Illinois to Wyoming Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,136 mile interstate move from Illinois to Wyoming? This moving guide will help you compare living in Illinois vs Wyoming across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high taxes vs lower taxes), food & health (like Deep-dish Pizza vs Bison Steak), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs ranch and log cabin), 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 Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Bison Steak & Elk Meatloaf
- Wyoming housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in Illinois
- Rent in Wyoming is 37.22% more affordable than in Illinois
- Moving from Illinois to Wyoming will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Illinois to Wyoming movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Illinois to Wyoming Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Illinois to Wyoming
- High Taxes
- Traffic Congestion
- Dense Population
- Brutal Winters
- Costly Real Estate
- Lower Taxes
- Less Traffic
- Spacious Living
- Mild Winters
- Affordable Homes
- Less Cultural Variety
- Limited Job Market
- Quiet Evenings
- Lacking Historical Sites
- Car-Dependent
- Cultural Diversity
- Job Opportunities
- Vibrant Nightlife
- Rich History
- Public Transport
Pros of moving from Illinois to Wyoming
- Say goodbye to high taxes and hello to lower taxes
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Wyoming with less traffic
- Swap the dense population of Illinois for spacious living in Wyoming
- Get ready for mild winters in Wyoming
Cons of moving from Illinois to Wyoming
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in Illinois to live with less cultural variety in Wyoming
- You'll lose out on the pro of job opportunities and have to settle with the con of a limited job market
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant nightlife and get used to quiet evenings in Wyoming
- Swap rich history for a lack of historical sites
Illinois vs. Wyoming: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Illinois | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Deep-dish Pizza | Bison Steak |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Beef Sandwich | Elk Meatloaf |
Most popular street food item | Chicago-style Hot Dog | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Deep-dish Vegan Pizza | Vegan Chili |
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 Wyoming, you will be trading the iconic Deep-dish Pizza of Illinois for the equally delicious Bison Steak of Wyoming. And while the locals in Illinois rave about their flavorful Italian Beef Sandwich and sumptuous Chicago-style Hot Dog, Wyoming residents know they have tasty Elk Meatloaf and Indian Tacos 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 Vegan Chili of Wyoming. 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 Wyoming, don't wait too long before making your way to Wyoming's acclaimed eateries like Kingβs Saddleery, Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel, and Sheridan Inn.
When comparing lifestyles, Wyoming shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Illinois. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Wyoming compared to what you are used to in Illinois. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Wyoming.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Illinois and Wyoming
Comparison | Illinois | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Ranch and Log Cabin |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Mountain views, Proximity to outdoor activities |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Illinois is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Log Cabin architecture typical of Wyoming.
- Compared to Illinois's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Wyoming real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and proximity to outdoor activities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Wyoming is less walkable than Illinois.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Wyoming is less bike-friendly than Illinois.
- Wyoming has less of an urban feel than Illinois.
- Wyoming housing costs are 32% more expensive than they are in Illinois, with a median home price of $340,933 compared to Illinoisβs $257,738.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Wyoming have increased by 40% compared to a 35% increase in Illinois.
- Rent in Wyoming is 37.22% more affordable than in Illinois.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Illinois and Wyoming
Comparison | Illinois | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/65Β°F | 80Β°F/50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F/20Β°F | 32Β°F/15Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39 | 12.9 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Illinois to Wyoming. Wyoming gets 17% more sunshine days than Illinois.
- Wyoming 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 wildfires and snowstorms in Wyoming.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Wyoming is 5 degrees colder than in Illinois.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees colder than they are in Illinois.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wyoming. Wyoming receives 26.1 fewer inches of rain compared to Illinois.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Illinois and Wyoming
Comparison | Illinois | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $76,708 | $70,042 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.25 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.27% | 0.61% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.81% | 5.36% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Finance, Agriculture | Energy, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Medium | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Wyoming tend to earn about 9% less than those in Illinois
- The COLI in Wyoming will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Illinois
- Hooray, moving to WY means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Wyoming is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Illinois
- The poverty level is low in Wyoming compared to medium poverty in Illinois
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Illinois and minimal in Wyoming
Political and Religious Climate in Illinois vs. Wyoming
Comparison | Illinois | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Mixture of urban and rural interests | Largely rural with a strong focus on land and resource rights |
Religion | Diverse, with a significant Roman Catholic presence | Predominantly Protestant, with a strong evangelical influence |
- Illinois tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Wyoming, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning
- Wyoming's religious environment can be described as predominantly Protestant with a strong evangelical influence
- Illinois' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a significant Roman Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Illinois to Wyoming
Comparison | Illinois | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago | University of Wyoming Colorado State University University of Colorado |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lincoln Elementary School Oak Park; Skinner North Classical School Chicago; South Loop Elementary School Chicago | Slade Elementary Laramie; Cloud Peak Elementary Buffalo; Meadowlark Elementary Cheyenne |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Payton College Preparatory High School Chicago; Young Magnet High School Chicago; Kennedy Junior High School Lisle | Laramie Middle School Laramie; Sage Valley Junior High Gillette; McCormick Junior High Cheyenne |
Top 3 High Schools | Northside College Preparatory High School Chicago; Adlai E. Stevenson High School Lincolnshire; Walter Payton College Prep Chicago | Central High School Cheyenne; Laramie High School Laramie; Sheridan High School Sheridan |
Top 3 private high schools | University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Chicago; Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest; Francis W. Parker School Chicago | Jackson Hole Community School Jackson; Wyoming Catholic College Lander; Cody Christian School Cody |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Fusion Academy Oak Brook Oak Brook; Morgan Park Academy Chicago; Roycemore School Evanston | Jackson Hole Classical Academy Jackson; St. Mary's Catholic School Cheyenne; Trinity Lutheran School Casper |
Top 3 School Districts | New Trier Township High School District Naperville Community Unit School District Elmhurst City Schools | Teton County School District Laramie County School District Sheridan County School District |
How Much Do Illinois to Wyoming Movers Cost?
Moving 1,136 miles from Illinois to Wyoming will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- 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 | $1,847 | 300 ft3 | $6.16 |
1 Bedroom | $2,747 | 450 ft3 | $6.11 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,541 | 750 ft3 | $6.06 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,606 | 1100 ft3 | $6.01 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,528 | 1600 ft3 | $5.96 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,629 | 1800 ft3 | $5.91 |
Top Illinois to Wyoming Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Illinois to Wyoming movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.