Nebraska to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 654 mile interstate move from Nebraska to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Nebraska vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cultural opportunities lacking vs rich cultural attractions), food & health (like Runza vs Deep-dish pizza), real estate & housing (ranch vs prairie), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Runza and Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Deep-dish pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 0% more expensive than those in Nebraska
- Rent in Illinois is 37.13% more expensive than in Nebraska
- Moving from Nebraska to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Nebraska to Illinois movers is King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
Nebraska to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Nebraska to Illinois
- Cultural opportunities lacking
- Rural limitations
- Extreme weather
- Fewer job markets
- Rich cultural attractions
- Vibrant urban life
- Milder winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Noisy, crowded cities
- Higher expenses
- Less personal interaction
- Urban sprawl
- Quiet and peaceful
- Lower cost of living
- Strong community ties
- Natural landscapes
Pros of moving from Nebraska to Illinois
- Say goodbye to cultural opportunities lacking and hello to rich cultural attractions
- Look forward to moving away from rural limitations and moving to Illinois with vibrant urban life
- Swap the extreme weather of Nebraska for milder winters in Illinois
- Get ready for diverse job opportunities in Illinois
Cons of moving from Nebraska to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from quiet and peaceful in Nebraska to live with noisy and crowded cities in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher expenses
- Time to bid farewell to strong community ties and get used to less personal interaction in Illinois
- Swap natural landscapes for urban sprawl
Nebraska vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Nebraska | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Runza | Deep-dish pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Steak | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Grilled corn | Hot dog |
Most popular vegan food | 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 Nebraska to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Runza of Nebraska for the equally delicious Deep-dish pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Nebraska rave about their flavorful Steak and sumptuous Grilled corn, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef Sandwich and Hot dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the 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 Nebraska eateries like Misty's Steakhouse, Le Quartier Baking Co., and The Grey Plume. 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 a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Nebraska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Nebraska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Nebraska and Illinois
Comparison | Nebraska | 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, basements | Hardwood floors, proximity to public transit |
- The Ranch architecture that Nebraska is known for will be replaced with the Prairie architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to Nebraska's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and basements, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like hardwood floors and proximity to public transit.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Illinois is more walkable than Nebraska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Illinois is more bike-friendly than Nebraska.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than Nebraska.
- Illinois housing costs are 0% more expensive than those in Nebraska with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Nebraskaβs $257,167.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 47% increase in Nebraska.
- Rent in Illinois is 37.13% more expensive than in Nebraska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Nebraska and Illinois
Comparison | Nebraska | 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 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 63Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F / 13Β°F | 35Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30" | 39" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Nebraska to Illinois. Illinois gets 15% fewer sunshine days than Nebraska.
- Illinois has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Nebraska.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Nebraska, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Illinois.
- The average summer high temperature in Illinois is the same as in Nebraska.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in Nebraska.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Illinois. Illinois receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Nebraska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Nebraska and Illinois
Comparison | Nebraska | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,597 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.85 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 6.84 | 4.95 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.61 | 2.27 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.5 | 8.8 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Insurance, Transportation | Finance, Manufacturing, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 10% more than in Nebraska
- The COLI in Illinois will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Nebraska
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 6.84 in NE
- The affluence in Illinois is high compared to moderate in Nebraska
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to low in Nebraska
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Nebraska and moderate in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in Nebraska vs. Illinois
Comparison | Nebraska | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance in Rural Areas | Democratic Strongholds in Urban Centers |
Religion | Christianity Predominant, with a significant Protestant presence | Diverse; Predominantly Christian, Significant Catholic Presence |
- Nebraska tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- Illinois's religious environment can be described as diverse, predominantly Christian with a significant Catholic presence
- Nebraska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominant with a significant Protestant presence
Education Guide When Moving from Nebraska to Illinois
Comparison | Nebraska | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Creighton University University of Nebraska at Omaha | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Paddock Road Elementary (Omaha) Swanson Elementary (Omaha) Westbrook Elementary (Omaha) | Lincoln Elementary (River Forest) South Park Elementary (Deerfield) Walden Elementary (Deerfield) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Kiewit Middle School (Omaha) Elkhorn Ridge Middle School (Elkhorn) Russell Middle School (Omaha) | Daniel Wright Junior High (Lincolnshire) Twin Groves Middle School (Buffalo Grove) Maple School (Northbrook) |
Top 3 High Schools | Millard North High School (Omaha) Elkhorn South High School (Elkhorn) Lincoln Southwest High School (Lincoln) | Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) New Trier High School (Winnetka) Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private high schools | Mount Michael Benedictine High School (Elkhorn) Marian High School (Omaha) Creighton Preparatory School (Omaha) | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) North Shore Country Day (Winnetka) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Omaha Christian Academy (Omaha) Concordia Academy (Omaha) | Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) The Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) The British International School of Chicago (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Westside Community Schools (Omaha) Elkhorn Public Schools (Elkhorn) Millard Public Schools (Omaha) | New Trier Township High School District 203 (Northfield) Community High School District 128 (Vernon Hills) Glenbrook High Schools District 225 (Glenview) |
How Much Do Nebraska to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 654 miles from Nebraska 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: King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,573 | 300 ft3 | $5.24 |
1 Bedroom | $2,337 | 450 ft3 | $5.19 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,858 | 750 ft3 | $5.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,604 | 1100 ft3 | $5.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,071 | 1600 ft3 | $5.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,990 | 1800 ft3 | $4.99 |
Top Nebraska to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Nebraska to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
Best moving company overall for Nebraska to Illinois