Moving to United Kingdom from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 7.3% more expensive than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly £63,972 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Illinois and United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → £63,972
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 0.2% less
Groceries
pay 18.0% less
Transportation
pay 49.6% more
Housing
pay 1.0% more
Childcare
pay 8.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.6% more
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 by city
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 United Kingdom cost about 1% less than cities in Illinois.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to United Kingdom
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Illinois to United Kingdom.
people moved from United States to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Illinois across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
National Weather Service
Met OfficeVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than Illinois?
On average United Kingdom is around 13% pricier than Illinois, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £15,993 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
From major United Kingdom cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and United Kingdom are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Illinois?
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
Both Illinois and United Kingdom share the same official language: English.
