Virginia Local Expert
Laura Gray
“I arrived in Virginia in 1988 with a teaching job, a love of sunshine, and zero idea I’d still be…”
Read more about me
VA to IL Relocation: Culture Shock You Should Expect
Trading the rolling hills of Virginia for the flat, windswept plains of Illinois brings more change than most people anticipate. Virginia blends Southern charm with East Coast energy, offering a mix of historic small towns, coastal escapes, and the buzzing suburbs of the DC metro. Illinois, anchored by the world class city of Chicago, swaps that charm for bold urban grit, deep dish pizza debates, and winters that will genuinely test your resolve. Our Snappy Scout team (Laura & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts you need to understand before loading up the moving truck.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
Virginia to IL: The Drive, the Route, the Miles
Average distance
700miles
Typical route
Driving from Virginia to Illinois typically takes you along I-64 West, I-70 West, and I-57 North, passing through West Virginia, Kentucky or Ohio, and Indiana before reaching Illinois.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Virginia Beach, VA → Chicago, IL
~850 miles
Richmond, VA → Chicago, IL
~750 miles
Norfolk, VA → Springfield, IL
~800 miles
Roanoke, VA → Chicago, IL
~650 miles
Arlington, VA → Aurora, IL
~700 miles
What Will a Virginia to IL Move Honestly Cost You?
Moving 700 miles from Virginia 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
$1,460.00
1 Bedroom
$2,160.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,560.00
3 Bedrooms
$5,170.00
4 Bedrooms
$7,430.00
5+ Bedrooms
$8,270.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,460.00 | 300 | $4.87 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,160.00 | 450 | $4.8 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,560.00 | 750 | $4.75 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,170.00 | 1,100 | $4.7 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $7,430.00 | 1,600 | $4.64 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $8,270.00 | 1,800 | $4.59 |
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 Well Will You Adapt in IL?
Well, it depends. If you're a PTA President, Coffee Snob, or Gamer, you'll thrive in your move to Illinois. But if you're more of a Homesteader, Retired Military, 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 Virginia to Illinois.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from VA to IL
PTA Life
Virginia
6.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Top schools, stadium fundraisers, and Vienna Halloween Parade.
Illinois
Gaining
Top rated schools, Naperville Centennial Beach, weekend carpool Olympics.
Recommended IL cities/areas for PTA Presidents
NapervilleNorthbrook
Virginia
6.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Coffee Culture
Virginia
8
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Lamplighter roasts, Northside Social, Cafe Stella mornings.
Illinois
Gaining
Intelligentsia, Metric, Dark Matter fuel daily rituals.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
ChicagoEvanston
Virginia
8
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Gaming
Virginia
6
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Virginia
Giving up
MAGFest at National Harbor nearby and VT esports clubs.
Illinois
Gaining
Ignite Gaming Lounge, C2E2, collegiate esports bubbling.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Gamers
SchaumburgDePaul Loop
Virginia
6
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Homesteading
Virginia
6.5
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Acreage, farmers co ops, and Shenandoah canning season.
Illinois
Gaining
Affordable acreage, but Shawnee winters and tornado nerves persist.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Homesteaders
Southern IllinoisPontiac
Virginia
6.5
/10
Illinois
4.5
/10
Military Culture
Virginia
7
/10
Illinois
6
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Naval Station Norfolk, Oceana, Quantico clinics and community.
Illinois
Gaining
Naval Station Great Lakes and Scott AFB support strong.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Retired Militaries
Great LakesO'Fallon
Virginia
7
/10
Illinois
6
/10
DIYers
Virginia
7.5
/10
Illinois
7
/10
Virginia
Giving up
Habitat ReStore hauls and Carytown salvage treasures.
Illinois
Gaining
Frank Lloyd Wright blocks inspire endless weekend projects.
Recommended IL cities/areas for DIYers
Oak ParkBerwyn
Virginia
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 Virginia and living in Illinois
VirginiaIllinois
Virginia Food vs IL Food: The Honest Comparison
Eating Like a Local in Virginia
What do locals actually order in the Hampton Roads area: White dip with their Mexican chips, She Crab Soup, and an Orange Crush, a one-of-a-kind kind of drink.
Laura GrayVirginia 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 ExpertHow Moving from Virginia to IL Alters Your Taxes
Virginia
Illinois
VirginiavsIllinois
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
Flat 4.95% statewide
Virginia
Progressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
VS
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
Property Taxes
Property TaxesHigher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
Virginia
Higher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
VS
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
The No-Nonsense Values, Beliefs, & Politics Reality: Virginia vs IL
Virginia
Illinois
VirginiavsIllinois
People
PeoplePolite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Virginia
Polite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
VS
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Politics
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Virginia
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
VS
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Virginia
Mostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
VS
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
How The Seasons Hit Different When You Move from Virginia to IL
SUMMER
Virginia
sweet tea sauna (Chesapeake breathes on you, Roanoke bakes by noon)
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
WINTER
Virginia
coat roulette (Blue Ridge bites, Hampton Roads shrugs and rains)
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 Virginia, 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
