Illinois Local Expert
Hannah Swieczka
“She read "Weird Illinois" as a kid and is now convinced most things have a haunted history.”
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From Illinois to Texas: What the Move Will Actually Cost You
Trading Chicago winters for Texas heat seems like an obvious upgrade until you realize the lifestyle gap between these two states runs much deeper than the weather. Illinois brings dense urban energy, strong labor roots, and four very distinct seasons, while Texas counters with sprawling metro growth, wide open terrain, and a culture that operates on its own terms entirely. Our Snappy Scout team (Hannah & Francesca) broke down the real costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts waiting for you on the other side of this move, so you know exactly what to expect before the first box gets packed.
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Who's Behind This Guide
Best Route for a Moving Truck from IL to Texas
Average distance
1,050miles
Typical route
The drive from Illinois to Texas typically follows I-55 South to St. Louis, then connects to I-44 West through Missouri and Oklahoma before picking up I-35 South into Texas, or alternatively taking I-57 South to I-55 South and cutting across on I-30 or I-20 depending on the destination city in Texas.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX
~950 miles
Chicago, IL → Houston, TX
~1100 miles
Springfield, IL → San Antonio, TX
~1050 miles
Chicago, IL → Austin, TX
~1100 miles
Rockford, IL → El Paso, TX
~1500 miles
Should You Move From Illinois to Texas Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Texas from Illinois is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
How Much Does It Cost to Move to Texas from IL?
Moving 1,050 miles from Illinois to Texas will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
3–10days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,280.00
1 Bedroom
$1,900.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,130.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,530.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,510.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,240.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,280.00 | 300 | $4.27 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,900.00 | 450 | $4.22 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,130.00 | 750 | $4.17 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,530.00 | 1,100 | $4.12 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,510.00 | 1,600 | $4.07 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,240.00 | 1,800 | $4.02 |
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.
That's the average.
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Who Thrives and Who Struggles Moving from IL to Texas
Well, it depends. If you're a Cowboy, Surfer Dude, or Tech Bro, you'll thrive in your move to Texas. But if you're more of a PTA President, Binge Shopper, or Coffee Snob, 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 Texas.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from IL to TX
Cowboys
Illinois
3.5
/10
Texas
9.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Illinois State Fair rodeos scratch itch, but Fort Worth it ain't.
Texas
Gaining
Fort Worth Stockyards rodeos and Amarillo’s Big Texan steak challenge
Recommended TX cities/areas for Cowboys
Fort WorthAmarillo
Illinois
3.5
/10
Texas
9.5
/10
Surfing
Illinois
3
/10
Texas
5.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Closest waves are windswell on Lake Michigan, sorry brah.
Texas
Gaining
South Padre waves are decent even if they never reach the heights of California curls
Recommended TX cities/areas for Surfer Dudes
South Padre Island
Illinois
3
/10
Texas
5.5
/10
Tech Scene
Illinois
7
/10
Texas
8
/10
Illinois
Giving up
1871, Cameo, and tasty lunch at Au Cheval.
Texas
Gaining
Austin’s laid back Silicon Hills startups and Plano’s corporate tech parks
Recommended TX cities/areas for Tech Bros
AustinPlano
Illinois
7
/10
Texas
8
/10
PTA Life
Illinois
8
/10
Texas
2.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Top rated schools, Naperville Centennial Beach, weekend carpool Olympics.
Texas
Gaining
Top schools thrive but Texas football's Friday night lights always outshine bake sales
Recommended TX cities/areas for PTA Presidents
PlanoKaty
Illinois
8
/10
Texas
2.5
/10
Shopping
Illinois
8.5
/10
Texas
4
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Michigan Avenue sprees, plus suburban hauls for days.
Texas
Gaining
NorthPark Center brings glitz and Houston Galleria offers wide range, but both lack NYC pace
Recommended TX cities/areas for Binge Shoppers
DallasHouston
Illinois
8.5
/10
Texas
4
/10
Coffee Culture
Illinois
9
/10
Texas
5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Intelligentsia, Metric, Dark Matter fuel daily rituals.
Texas
Gaining
Austin’s Houndstooth Coffee aces traditional espresso, and Ascension Coffee in Dallas offers gourmet twists
Recommended TX cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
AustinDallas
Illinois
9
/10
Texas
5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Texas?
Summer thunderstorms in Texas are loud, powerful, and offer a welcome break from the heat.
– Francesca Hernandez-Singer
Texas Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Illinois and living in Texas
IllinoisTexas
IL to Texas: A Local's Guide to the Food Scene
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 Texas
Breakfast tacos are on flour tortillas, BBQ means beef, and the margaritas come with salt on the rim unless you order without.
Francesca Hernandez-SingerLocal Texas ExpertTexas looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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What the Move from IL to Texas Costs You for Your Tax Situation
Illinois
Texas
IllinoisvsTexas
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 4.95% statewide
None, zero percent statewide!!
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
VS
Texas
None, zero percent statewide!!
Property Taxes
Property TaxesAmong highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Houston and Dallas areas higher, smaller cities slightly lower
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
VS
Texas
Houston and Dallas areas higher, smaller cities slightly lower
IL vs Texas: People, Politics, & Religion
Illinois
Texas
IllinoisvsTexas
People
PeoplePolite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Famously friendly, fiercely proud, big on hospitality
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
VS
Texas
Famously friendly, fiercely proud, big on hospitality
Politics
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Deep red roots, but cities (especially Austin) swing progressive
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
VS
Texas
Deep red roots, but cities (especially Austin) swing progressive
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist presence, growing diversity
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
VS
Texas
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist presence, growing diversity
The No-Nonsense Climate Breakdown: IL vs Texas
SUMMER
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
Texas
blast furnace (triple digits in West Texas)
WINTER
Illinois
Face-numbing cold (lakefront stings)
Texas
light sweater tease (except in the Panhandle, where you'll happily don long johns and fleece-lined outerlayers)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Texas
Outdoor music venues and food & wine festivals are still going strong in October!
Francesca Hernandez-SingerLocal Texas Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
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Next Steps
Learn More About Moving to Texas
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 Texas. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Texas local experts.
Moving toAustin
Prep for Tacos, Traffic & Endless Live Music
