Louisiana to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 835 mile interstate move from Louisiana to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs milder summers), food & health (like Gumbo vs Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (french colonial, plantation vs prairie school, chicago style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Gumbo and Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 29% more expensive than they are in Louisiana
- Rent in Illinois is 33.04% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Louisiana to Illinois movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Louisiana to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to Illinois
- Hot, humid summers
- Hurricane risk
- Limited public transport
- Lower job diversity
- Milder summers
- No hurricanes
- Comprehensive transit systems
- Diverse job market
- Cuisine less spicy
- Less vibrant festivals
- Cold winters
- Higher living costs
- Cajun cuisine
- Mardi Gras culture
- Year-round outdoor activities
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from Louisiana to Illinois
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Illinois with no hurricanes
- Swap the limited public transport of Louisiana for comprehensive transit systems in Illinois
- Get ready for a diverse job market in Illinois
Cons of moving from Louisiana to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from Cajun cuisine in Louisiana to live with cuisine that is less spicy in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of Mardi Gras culture and have to settle with the con of less vibrant festivals
- Time to bid farewell to year-round outdoor activities and get used to cold winters in Illinois
- Swap a lower cost of living for higher living costs
Louisiana vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Po'boys | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Deep Dish Vegan Pizza |
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 Louisiana to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e and sumptuous Po'boys, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef Sandwich and Chicago-style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Deep Dish Vegan Pizza of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, Willie Mae's Scotch House, and Dooky Chase's Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Illinois, don't wait too long before making your way to Illinois' acclaimed eateries like Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Portillo's Hot Dogs, and Girl & The Goat.
When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and Illinois
Comparison | Louisiana | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Colonial, Plantation | Prairie School, Chicago Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, French doors | Energy efficiency, Hardwood floors |
- The French Colonial and Plantation architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Prairie School and Chicago Style architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and French doors, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and hardwood floors.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Illinois is more walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Illinois is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- Illinois housing costs are 29% more expensive than they are in Louisiana, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Louisianaβs $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in Illinois is 33.04% more expensive than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and Illinois
Comparison | Louisiana | Illinois |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Variable | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/73 | 85/65 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62/42 | 35/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 | 39 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | <1 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Louisiana to Illinois. Illinois gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Louisiana.
- Illinois has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Illinois.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 6 degrees colder than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows are 22 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 21 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and Illinois
Comparison | Louisiana | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 2-6 | 4.95 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55 | 2.16 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.45 | 8.82 |
Top 3 Industries | Petrochemical, Tourism, Agriculture | Financial Services, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 38% more than in Louisiana
- The COLI in Illinois is 2% lower than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 2-6 in LA
- The affluence in Illinois is high compared to moderate in Louisiana
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to high in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Louisiana and higher in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. Illinois
Comparison | Louisiana | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans conservative | Generally leans liberal |
Local Politics | Strong emphasis on local governance | Highly focused on urban-centric policies |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Religiously diverse, with a significant Christian population |
- Louisiana tends to lean traditionally conservative in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as generally leaning liberal
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as religiously diverse, with a significant Christian population
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to Illinois
Comparison | Louisiana | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lusher Charter School - New Orleans Baton Rouge Magnet High School - Baton Rouge Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies - Metairie | Lincoln Elementary School - Chicago South Loop Elementary School - Chicago Meadow Glens Elementary School - Naperville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Young Audiences Charter School - Gretna Glasgow Middle School - Baton Rouge Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy - Jefferson | Springman Middle School - Glenview Maple School - Northbrook Daniel Wright Junior High School - Lincolnshire |
Top 3 High Schools | Benjamin Franklin High School - New Orleans Baton Rouge Magnet High School - Baton Rouge Haynes Academy - Metairie | Northside College Preparatory High School - Chicago Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy - Aurora Payton College Preparatory High School - Chicago |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School - New Orleans Metairie Park Country Day School - Metairie Episcopal School of Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge | Lake Forest Academy - Lake Forest The Latin School of Chicago - Chicago University of Chicago Laboratory Schools - Chicago |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Runnels School - Baton Rouge Metairie Park Country Day School - Metairie Episcopal School of Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge | The Latin School of Chicago - Chicago University of Chicago Laboratory Schools - Chicago Francis W. Parker School - Chicago |
Top 3 School Districts | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System Livingston Parish Public Schools | New Trier Township High School District 203 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Community High School District 128 |
How Much Do Louisiana to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 835 miles from Louisiana to Illinois will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- 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 | $1,676 | 300 ft3 | $5.59 |
1 Bedroom | $2,491 | 450 ft3 | $5.54 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,115 | 750 ft3 | $5.49 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,980 | 1100 ft3 | $5.44 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,618 | 1600 ft3 | $5.39 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,605 | 1800 ft3 | $5.34 |
Top Louisiana to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.