Mississippi to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 655 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs mild summers), food & health (like Catfish vs Chicago-style deep dish pizza), real estate & housing (colonial revival vs prairie school), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Barbecue ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style deep dish pizza & Italian Beef
- Illinois housing costs are 44% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Illinois is 27.89% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Illinois movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
Mississippi to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Illinois
- High humidity
- Limited job market
- Fewer cultural events
- Poor public transit
- Hurricane risk
- Mild summers
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Efficient transportation
- Less risk of hurricanes
- Harsh winters
- Higher cost of living
- Faster-paced lifestyle
- More transient populations
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Warm winters
- Lower cost of living
- Slow-paced lifestyle
- Close-knit communities
- Rich historical sites
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Illinois
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Illinois with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Mississippi for a vibrant cultural scene in Illinois
- Get ready for efficient transportation in Illinois
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warm winters in Mississippi to live with harsh winters in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to a slow-paced lifestyle and get used to a faster-paced lifestyle in Illinois
- Swap close-knit communities for more transient populations
Mississippi vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Chicago-style deep dish pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue ribs | Italian Beef |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Hot Dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Okra stew | Vegan deep dish 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 Mississippi to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Chicago-style deep dish pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Barbecue ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef and Hot Dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan deep dish pizza of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like Doe's Eat Place, City Grocery, and The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint. 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, Alinea, and Portillo's.
When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Illinois
Comparison | Mississippi | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival | Prairie School |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large Yards, Quiet Streets | Proximity to Chicago, Modern Amenities |
- The Colonial Revival architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Prairie School architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and quiet streets, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to Chicago and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Illinois is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Illinois is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Illinois housing costs are 44% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Illinois is 27.89% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Illinois
Comparison | Mississippi | 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, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Severe Winter Weather |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 70Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55Β°F / 34Β°F | 35Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 inches | 39 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 inch | 22 inches |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to Illinois. Illinois gets 10% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Illinois has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe winter weather in Illinois.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 6 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Illinois
Comparison | Mississippi | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 4% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 2.31% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 8.82% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Modest | Comfortable |
Poverty | High | Average |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 46% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in Illinois will be 2% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95% compared to 4% in MS
- The affluence in Illinois is comfortable compared to modest in Mississippi
- The poverty level is average in Illinois compared to high in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Mississippi and moderate in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Illinois
Comparison | Mississippi | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative-leaning | Liberal-leaning |
Local Politics | More homogeneous with strong local community involvement | Diverse with significant urban and rural policy differences |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Protestant Christian | Moderately religious, diverse religious landscape |
- Mississippi tends to lean conservative-leaning in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as liberal-leaning
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as moderately religious with a diverse religious landscape
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Protestant Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Illinois
Comparison | Mississippi | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Madison Station Elementary (Madison) Oak Park Elementary (Ocean Springs) | Lincoln Elementary School (River Forest) South Park Elementary School (Deerfield) Willowbrook Elementary School (Glenview) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Madison Middle School (Madison) Gulfport Central Middle School (Gulfport) | Marie Murphy School (Wilmette) McClure Junior High School (Western Springs) Maple School (Northbrook) |
Top 3 High Schools | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) | Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) New Trier Township High School (Winnetka) Northside College Prep (Chicago) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Saint Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Heritage Academy (Columbus) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) | Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Lake Forest Country Day School (Lake Forest) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Oxford School District Clinton Public School District | New Trier Township High School District 203 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Community High School District 128 |
How Much Do Mississippi to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 655 miles from Mississippi to Illinois 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 Mississippi to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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