North Carolina to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 807 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity levels vs mild summer climate), food & health (like Pulled Pork BBQ vs Deep-Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs prairie, mid-century modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled Pork BBQ and Eastern NC BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Deep-Dish Pizza & Italian Beef
- Illinois housing costs are 22% less expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Illinois is 1.08% more expensive than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Illinois movers is Just Move It, LLC
North Carolina to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Illinois
- Humidity levels
- Hurricane threats
- Fewer public transit options
- Limited job market diversity
- Mild summer climate
- No hurricane worries
- Robust public transportation
- Broader job opportunities
- Longer winter season
- Higher taxes
- Higher population density
- Further from ocean
- Nature accessibility
- Lower cost of living
- Friendly southern culture
- Proximity to beaches
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Illinois
- Say goodbye to humidity levels and hello to a mild summer climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane threats and moving to Illinois with no hurricane worries
- Swap the fewer public transit options of North Carolina for robust public transportation in Illinois
- Get ready for broader job opportunities in Illinois
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from nature accessibility in North Carolina to live with a longer winter season in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher taxes
- Time to bid farewell to friendly southern culture and get used to a higher population density in Illinois
- Swap proximity to beaches for being further from the ocean
North Carolina vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled Pork BBQ | Deep-Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern NC BBQ | Italian Beef |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burger | 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 North Carolina to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Deep-Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern NC BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef and Chicago-style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burger 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 North Carolina eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Chef and the Farmer, and Buxton Hall Barbecue. 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, and Alinea.
When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Illinois
Comparison | North Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Prairie, Mid-Century Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, garages | Historical details, proximity to public transit |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Mid-Century Modern architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and garages, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like historical details and proximity to public transit.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Illinois is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Illinois is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Illinois housing costs are 22% less expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Illinois is 1.08% more expensive than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Illinois
Comparison | North Carolina | 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, storms | Tornadoes, storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 35Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 39" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Carolina to Illinois. Illinois gets 11% fewer sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Illinois has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and storms in North Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and storms in Illinois.
- The average summer high temperature in Illinois is the same as North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees colder than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 11 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Illinois
Comparison | North Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 5.25 | 4.95 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.77 | 2.27 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98 | 8.83 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Finance, Manufacturing, Energy |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 14% more than those in North Carolina
- The COLI in Illinois is 2% lower than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 5.25 in NC
- The affluence in Illinois is high compared to moderate in North Carolina
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to moderate in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Carolina and moderate in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Illinois
Comparison | North Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans slightly conservative | Leans liberal, especially in urban areas |
Local Politics | Varies by region, with urban areas more liberal and rural areas more conservative | Urban areas (like Chicago) are strongly liberal, while some rural areas can be more conservative |
Religion | Christianity dominant, with a diverse range of practices | Religiously diverse, with a significant Christian population alongside other faiths |
- North Carolina tends to lean mixed and leans slightly conservative in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as leaning liberal, especially in urban areas
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as religiously diverse with a significant Christian population alongside other faiths
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant with a diverse range of practices
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Illinois
Comparison | North Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina NC State University Duke University | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Endhaven Elementary (Charlotte) Morrisville Elementary (Morrisville) Alderman Elementary (Greensboro) | Lincoln Elementary (River Forest) South Park Elementary (Deerfield) Willowbrook Elementary (Glenview) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Jay M. Robinson Middle (Charlotte) Smith Middle (Chapel Hill) Ligon Middle (Raleigh) | Daniel Wright Junior High (Lincolnshire) Clarendon Hills Middle (Clarendon Hills) Kennedy Junior High (Lisle) |
Top 3 High Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Myers Park High (Charlotte) | Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private high schools | Cary Academy (Cary) Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) Durham Academy (Durham) Cary Christian School (Cary) | Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) North Shore Country Day (Winnetka) Morgan Park Academy (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | New Trier Township High School District 203 Northfield Township High School District 225 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 |
How Much Do North Carolina to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 807 miles from North Carolina 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: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,660 | 300 ft3 | $5.53 |
1 Bedroom | $2,467 | 450 ft3 | $5.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,075 | 750 ft3 | $5.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,922 | 1100 ft3 | $5.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,533 | 1600 ft3 | $5.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,510 | 1800 ft3 | $5.28 |
Top North Carolina to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Illinois