Illinois to Nebraska Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 652 mile interstate move from Illinois to Nebraska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Nebraska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher taxes vs lower taxes), food & health (like Deep-dish pizza vs Runza), real estate & housing (prairie and ranch vs craftsman and ranch), 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 Runza & Beef Steak
- Nebraska housing costs are 0% less expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Nebraska is 27.07% more affordable than in Illinois
- Moving from Illinois to Nebraska will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Illinois to Nebraska movers is King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
Top Illinois to Nebraska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Nebraska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
Best moving company overall for Illinois to Nebraska

10 Men Movers

606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to Nebraska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Nebraska
- Higher taxes
- Heavy traffic
- Urban congestion
- Winter weather
- Higher cost of living
- Lower taxes
- Less congestion
- Open landscapes
- Milder winters
- Affordable living
- Limited cultural venues
- Fewer dining options
- Fewer entertainment venues
- Far from large metros
- Smaller job market
- Rich culture
- Diverse cuisine
- Many entertainment options
- Proximity to big cities
- Varied job market
Pros of moving from Illinois to Nebraska
- Say goodbye to higher taxes and hello to lower taxes
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Nebraska with less congestion
- Swap the urban congestion of Illinois for open landscapes in Nebraska
- Get ready for milder winters in Nebraska
Cons of moving from Illinois to Nebraska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich culture in Illinois to live with limited cultural venues in Nebraska
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer dining options
- Time to bid farewell to many entertainment options and get used to fewer entertainment venues in Nebraska
- Swap proximity to big cities for being far from large metros
Illinois vs. Nebraska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep-dish pizza | Runza |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef | Beef Steak |
Most popular street food item | Chicago-style hot dog | Cheesesteak |
Most popular vegan food | Chicago Vegan Deep Dish | Seitan Steaks |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Nebraska, you will be trading the iconic Deep-dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Runza of Nebraska. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef and sumptuous Chicago-style hot dog, Nebraska residents know they have tasty Beef Steak and Cheesesteak to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chicago Vegan Deep Dish they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Steaks of Nebraska. 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 Nebraska, don't wait too long before making your way to Nebraska's acclaimed eateries like Runza, Misty's Steakhouse, and Morrill Hall.
When comparing lifestyles, Nebraska shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Nebraska compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Nebraska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Nebraska
Comparison | Illinois | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Ranch | Craftsman and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | "Near public transport", "Parks nearby" | "Spacious yards", "Quiet neighborhood" |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Nebraska.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference 'near public transport' and 'parks nearby', Nebraska real estate listings often highlight features like 'spacious yards' and 'quiet neighborhoods'.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Nebraska is less walkable than Illinois.
- Nebraska is similarly bike-friendly to Illinois.
- Nebraska has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Nebraska housing costs are 0% less expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $257,167 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Nebraska have increased by 47% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in Nebraska is 27.07% more affordable than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Nebraska
Comparison | Illinois | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Moderate | Better |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 87/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/20 | 32/13 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 28 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Illinois to Nebraska. Nebraska gets 16% more sunshine days than Illinois.
- Nebraska 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 tornadoes and blizzards in Nebraska.
- The average summer high temperature in Nebraska is 2 degrees warmer than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows in Nebraska are 7 degrees colder than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Nebraska. Nebraska receives 9 fewer inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Nebraska
Comparison | Illinois | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $69,597 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 90.85 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 6.84% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.16% | 1.73% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.81% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Health Care |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Minimal |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Rare |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Nebraska tend to earn about 9% less than those in Illinois
- The COLI in Nebraska is 4% lower than what you are used to living in Illinois
- The state income tax in Nebraska is 6.84% compared to 4.95% in Illinois
- The affluence in Nebraska is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Illinois
- The poverty level is minimal in Nebraska compared to significant poverty in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Illinois and rare in Nebraska
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Nebraska
Comparison | Illinois | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal cities with conservative rural areas | Conservative, with some liberal enclaves |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Catholic presence | Predominantly Protestant |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Nebraska, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning
- Nebraska's religious environment can be described as predominantly Protestant
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Nebraska
Comparison | Illinois | Nebraska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Creighton University University of Nebraska at Omaha |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary School Naperville; South Loop Elementary School Chicago; Meadow Glens Elementary School Naperville | Brownell Elementary School Omaha; Pyrtle Elementary School Lincoln; Prairie Lane Elementary School Omaha |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wood Oaks Junior High School Northbrook; Marie Murphy School Wilmette; Maple School Northbrook | Elkhorn Ridge Middle School Elkhorn; Russell Middle School Millard; Kiewit Middle School Omaha |
Top 3 High School Schools | Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire; New Trier High School Winnetka; Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago | Millard North High School Omaha; Lincoln East High School Lincoln; Elkhorn South High School Elkhorn |
Top 3 private high schools | University of Chicago Lab School Chicago; North Shore Country Day School Winnetka; Francis W. Parker School Chicago | Brownell Talbot School Omaha; Mount Michael Benedictine School Elkhorn; Marian High School Omaha |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Latin School of Chicago Chicago; Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest; Morgan Park Academy Chicago | Brownell Talbot School Omaha; Omaha Christian Academy Omaha; Cornerstone Christian School Bellevue |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township HSD 203 Northfield; Community HS District 128 Vernon Hills; Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Naperville | Elkhorn Public Schools Elkhorn; Millard Public Schools Omaha; Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln |
How Much Do Illinois to Nebraska Movers Cost?
Moving 652 miles from Illinois to Nebraska 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: King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,572 | 300 ft3 | $5.24 |
1 Bedroom | $2,336 | 450 ft3 | $5.19 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,855 | 750 ft3 | $5.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,599 | 1100 ft3 | $5.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,065 | 1600 ft3 | $5.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,983 | 1800 ft3 | $4.99 |