Moving from Illinois to Tennessee
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Illinois to Tennessee Moving Guide
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Updated September 25, 2026
Moving from Illinois to Tennessee typically costs $1,500 β $5,500.
Planning a 508 mile interstate move from Illinois to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Tennessee 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 Memphis-style barbecue), 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 Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis-style barbecue & Hot Chicken
- Moving from Illinois to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500 see full breakdown
- Our top recommended Illinois to Tennessee movers is A1 Movers, Inc

Planning a 508 mile interstate move from Illinois to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Tennessee 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 Memphis-style barbecue), 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 Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Memphis-style barbecue & Hot Chicken
- Moving from Illinois to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500 see full breakdown
- Our top recommended Illinois to Tennessee movers is A1 Movers, Inc

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

A1 Movers, Inc
Best moving company overall for Illinois to Tennessee

Boundless Moving & Storage

Move-tastic!
How Much Do Illinois to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 508 miles from Illinois to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
| HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,490 | 300 ft3 | $4.97 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,213 | 450 ft3 | $4.92 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,651 | 750 ft3 | $4.87 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,300 | 1100 ft3 | $4.82 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $7,629 | 1600 ft3 | $4.77 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $8,493 | 1800 ft3 | $4.72 |
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Illinois to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Tennessee
- High property taxes
- Higher income taxes
- Cold, snowy winters
- Lake-effect snowstorms
- Costly city living
- Traffic congestion
- Costly parking fees
- Flat prairie scenery
- Toll road expenses
- Older infrastructure
- Higher utility rates
- Higher car insurance
- Fewer waterfalls, trails
- Shorter growing season
- Lower property taxes
- No wage income tax
- Milder winter climate
- Longer outdoor season
- Lower housing costs
- Easier driving, parking
- Free parking common
- Smoky Mountains nearby
- Few or no tolls
- Newer infrastructure growth
- Lower electric rates
- Lower insurance premiums
- Abundant trails, waterfalls
- Longer growing season
- Car-dependent commuting
- Fewer corporate HQs
- Lower average wages
- Fewer major museums
- Fewer research campuses
- Longer specialist drives
- Fewer global nonstops
- More sprawl, driving
- Fewer pro franchises
- Smaller food variety
- Hotter, humid summers
- No Great Lake shoreline
- Limited rail options
- Fewer marquee events
- Robust public transit
- Major job market
- Higher average salaries
- World-class museums
- Prestigious universities
- Top-ranked hospitals
- International flights access
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Big-league sports teams
- Diverse dining scene
- Cooler lake breezes
- Great Lake shoreline
- Extensive commuter rail
- Dense cultural calendar
Pros of moving from Illinois to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from higher income taxes and moving to Tennessee with no wage income tax
- Swap the cold, snowy winters of Illinois for a milder winter climate in Tennessee
- Get ready for a longer outdoor season in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Illinois to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from robust public transit in Illinois to live with car-dependent commuting in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of a major job market and have to settle for the con of fewer corporate HQs
- Time to bid farewell to higher average salaries and get used to lower average wages in Tennessee
- Swap world-class museums for fewer major museums
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Illinois vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
| Comparison | Illinois | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Chicago-style deep dish pizza | Memphis-style barbecue |
| Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef Sandwich | Hot Chicken |
| Most popular street food item | Chicago-style hot dog | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
| Most popular vegan food | Deep dish vegan pizza | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich |
| 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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Chicago-style deep dish pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Memphis-style barbecue of Tennessee. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef Sandwich and sumptuous Chicago-style hot dog, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Deep Dish Vegan Pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich of Tennessee. 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 Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Central BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken, and Husk Nashville.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
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