South Carolina to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 828 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summer humidity vs cooler temperatures), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (colonial and traditional vs prairie style and bungalows), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Illinois), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Illinois is 5.94% more expensive than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Illinois will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Illinois movers is 606 Movers, Inc.
South Carolina to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Illinois
- Hot summer humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Limited public transit
- Rural areas
- Cooler temperatures
- Less severe weather
- Efficient transportation
- Urban amenities
- No ocean access
- Cold, harsh winters
- Less personal warmth
- Higher expenses
- Beaches & coastline
- Mild winters
- Southern charm
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Illinois
- Say goodbye to hot summer humidity and hello to cooler temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Illinois with less severe weather
- Swap the limited public transit of South Carolina for efficient transportation in Illinois
- Get ready for urban amenities in Illinois
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beaches and coastline in South Carolina to live with no ocean access in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of cold, harsh winters
- Time to bid farewell to southern charm and get used to less personal warmth in Illinois
- Swap lower cost of living for higher expenses
South Carolina vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Deep-Dish Vegan Pizza |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 South Carolina to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, 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 Collard Greens 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 South Carolina eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill, and Poogan's Porch. After the boxes are unpacked in Illinois, don't wait too long before making your way to Illinois' acclaimed eateries like Lou Malnati's, Portillo's, and Alinea.
When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois, compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Illinois
Comparison | South Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Traditional | Prairie Style and Bungalows |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, porches | Energy efficiency, public transit access |
- The Colonial and Traditional architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Prairie Style and Bungalows architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and porches, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and public transit access.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Illinois is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Illinois is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Illinois housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Illinois is 5.94% more expensive than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Illinois
Comparison | South 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, floods | Tornadoes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 35Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8" | 39" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Illinois. Illinois gets 13% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Illinois has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to South Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in South Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Illinois.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 5 degrees colder than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 10.8 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Illinois
Comparison | South Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 0-7% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 2.05% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.46% | 8.81% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Tourism, Agriculture | Services, Finance, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 20% more than in South Carolina
- The COLI in Illinois is 3% lower than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95% compared to 0-7% in SC
- The affluence in Illinois is high compared to moderate in South Carolina
- The poverty level is low in Illinois compared to moderate in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Carolina and moderate in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Illinois
Comparison | South Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally conservative | Lean towards liberalism |
Local Politics | Significant Republican dominance | Diverse, with a Democratic stronghold |
Religion | Evangelical Protestantism prevalent | More religiously diverse |
- South Carolina tends to lean traditionally conservative in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as leaning towards liberalism
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as more religiously diverse
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestantism prevalent
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Illinois
Comparison | South Carolina | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston | University of Illinois Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Forest Lake Elementary (Columbia) | Lincoln Elementary (River Forest) South Loop Elementary (Chicago) Meadow Glens Elementary (Naperville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Hand Middle School (Columbia) Thomas C. Cario Middle (Mount Pleasant) Blythewood Middle (Blythewood) | Skinner North Classical School (Chicago) Maple School (Northbrook) Kennedy Junior High (Lisle) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Wando High School (Mount Pleasant) | Payton College Preparatory (Chicago) Northside College Preparatory (Chicago) Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (Aurora) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Ashley Hall (Charleston) | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Charleston Day School (Charleston) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) | Loyola Academy (Wilmette) Morgan Park Academy (Chicago) North Shore Country Day (Winnetka) |
Top 3 School Districts | Charleston County School District Greenville County School District Lexington 1 School District | New Trier Township High School District Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Community High School District 128 |
How Much Do South Carolina to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 828 miles from South 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: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,672 | 300 ft3 | $5.57 |
1 Bedroom | $2,485 | 450 ft3 | $5.52 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,105 | 750 ft3 | $5.47 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,965 | 1100 ft3 | $5.42 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,597 | 1600 ft3 | $5.37 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,581 | 1800 ft3 | $5.32 |
Top South Carolina to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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