Tennessee Local Expert
Mike Stover
“I am a Tennessee native who has lived, worked, or worn out tires in all three divisions of the state,…”
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From Tennessee to Illinois: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Trading Tennessee's rolling hills and mild Southern charm for Illinois life is a bigger shift than many people expect. Sure, both states sit in the middle of the country, but the differences in climate, taxes, and daily pace can catch even the most prepared movers off guard. Tennessee residents enjoy no state income tax and a relatively low cost of living, while Illinois brings colder winters, a higher tax burden, and the undeniable pull of one of America's greatest cities in Chicago. Our Snappy Scout team (Mike & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle changes you should plan for before loading up the moving truck.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
The Mileage from Tennessee to IL
Average distance
400miles
Typical route
The drive from Tennessee to Illinois typically follows I-24 North and I-57 North, or I-65 North connecting to I-57, depending on your origin and destination cities.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Nashville, TN → Chicago, IL
~450 miles
Memphis, TN → Chicago, IL
~550 miles
Knoxville, TN → Chicago, IL
~550 miles
Chattanooga, TN → Springfield, IL
~450 miles
Nashville, TN → Springfield, IL
~350 miles
Tennessee to IL Mover Rates
Moving 400 miles from Tennessee to Illinois 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
$1,610.00
1 Bedroom
$2,390.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,940.00
3 Bedrooms
$5,720.00
4 Bedrooms
$8,230.00
5+ Bedrooms
$9,170.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,610.00 | 300 | $5.37 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,390.00 | 450 | $5.31 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,940.00 | 750 | $5.25 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,720.00 | 1,100 | $5.2 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $8,230.00 | 1,600 | $5.14 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $9,170.00 | 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.
Should You Relocate to IL from Tennessee?
Well, it depends. If you're a Minimalist, Coffee Snob, or Dog Momma, you'll thrive in your move to Illinois. But if you're more of a Cowboy, Retired Snowbird, 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 Tennessee to Illinois.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from TN to IL
Minimalism
Tennessee
5
/10
Illinois
6
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
The Gulch microlofts fit, but suburban sprawl and I-24 overwhelm
Illinois
Gaining
CTA commutes and winter gear challenge clean lines.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Minimalists
StreetervilleWest Loop condos
Tennessee
5
/10
Illinois
6
/10
Coffee Culture
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Barista Parlor espresso, Crema roastery, Memphis City & State, Don Gatos Coffee Bar
Illinois
Gaining
Intelligentsia, Metric, Dark Matter fuel daily rituals.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
ChicagoEvanston
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Pet Friendly
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Shelby Farms off leash, Centennial Dog Park hangouts, Johnson City Dog Park at Willow Springs
Illinois
Gaining
Parks, patios, and Montrose Dog Beach zoomies.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Dog Mommas
Lincoln ParkMontrose Dog Beach
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Cowboys
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Franklin horse farms, PBR's Nashville Stampede at Bridgestone Arena
Illinois
Gaining
Illinois State Fair rodeos scratch itch, but Fort Worth it ain't.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Cowboys
SpringfieldRockford
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Illinois
3.5
/10
Snowbirds
Tennessee
7
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Tellico Village lakes, low taxes, sunny porch seasons
Illinois
Gaining
Charming summers, but Lake Michigan winters chase you south.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
GalenaSpringfield
Tennessee
7
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
DIYers
Tennessee
8.5
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Knoxville's HGTV roots, Chattanooga Maker Day vibes
Illinois
Gaining
Frank Lloyd Wright blocks inspire endless weekend projects.
Recommended IL cities/areas for DIYers
Oak ParkBerwyn
Tennessee
8.5
/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 Tennessee and living in Illinois
TennesseeIllinois
What's on the Table in Tennessee vs IL?
Eating 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 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 ExpertFrom Tennessee to IL: How Your Tax Landscape Plays Out
Tennessee
Illinois
TennesseevsIllinois
State Income Tax
State Income TaxNo tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Flat 4.95% statewide
Tennessee
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
VS
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
Property Taxes
Property TaxesLower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Tennessee
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
VS
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
What Shifts About Culture, Politics, & Faith When You Move to IL from Tennessee
Tennessee
Illinois
TennesseevsIllinois
People
PeoplePolite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Tennessee
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
VS
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Politics
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Tennessee
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
VS
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Religion
ReligionPredominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Tennessee
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
VS
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
What Locals Say About the Seasons in Tennessee and IL
SUMMER
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.
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
WINTER
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.
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 Tennessee, 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 toChicago
Dibs, Divvy, Chicago Dogs
Moving toAurora
Prepare for Cornfields, Metra Commutes, and Taco Runs
Moving toBolingbrook
Prepare for Strip Malls, Suburbs… and the Weirdly Persistent UFO Stories
