Utah to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 1,376 mile interstate move from Utah to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Jell-O vs Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (prairie and craftsman vs prairie, victorian, and international), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Jell-O and Utah Scones, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 50% less expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in Illinois is 3.96% more expensive than in Utah
- Moving from Utah to Illinois will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Utah to Illinois movers is 801 Moving Company
Utah to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to Illinois
- High cost of living
- Limited public transport
- Dry climate
- Less diverse population
- More affordable housing
- Extensive transit systems
- More varied weather
- Rich cultural diversity
- Flat terrain
- Less natural attractions
- Higher crime rates
- Frequent congestion
- Scenic landscapes
- Outdoor activities
- Low crime rates
- Fewer traffic jams
Pros of moving from Utah to Illinois
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transport and moving to Illinois with extensive transit systems
- Swap the dry climate of Utah for more varied weather in Illinois
- Get ready for rich cultural diversity in Illinois
Cons of moving from Utah to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic landscapes in Utah to live with flat terrain in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor activities and have to settle for the con of less natural attractions
- Time to bid farewell to low crime rates and get used to higher crime rates in Illinois
- Swap fewer traffic jams for frequent congestion
Utah vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Jell-O | Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Utah Scones | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Fry Sauce | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Seitan |
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 Utah to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Jell-O of Utah for the equally delicious Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah Scones and sumptuous Fry Sauce, 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 Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Utah eateries like Ruth's Chris Steak House, Red Iguana, and Valter's Osteria. 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 Utah. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and Illinois
Comparison | Utah | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Craftsman | Prairie, Victorian, and International |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, outdoor spaces | Proximity to Chicago, historical features |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Prairie, Victorian, and International architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and outdoor spaces, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to Chicago and historical landmarks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes because Illinois is more walkable than Utah.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike because Illinois is more bike-friendly than Utah.
- Illinois has more of an urban feel than Utah.
- Illinois housing costs are 50% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased by 35% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in Illinois is 3.96% more expensive than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and Illinois
Comparison | Utah | 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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 18Β°F | 35Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 16 | 39 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Utah to Illinois. Illinois gets 21% fewer sunshine days than Utah.
- Illinois has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Illinois.
- The average summer high temperature in Illinois is the same degrees as Utah.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Illinois. Illinois receives 23 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and Illinois
Comparison | Utah | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.60% | 2.27% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 8.81% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Mining, Agriculture | Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderately affluent | Diverse affluence |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Relatively low | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 14% less than in Utah
- The COLI in Illinois will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Utah
- There's no change in state income tax between Utah and Illinois
- The affluence in Illinois is diverse compared to moderately affluent in Utah
- The poverty level is moderate in Illinois compared to low in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is relatively low in Utah and noticeable in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. Illinois
Comparison | Utah | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance | Democratic strongholds in urban areas |
Religion | LDS Church majority | Diverse religious landscape |
- Utah tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as an LDS Church majority
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to Illinois
Comparison | Utah | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Utah State University Brigham Young University | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Aveson Charter Schools (Salt Lake City) The Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) Hawthorne Elementary School (Salt Lake City) | Lincoln Elementary School (Chicago) South Loop Elementary School (Chicago) Edison Regional Gifted Center (Chicago) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Renaissance Academy (Lehi) Wasatch Junior High (Salt Lake City) Fort Herriman Middle School (Herriman) | Skinner North Classical School (Chicago) Daniel Wright Junior High School (Lincolnshire) Clarendon Hills Middle School (Clarendon Hills) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Itineris Early College High (West Jordan) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Layton) | Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (Aurora) Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) Payton College Preparatory High School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private high schools | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) Juan Diego Catholic High School (Draper) | Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest) University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Chicago) Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (Aurora) - though public operates similarly to private |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) Layton Christian Academy (Layton) | Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) North Shore Country Day (Winnetka) |
Top 3 School Districts | Park City School District Davis School District Alpine School District | New Trier Township High School District 203 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Community High School District 128 |
How Much Do Utah to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 1,376 miles from Utah to Illinois will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- 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 | $1,983 | 300 ft3 | $6.61 |
1 Bedroom | $2,951 | 450 ft3 | $6.56 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,881 | 750 ft3 | $6.51 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,104 | 1100 ft3 | $6.46 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,254 | 1600 ft3 | $6.41 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,445 | 1800 ft3 | $6.36 |
Top Utah to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.