Illinois Local Expert
Hannah Swieczka
“She read "Weird Illinois" as a kid and is now convinced most things have a haunted history.”
See full bio
From Illinois to Tennessee: Why So Many People Are Doing It
Trading Chicago winters for Nashville summers might sound like an obvious upgrade, but the cultural and financial adjustments that come with this move tend to catch people off guard. Illinois brings a mix of urban energy and flat midwestern farmland, while Tennessee answers back with rolling hills, a lower cost of living, and a music scene that seeps into everyday life. Our Snappy Scout team (Hannah & Mike) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle changes you should expect before packing the first box.
Who's Behind This Guide
IL to TN: Miles, Route, and What to Expect
Average distance
400miles
Typical route
I-24 E and I-57 S are the major highways you'd drive to get from Illinois to Tennessee
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Chicago, IL → Nashville, TN
~450 miles
Springfield, IL → Memphis, TN
~350 miles
Rockford, IL → Nashville, TN
~500 miles
Peoria, IL → Memphis, TN
~350 miles
Carbondale, IL → Nashville, TN
~300 miles
How Much Does It Cost to Move from IL to TN?
Moving 400 miles from Illinois to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $5,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$5,500.00
Expected Time
2–9days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,600.00
1 Bedroom
$2,380.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,930.00
3 Bedrooms
$5,710.00
4 Bedrooms
$8,220.00
5+ Bedrooms
$9,160.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,600.00 | 300 | $5.33 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,380.00 | 450 | $5.29 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,930.00 | 750 | $5.24 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,710.00 | 1,100 | $5.19 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $8,220.00 | 1,600 | $5.14 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $9,160.00 | 1,800 | $5.09 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Who Wins and Who Loses Moving from IL to TN
Well, it depends. If you're a Homesteader, Adventure Junkie, or Retired Military, you'll thrive in your move to Tennessee. But if you're more of a Binge Shopper, Yoga Instructor, or Craft Beer Fan, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Illinois to Tennessee.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from IL to TN
Adventure Activities
Illinois
6
/10
Tennessee
9.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Canyons, Garden of the Gods, quick weekend escapes.
Tennessee
Gaining
The Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains, Ocoee Rapids, Obed climbs
Recommended TN cities/areas for Adventure Junkies
Illinois
6
/10
Tennessee
9.5
/10
Homesteading
Illinois
4.5
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Affordable acreage, but Shawnee winters and tornado nerves persist.
Tennessee
Gaining
Cumberland Plateau acreage, farm coops, Tractor Supply everywhere
Recommended TN cities/areas for Homesteaders
Cumberland PlateauCookevilleGreeneville
Illinois
4.5
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Military Culture
Illinois
6
/10
Tennessee
8
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Naval Station Great Lakes and Scott AFB support strong.
Tennessee
Gaining
Clarksville near Fort Campbell, VA care in Murfreesboro, Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City
Recommended TN cities/areas for Retired Militaries
ClarksvilleMurfreesboroJohnson City
Illinois
6
/10
Tennessee
8
/10
Shopping
Illinois
8.5
/10
Tennessee
6
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Michigan Avenue sprees, plus suburban hauls for days.
Tennessee
Gaining
Opry Mills marathons, Tanger Sevierville runs, wallet cries happy, the Pinnacle
Recommended TN cities/areas for Binge Shoppers
Opry MillsSeviervilleBristol
Illinois
8.5
/10
Tennessee
6
/10
Yoga
Illinois
7.5
/10
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Sunrise at Maggie Daley, chill after at Beatrix.
Tennessee
Gaining
12South yoga studios, Chattanooga riverfront sun salutations, Real Hot Yoga & Yoga in the Park
Recommended TN cities/areas for Yoga Instructors
Illinois
7.5
/10
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Craft Beer Culture
Illinois
9.5
/10
Tennessee
9
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Revolution, Half Acre, Maplewood taps flow nonstop.
Tennessee
Gaining
Yazoo, Bearded Iris, Knoxville Ale Trail weekends, Tennessee Hills Brewstillery, Johnson City Brewing, Michael Waltrip Brewing Company
Recommended TN cities/areas for Craft Beer Fans
Illinois
9.5
/10
Tennessee
9
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Tennessee?
Not many Tennesseeans grow tobacco anymore, but old tobacco barns still stand everywhere. The sight and smell of them take me back to early Saturday mornings heading to the field, loading wagons, and pulling into the barn to hang tobacco stalks for drying. It was hard work, but Tennesseeans neve shy away from challenges. That's why we are the Volunteer State.
– Mike Stover
Tennessee Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Illinois and living in Tennessee
IllinoisTennessee
IL to TN: A Local's Guide to Eating
Eating Like a Local in Illinois
While Chicago is all about deep dish pizza and Italian beef, Illinois has a much more mature palate. Depending on which exact city or suburb you find yourself in, the locals may eat differently. Rule #1, avoid chain restaurants (with the exception of Chicago-based chains, such as Portillo's Hot Dogs). Otherwise, find the mom & pop restaurant and trust your instinct! Any place named after a person won't steer you wrong.
Hannah SwieczkaIllinois Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Tennessee
Locals from Memphis to Roan Mountain know that REAL barbeque comes wet, sweet, and sticky. Vinegar is a cleaning agent, not an ingredient in BBQ.
Mike StoverTennessee Local ExpertWhat the Move from IL to TN Costs You for Your Tax Bill
Illinois
Tennessee
IllinoisvsTennessee
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 4.95% statewide
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
VS
Tennessee
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Property Taxes
Property TaxesAmong highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
VS
Tennessee
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
How Values, Beliefs, & Politics Break Down Between IL and TN
Illinois
Tennessee
IllinoisvsTennessee
People
PeoplePolite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
VS
Tennessee
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Politics
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
VS
Tennessee
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
VS
Tennessee
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
The No-Nonsense Climate Comparison: IL vs TN
SUMMER
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
Tennessee
sweet tea sauna vibes (Memphis bakes, Nashville steams, Smokies cool off at dusk). The lowlands are just plain hot; the mountains are where you want to be.
WINTER
Illinois
Face-numbing cold (lakefront stings)
Tennessee
light jacket roulette (Nashville slush, Memphis rain, Gatlinburg steals the snow). Natives say if you don't like Tennessee weather, wait a while; it'll change.
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Tennessee
Fall mornings in Tennessee combine mild but pleasant temperatures with an explosion of natural color. You don't go far to find cascading leaves and peaceful vibes.
Mike StoverTennessee Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Tennessee
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Illinois, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Tennessee. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Tennessee local experts.
Moving toNashville
Hot Chicken, Broadway Woo, Briley Bypass
Moving toChattanooga
Pack Your Climbing Gear and Gig Dreams
Moving toGatlinburg
Pack Hiking Boots and Traffic Patience
