Moving to Illinois from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Illinois? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Illinois, you would find that Illinois is 12.5% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly $59,072 in Illinois to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Springfield averages 63°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and Illinois. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → $59,072 To maintain the same standard of living in Illinois How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 15.6% less Groceries pay 15.2% less Transportation pay 8.2% less Housing pay 23.8% less Childcare pay 14.0% less Entertainment and Sports pay 14.1% less Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources. Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%). On average, cities in Illinois cost about 27% less than cities in California. Compare cities head-to-head The numbers behind daily life in Illinois compared to California. incidents per 100,000 people per year incidents per 100,000 people per year Illinois performs significantly better than California across all safety metrics. share of people without health insurance share of adults with obesity share of adults with diabetes share of adults who smoke California generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Illinois leads in diabetes rate. typical price of a home typical monthly gross rent share of homes that are owner-occupied Illinois performs significantly better than California across all what about housing? metrics. share of households with internet minutes each way to work California generally does better on infrastructure, though Illinois leads in average commute. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person typical annual income of a household share of people below the poverty line California generally does better on employment & economy, though Illinois leads in unemployment rate. average years of life at birth share of adults with a 4-year college degree California generally does better on family life, though Illinois leads in bachelor's degree or higher. Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: On average Illinois is about 21% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about $14,768 for 3 months in Illinois (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit. Illinois performs significantly better than California across all safety metrics. California generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Illinois leads in diabetes rate. The average high temperature in Springfield is 63°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Springfield receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in. How Far Will Your Money Go?
Cost of living by city
Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Sacramento Springfield Jan–Mar 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) Apr–Jun 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) Jul–Sep 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) Oct–Dec 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) View all months
Month Sacramento Springfield Jan 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) Feb 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) Mar 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) Apr 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) May 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) Jun 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) Jul 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) Aug 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) Sep 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) Oct 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) Nov 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) Dec 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) 
National Weather Service Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Illinois than California?
How much money do I need to move to Illinois?
Is Illinois safe?
How is healthcare in Illinois compared to California?
What's the weather like in Illinois compared to California?
