North Dakota to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 932 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Knoephla Soup vs Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (ranch vs prairie), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Knoephla Soup and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Illinois is 71.54% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Illinois movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
North Dakota to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Illinois
- Extreme winters
- Limited job market
- Scarce cultural events
- Limited public transport
- Flat landscape
- Milder winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Robust transport networks
- Diverse landscapes
- Higher living expenses
- Denser populations
- Urban density
- Faster pace of life
- Limited nature access
- Low cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Scenic nature
- Peaceful lifestyle
- Outdoor activities
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Illinois
- Say goodbye to extreme winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Illinois with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the scarce cultural events of North Dakota for a vibrant cultural scene in Illinois
- Get ready for robust transport networks in Illinois
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in North Dakota to live with higher living expenses in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle with the con of denser populations
- Time to bid farewell to scenic nature and get used to urban density in Illinois
- Swap a peaceful lifestyle for a faster pace of life
North Dakota vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Knoephla Soup | Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Fry Bread Tacos | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | Deep-Dish Vegan Pizza |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Dakota to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Knoephla Soup of North Dakota for the equally delicious Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Fry Bread Tacos, 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 Wild Rice Burger 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 North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, HoDo Restaurant, and Pitchfork Steak Fondue. 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 North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Illinois
Comparison | North Dakota | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Prairie |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhood | Proximity to transit, Hardwood floors |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Prairie architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to transit and hardwood floors.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Illinois is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Illinois is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Illinois housing costs are 2% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Illinois is 71.54% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Illinois
Comparison | North Dakota | 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 | Blizzards, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 18Β°F / 0Β°F | 35Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17-20 | 36-48 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-50 | 22-38 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from North Dakota to Illinois. Illinois gets 6% fewer sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Illinois has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Illinois.
- The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 3 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 22 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Illinois. Illinois receives 19 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Illinois
Comparison | North Dakota | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 2.9% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.12% | 2.27% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.85% | 8.81% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 7% more than in North Dakota
- The COLI in Illinois will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95% compared to 2.9% in ND
- The affluence in Illinois is high compared to moderate in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Dakota and moderate in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Illinois
Comparison | North Dakota | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Dominance |
Religion | <a href="https://www.ndcatholic.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Predominantly Christian (Catholic and Lutheran)</a> | Diverse, with a significant Catholic population |
- North Dakota tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as diverse, with a significant Catholic population
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as <a href="https://www.ndcatholic.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">predominantly Christian (Catholic and Lutheran)</a>
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Illinois
Comparison | North Dakota | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Minot State University | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) Centennial Elementary (Fargo) | Lincoln Elementary (River Forest) South Park Elementary (Deerfield) Willowbrook Elementary (Glenview) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) | Wood Oaks Junior High (Northbrook) Marie Murphy School (Wilmette) Daniel Wright Junior High School (Lincolnshire) |
Top 3 High Schools | Central High School (Grand Forks) Century High School (Bismarck) Davies High School (Fargo) | Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) New Trier High School (Winnetka) |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) St. Mary's Central High School (Bismarck) | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) The Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Dakota Adventist Academy (Bismarck) Trinity Christian School (Williston) | Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) North Shore Country Day (Winnetka) Morgan Park Academy (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools | New Trier Township HSD 203 (Northfield) Naperville Community Unit School District 203 (Naperville) Community High School District 128 (Vernon Hills) |
How Much Do North Dakota to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 932 miles from North Dakota 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 | $1,731 | 300 ft3 | $5.77 |
1 Bedroom | $2,574 | 450 ft3 | $5.72 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,252 | 750 ft3 | $5.67 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,181 | 1100 ft3 | $5.62 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,911 | 1600 ft3 | $5.57 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,935 | 1800 ft3 | $5.52 |
Top North Dakota to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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