi
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Mississippi
Comparison | Illinois | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Urban areas more liberal | Rural, with conservative values |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence | Primarily Protestant, with a strong Baptist presence |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Mississippi, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Mississippi's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant with a strong Baptist presence
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with a significant Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Mississippi
Comparison | Illinois | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary School Springfield; South Loop Elementary School Chicago; Meadow Glens Elementary School Naperville | Mannsdale Elementary School Madison; Madison Station Elementary School Madison; Eastside Elementary School Clinton |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Woodlawn Middle School Long Grove; Maple School Northbrook; Daniel Wright Junior High School Lincolnshire | Olde Towne Middle School Ridgeland; Madison Middle School Madison; Northwest Rankin Middle School Flowood |
Top 3 High Schools | Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire; New Trier High School Winnetka; Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago | Madison Central High School Madison; Ocean Springs High School Ocean Springs; Lewisburg High School Olive Branch |
Top 3 private high schools | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Aurora; University of Chicago Lab School Chicago; Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest | Jackson Preparatory School Jackson; Madison-Ridgeland Academy Madison; Presbyterian Christian School Hattiesburg |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Latin School of Chicago Chicago; Francis W. Parker School Chicago; Elgin Academy Elgin | St. Andrew's Episcopal School Ridgeland; Jackson Academy Jackson; Heritage Academy Columbus |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township High School District 203; Naperville Community Unit School District 203; Community High School District 128 | Madison County School District; Clinton Public School District; Rankin County School District |
How Much Do Illinois to Mississippi Movers Cost?
Moving 655 miles from Illinois to Mississippi will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- 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 | $1,574 | 300 ft3 | $5.25 |
1 Bedroom | $2,338 | 450 ft3 | $5.20 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,860 | 750 ft3 | $5.15 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,606 | 1100 ft3 | $5.10 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,074 | 1600 ft3 | $5.05 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,993 | 1800 ft3 | $5.00 |
Top Illinois to Mississippi Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Mississippi movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

606 Movers, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Illinois to Mississippi