Maine Local Expert
Greg Reid
“I moved to Maine before it was trendy, stayed when it got crowded, and 28 years later I still love…”
Read more about me
Moving from Maine to IL: Cost of Living Comparison
Trading rocky coastlines and quiet pine forests for the flat prairies and bustling energy of the Midwest is a bigger leap than it might appear on a map. Maine and Illinois share little in common beyond their status as states that take their seasons seriously, and the contrasts in cost of living, climate, and daily pace of life can catch even well prepared movers off guard. Maine offers solitude, low density living, and a rugged charm that is hard to replicate, while Illinois answers back with urban opportunity, deep dish pizza, and a social scene that never really sleeps. Our Snappy Scout team (Greg & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts you should expect before you load up the first box and head southwest.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
ME to Illinois: Miles, Route, and What to Expect
Average distance
1,350miles
Typical route
Driving from Maine to Illinois typically takes you along I-95 South through New England, connecting to I-90 West (the Massachusetts Turnpike) across New York and into the Midwest, then transitioning to I-80 West or I-90 West through Indiana and into Illinois.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Portland, ME → Chicago, IL
~1350 miles
Bangor, ME → Chicago, IL
~1400 miles
Augusta, ME → Chicago, IL
~1350 miles
Portland, ME → Springfield, IL
~1450 miles
Bangor, ME → Rockford, IL
~1400 miles
Should You Move From Maine to Illinois Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Illinois from Maine 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.
Your Honest ME to Illinois Moving Cost Breakdown
Moving 1,350 miles from Maine to Illinois 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
4–11days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,270.00
1 Bedroom
$1,870.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,080.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,460.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,410.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,120.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,270.00 | 300 | $4.23 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,870.00 | 450 | $4.16 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,080.00 | 750 | $4.11 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,460.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,410.00 | 1,600 | $4.01 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,120.00 | 1,800 | $3.96 |
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.
How Will Your Current ME Lifestyle Hold Up in Illinois?
Well, it depends. If you're a Tech Bro, Vintage Thrifter, or Cowboy, you'll thrive in your move to Illinois. But if you're more of a Homesteader, Minimalist, or DIYer, 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 Maine to Illinois.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from ME to IL
Tech Scene
Maine
4
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Maine
Giving up
Remote friendly Portland startups, fewer unicorns than Kendall Square.
Illinois
Gaining
1871, Cameo, and tasty lunch at Au Cheval.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Tech Bros
Fulton MarketRiver North
Maine
4
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Thrifting
Maine
7
/10
Illinois
8.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Portland Architectural Salvage, Cabot Mill Antiques hauls.
Illinois
Gaining
Brown Elephant, Kokorokoko, hidden gems on Clark Street.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Vintage Thrifters
AndersonvilleWicker Park
Maine
7
/10
Illinois
8.5
/10
Cowboys
Maine
2.5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Fryeburg Fair livestock thrills, few open ranges or rodeos.
Illinois
Gaining
Illinois State Fair rodeos scratch itch, but Fort Worth it ain't.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Cowboys
SpringfieldRockford
Maine
2.5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Homesteading
Maine
8
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Maine
Giving up
Organic gardening roots, cheap acreage, hearty winters build grit.
Illinois
Gaining
Affordable acreage, but Shawnee winters and tornado nerves persist.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Homesteaders
Southern IllinoisPontiac
Maine
8
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Minimalism
Maine
7.5
/10
Illinois
6
/10
Maine
Giving up
Small spaces, clean lines, Casco Bay horizon clears clutter.
Illinois
Gaining
CTA commutes and winter gear challenge clean lines.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Minimalists
StreetervilleWest Loop condos
Maine
7.5
/10
Illinois
6
/10
DIYers
Maine
8
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Maine
Giving up
Mill loft rehabs, Marden's hauls, fixer-uppers with good bones everywhere.
Illinois
Gaining
Frank Lloyd Wright blocks inspire endless weekend projects.
Recommended IL cities/areas for DIYers
Oak ParkBerwyn
Maine
8
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Illinois?
You'll know you're in Illinois when locals start discussing corn sweat season! You smell it in the air and feel it on your skin... and unfortunately it's not sweet like the corn in fall. Corn sweat is essentially humidity season and the closer you are to a corn field, the worse this humidity - and your allergies - flare.
– Hannah Swieczka
Illinois Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Maine and living in Illinois
MaineIllinois
The Dining Scene Between ME and Illinois
Eating Like a Local in Maine
Forget your grinder, sub sandwich, or hoagie. This form of nourishment is called "an Italian." Hot or cold. Open-faced or closed. It's an Italian. Meatball sandwich? Meatball Italian. Veggie grinder? Veggie Italian. Italian sub? You guessed it: Italian Italian.
Greg ReidMaine Local ExpertEating 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 ExpertME vs Illinois: What Transforms on Your Tax Return
Maine
Illinois
MainevsIllinois
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
Flat 4.95% statewide
Maine
Progressive 5.8% to 7.15% brackets
VS
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHighest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Maine
Highest around Portland and coastal towns, lower in Aroostook, Piscataquis, interior
VS
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
From ME to Illinois: How Values, Beliefs, & Politics Change
Maine
Illinois
MainevsIllinois
People
PeopleYankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Maine
Yankee reserved but welcoming, wicked helpful, blunt yet kind, tight community vibes, year round hardy
VS
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Politics
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Maine
Independent streak, split tickets, cities blue, rural red, first to adopt ranked choice
VS
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Maine
Mostly Christian, many unaffiliated, Catholic pockets in Portland and Lewiston, small Jewish and Muslim communities
VS
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
How Weather Change When You Move to Illinois from ME
SUMMER
Maine
beach day needs a hoodie (sea breeze chills the coast, inland towns flirt with ninety)
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
WINTER
Maine
nostril freezing theater (Aroostook goes full deep freeze, Portland stays slushy and stubborn)
Illinois
Face-numbing cold (lakefront stings)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Illinois
Memorial Day in Illinois is the official start of summer! With so many activities dependent on the weather, Illinois doesn't wait for the solstice. Summer here runs from Memorial Day (or Memorial Day Weekend - "MDW") to Labor Day Weekend ("LDW"), no questions asked. MDW marks the opening of many beaches, parks, and seasonal restaurants, plus that first real stretch of weekends where everybody suddenly remembers how to be outside. It's when grills reappear and the propane is refilled, lake plans are penciled in planners, and the whole state has one discussion regarding our winter experiences.
Hannah SwieczkaIllinois Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Illinois
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 Maine, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Illinois. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Illinois local experts.
Moving toAurora
Prepare for Cornfields, Metra Commutes, and Taco Runs
Moving toChicago
Dibs, Divvy, Chicago Dogs
Moving toBolingbrook
Prepare for Strip Malls, Suburbs… and the Weirdly Persistent UFO Stories
