Pennsylvania Local Expert
Alyssa Kruse
“I’m a PA lifer who has moved so often I’ve learned to never give away boxes after a move. After…”
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JourneysMoving Journeys|From PAMoving from Pennsylvania|To ILMoving to Illinois|Pennsylvania → Illinois
Your Pennsylvania to IL Relocation Guide: Is It Worth the Cost?
Swapping the rolling hills of Pennsylvania for the flat, windswept plains of Illinois is a bigger lifestyle change than most people anticipate. Pennsylvania offers a mix of dense East Coast cities, charming small towns, and four distinct seasons that feel familiar to much of the Northeast. Illinois trades that familiar terrain for an enormous, sprawling state anchored by one of the most iconic cities in the country, Chicago, where lakefront living and Midwestern practicality collide in unexpected ways. The cost of living, climate, and daily pace shift more than the mileage between the two states might suggest. Our Snappy Scout team (Alyssa & Hannah) dug into the real costs, moving logistics, and lifestyle adjustments you should plan for before loading up that first box.
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The Drive from Pennsylvania to IL: What to Expect
Average distance
750miles
Typical route
The drive from Pennsylvania to Illinois typically takes you along I-76 West (Pennsylvania Turnpike), I-70 West, and I-80 West depending on your route, transitioning through Ohio and Indiana before reaching Illinois.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Philadelphia, PA → Chicago, IL
~750 miles
Pittsburgh, PA → Chicago, IL
~450 miles
Allentown, PA → Chicago, IL
~750 miles
Harrisburg, PA → Springfield, IL
~750 miles
Pittsburgh, PA → Rockford, IL
~500 miles
Should You Move From Pennsylvania to Illinois Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Illinois from Pennsylvania 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.
Demystifying the Cost of a Pennsylvania to IL Move
Moving 750 miles from Pennsylvania to Illinois will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $5,000.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$5,000.00
Expected Time
3–10days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,430.00
1 Bedroom
$2,130.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,500.00
3 Bedrooms
$5,080.00
4 Bedrooms
$7,310.00
5+ Bedrooms
$8,130.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,430.00 | 300 | $4.77 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,130.00 | 450 | $4.73 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,500.00 | 750 | $4.67 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,080.00 | 1,100 | $4.62 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $7,310.00 | 1,600 | $4.57 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $8,130.00 | 1,800 | $4.52 |
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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What Happens to Your Identity When You Move from Pennsylvania to IL?
Well, it depends. If you're a Stay at Home Mom, CrossFit Regular, or Garden Club Lifetime Member, you'll thrive in your move to Illinois. But if you're more of a Cowboy or Gamer, 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 Pennsylvania to Illinois.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from PA to IL
Stay At Home Moms
Pennsylvania
6.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Parks, library storytimes, Kennywood days, and Wawa bribery
Illinois
Gaining
Playdate heaven, quaint downtowns, Metra into Chicago.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
HinsdaleBarrington
Pennsylvania
6.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Fitness
Pennsylvania
7
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Boxes everywhere, Broad Street Run vibes boost PRs
Illinois
Gaining
Boxes everywhere and Murphs before Cubs games.
Recommended IL cities/areas for CrossFit Regulars
River NorthNaperville
Pennsylvania
7
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Gardener
Pennsylvania
7
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Longwood Gardens glam, Phipps Conservatory blooms year round
Illinois
Gaining
Glencoe blooms and Lisle trees make hearts sprout.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
Chicago Botanic GardenMorton Arboretum
Pennsylvania
7
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Cowboys
Pennsylvania
5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Bloomsburg Fair and rodeos exist, but this is not Fort Worth
Illinois
Gaining
Illinois State Fair rodeos scratch itch, but Fort Worth it ain't.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Cowboys
SpringfieldRockford
Pennsylvania
5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Gaming
Pennsylvania
7.5
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Pennsylvania
Giving up
Nerd Street events, Replay FX legacy, Oaks Expo cons
Illinois
Gaining
Ignite Gaming Lounge, C2E2, collegiate esports bubbling.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Gamers
SchaumburgDePaul Loop
Pennsylvania
7.5
/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 Pennsylvania and living in Illinois
PennsylvaniaIllinois
What Life at the Table Looks Like in Pennsylvania vs IL
Eating Like a Local in Pennsylvania
To order a cheesesteak:
1. Pick your cheese: Whiz, prov, or American (Cooper Sharp is the best)
2. "Wit" or "Witout": do you want fried onions or not (you do!)
3. Move it. You're probably double-parked!
Alyssa KrusePennsylvania 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 ExpertIllinois looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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Your Tax Situation in IL vs Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Illinois
PennsylvaniavsIllinois
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 3.07% statewide, plus local EIT, Philly wage tax notable
Flat 4.95% statewide
Pennsylvania
Flat 3.07% statewide, plus local EIT, Philly wage tax notable
VS
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigh in Philly suburbs (Montco, Bucks), moderate Pittsburgh region, lower rural counties
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Pennsylvania
High in Philly suburbs (Montco, Bucks), moderate Pittsburgh region, lower rural counties
VS
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
What Hits Different About People, Politics, & Religion When You Move to IL from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Illinois
PennsylvaniavsIllinois
People
PeopleGritty, neighborly, sports obsessed, Philly Pittsburgh rivalry, small town polite, big city direct
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Pennsylvania
Gritty, neighborly, sports obsessed, Philly Pittsburgh rivalry, small town polite, big city direct
VS
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Politics
Classic swing state: Philly and Pittsburgh blue, central and northern counties red, suburbs purple
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Pennsylvania
Classic swing state: Philly and Pittsburgh blue, central and northern counties red, suburbs purple
VS
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, large Catholic share, notable Jewish communities, growing Muslim and Hindu, rising unaffiliated
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Pennsylvania
Mostly Christian, large Catholic share, notable Jewish communities, growing Muslim and Hindu, rising unaffiliated
VS
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
From Pennsylvania to IL: How the Weather Shift
SUMMER
Pennsylvania
Philly subway sauna vibes (sticky 90s with humidity that makes it feel like 100°). The mountain evenings are merciful in the Poconos.
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
WINTER
Pennsylvania
choose your own chill. Lake Erie flurries can go blizzard mode, Philly gets slush usually right after you shovel, and the Poconos snow pack gets real cold.
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 Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
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Next 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 Pennsylvania, 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
