West Virginia Local Expert
Hannah Wyatt
“I am a born and raised West Virginian who briefly tested life across state lines before realizing the pull of…”
Read more about me
JourneysMoving Journeys|From WVMoving from West Virginia|To ILMoving to Illinois|West Virginia → Illinois
Leaving West Virginia for Illinois: Cost of Living Comparison
Leaving the rolling Appalachian hills of West Virginia for the flat, sprawling plains of Illinois is a bigger lifestyle shift than most people anticipate. West Virginia offers a slower pace, tight knit communities, and some of the lowest costs of living in the country, while Illinois trades mountain scenery for big city energy, diverse metro areas, and a cost of living that can catch newcomers off guard, especially around Chicago. The cultural and financial gaps between these two states are worth understanding well before you start loading the truck. Our Snappy Scout team (Hannah & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle adjustments you should expect before packing the first box.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
The Move from WV to IL: Mileage & Route
Average distance
600miles
Typical route
The drive from West Virginia to Illinois typically follows I-64 West and I-70 West as the primary corridors, with I-77 North and I-79 North used for departures from northern parts of the state.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Charleston, WV → Chicago, IL
~550 miles
Huntington, WV → Springfield, IL
~500 miles
Morgantown, WV → Chicago, IL
~600 miles
Parkersburg, WV → Peoria, IL
~550 miles
Wheeling, WV → Chicago, IL
~450 miles
Should You Move From West Virginia to Illinois Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Illinois from West Virginia 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.
The No-Nonsense Cost of a WV to IL Long-Distance Move
Moving 600 miles from West Virginia 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
$1,510.00
1 Bedroom
$2,240.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,690.00
3 Bedrooms
$5,350.00
4 Bedrooms
$7,710.00
5+ Bedrooms
$8,580.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,510.00 | 300 | $5.03 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,240.00 | 450 | $4.98 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,690.00 | 750 | $4.92 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,350.00 | 1,100 | $4.86 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $7,710.00 | 1,600 | $4.82 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $8,580.00 | 1,800 | $4.77 |
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.
The Unfiltered Talk: Is IL Right for You?
Well, it depends. If you're a Coffee Snob, Hipster, or CrossFit Regular, you'll thrive in your move to Illinois. But if you're more of a DIYer or Adventure Junkie, 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 West Virginia to Illinois.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from WV to IL
Coffee Culture
West Virginia
6
/10
Illinois
9
/10
West Virginia
Giving up
Lost Dog Coffee, TipTop, Mea Cuppa
Illinois
Gaining
Intelligentsia, Metric, Dark Matter fuel daily rituals.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Coffee Snobs
ChicagoEvanston
West Virginia
6
/10
Illinois
9
/10
Hipsters
West Virginia
6
/10
Illinois
8.5
/10
West Virginia
Giving up
Shepherdstown poetry nights, annual West Virginia Book Festival, Fayetteville gear swaps, Appalachian indie shows
Illinois
Gaining
Pilsen murals, Thalia Hall shows, vintage everywhere.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Hipsters
Wicker ParkPilsen
West Virginia
6
/10
Illinois
8.5
/10
Fitness
West Virginia
6.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
West Virginia
Giving up
Mountaineer CrossFit, CrossFit 304, plus Spartan races at Snowshoe
Illinois
Gaining
Boxes everywhere and Murphs before Cubs games.
Recommended IL cities/areas for CrossFit Regulars
River NorthNaperville
West Virginia
6.5
/10
Illinois
8
/10
Adventure Activities
West Virginia
9.5
/10
Illinois
6
/10
West Virginia
Giving up
New River Gorge Bridge Day, whitewater rafting, zip-lining, hiking, skiing, camping
Illinois
Gaining
Canyons, Garden of the Gods, quick weekend escapes.
Recommended IL cities/areas for Adventure Junkies
Starved RockShawnee National Forest
West Virginia
9.5
/10
Illinois
6
/10
DIYers
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Illinois
7
/10
West Virginia
Giving up
Tamarack inspiration, Huntington Habitat ReStore treasures
Illinois
Gaining
Frank Lloyd Wright blocks inspire endless weekend projects.
Recommended IL cities/areas for DIYers
Oak ParkBerwyn
West Virginia
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 West Virginia and living in Illinois
West VirginiaIllinois
The Unspoken Eating Rules in WV and IL
Eating Like a Local in West Virginia
Everybody talks about pepperoni rolls when the topic of West Virginia food comes up. But there's so much more to enjoy - from springtime ramps to autumn pawpaw fruit, apple butter festivals, and more! In Helvetia - a Swiss-settled town in Randolph County - you can enjoy Swiss Appalachian cuisine in The Hütte.
Hannah WyattWest Virginia 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 ExpertWhat to Understand on Your Tax Bill Moving from WV to IL
West Virginia
Illinois
West VirginiavsIllinois
State Income Tax
State Income TaxGraduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Flat 4.95% statewide
West Virginia
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
VS
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
Property Taxes
Property TaxesGenerally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
West Virginia
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
VS
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
What Sets Apart WV and IL: People, Politics, & Religion
West Virginia
Illinois
West VirginiavsIllinois
People
PeopleMountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
West Virginia
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
VS
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Politics
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
West Virginia
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
VS
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
West Virginia
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
VS
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
The Honest Weather Comparison: WV vs IL
SUMMER
West Virginia
porch swing sauna (muggy in river valleys, pleasant and more breezy on high ridges)
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
WINTER
West Virginia
flannel-mandatory, with the most frigid weather in higher-elevation counties like Tucker County, home to Canaan Valley
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 West 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 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
