Moving from Illinois to Louisiana
Moving to Louisiana on the same salary raises your real buying power by 16.7%. Change the salary below to see your own numbers.
Equal salary in LA: $70,900
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $70,900 in Louisiana to match $85,000 in Illinois ($14,100 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary, standard deduction.
These changes cover taxes, housing and electricity. Food, transport, healthcare, other spending and one-time moving costs are excluded. They are not total savings. State medians may differ from your neighborhood and current quotes.
| Tax on $85,000 | Illinois | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $9,870 | $9,870 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $6,503 | $6,503 |
| State income tax | $4,063 | $2,164 |
| State payroll programs (UI, disability, paid leave, transit) | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $64,565 | $66,464 |
Key facts: Illinois to Louisiana
- Median rent
- $1,322 → $1,064/mo
- Median home value
- $280,700 → $223,200
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 100.0 → 88.2
- Road distance
- ≈ 880 miles
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (90.4 → 86.2 of 100)
What changes when you move to Louisiana
- Your state taxes fall by about $1,899 a year on the same $85,000 salary.
- BEA's housing price index is 33% lower in Louisiana. Median rent goes from $1,322 to $1,064 a month and the median home value from $280,700 to $223,200.
- Homeowners pay less property tax: the median bill is $1,187 in Louisiana vs $5,399 in Illinois.
- The average home electric bill is $141 a month in Louisiana vs $110 in Illinois (EIA 2024), about $372 a year more.
- Prices for everyday goods are 10% lower (BEA). The statewide sales tax rate is 5% in Louisiana vs 6.25% in Illinois, before local sales taxes.
Who moves from Illinois to Louisiana
In the latest IRS migration data (2022–2023), 671 households (1,071 people) filed their taxes in Louisiana after filing in Illinois the year before. That makes Louisiana the #34 destination for people leaving Illinois. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $59,839. Going the other way, 808 households moved from Louisiana to Illinois, a net loss of 137 households for Louisiana.
Five-year trend
Moves from Illinois to Louisiana peaked in 2018–19 at 780 households, then fell 14% by 2022–23. That is still down 14% from 2018–19.
Source: IRS SOI state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018–19 to 2022–23.
Cost to move from Illinois to Louisiana
Moving cost: $670–$9,230
Moving about 880 miles from Illinois to Louisiana costs roughly $670 – $9,230, depending on how much of the work you hire out.
Distance between the states' population centers by road (estimate).
| Moving method | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) Truck rental, taxes and fees. Add fuel, damage coverage, lodging and your time. | $670 – $2,650 |
| Moving container You pack and load; the company drives the container. | $1,490 – $3,540 |
| Full-service movers Packing, loading, transport and unloading. | $2,430 – $9,230 |
These ranges are based on summer (peak-season) quotes. A move between October and April usually costs less: peak prices run 20–30% higher.
A rental truck also burns about 88 gallons of fuel over this distance. One-way truck rental prices depend on direction: a truck headed where many people are moving often costs more than the same trip in reverse.
Ranges combine 198 published quote ranges on 22 interstate routes (moveBuddha, retrieved 2026-09-24) with 47 independent published prices from U-Pack, HireAHelper and Move.org, which raised the top of several ranges. They are not quotes; get at least three written estimates.
Alaska and Hawaii ranges come from published carrier rates and moving quotes, dated in each row (Matson's household-goods rates, U-Pack, Royal Hawaiian Movers). See how we estimate.
Shipping a car from Illinois to Louisiana
Car shipping: $830–$1,240
Shipping a sedan from Illinois to Louisiana on an open carrier costs about $830–$1,240, typically 3–7 days in transit over about 880 miles.
Modeled from 32 published 2026 route prices (SGT Auto Transport 'Ship a Car to Another State' sample routes, SGT Auto Transport cost calculator sample routes) plus published Hawaii and Alaska rates. SUVs cost about 25% more and enclosed carriers about 35% more. Not a quote.
Illinois vs Louisiana take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Equal salary in LA | Take-home change | Take-home in IL | Take-home in LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,300 | +$1,216 | $40,025 | $41,241 |
| $75,000 | $62,800 | +$1,704 | $58,025 | $59,729 |
| $100,000 | $83,700 | +$2,191 | $74,375 | $76,566 |
| $150,000 | $125,900 | +$3,166 | $106,511 | $109,677 |
| $250,000 | $210,600 | +$5,116 | $170,952 | $176,068 |
Single filer, 2026 tax rules, standard deduction. "Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power.
At higher incomes, especially for homeowners, itemizing state and local taxes (deductible up to $40,400 in 2026) can lower your federal tax while you live in Illinois, which narrows the gap shown.
Cost of living: Illinois vs Louisiana
| Measure | Illinois | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 100.0 | 88.2 |
| Housing price index | 93.9 | 63.1 |
| Utilities price index | 85.0 | 71.5 |
| Goods price index | 103.8 | 93.7 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $1,322 | $1,064 |
| Median home value | $280,700 | $223,200 |
| Median property tax (yearly) | $5,399 | $1,187 |
| Electricity (residential) | 19.89¢/kWh | 13.49¢/kWh |
| State sales tax rate | 6.25% | 5% |
| Median household income | $83,211 | $60,986 |
Renting and buying: Illinois vs Louisiana
| Measure | Illinois | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the median home (30% rule) | $52,880 | $42,560 |
| Monthly cost to own the median home (20% down) | $2,052 | $1,474 |
| Income needed to buy the median home | $87,942 | $63,152 |
| Homeowners insurance (yearly median, homes with a mortgage) | $1,387 | $2,312 |
| Infant child care (center, yearly) | $19,807 | $10,847 |
Mortgage at the Freddie Mac 30-year average with 20% down, plus the median property tax and the median homeowners insurance that owners with a mortgage paid in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, so get quotes. See buying a home in Louisiana for other down payments.
Your yearly budget: Illinois vs Louisiana
On an $85,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $48,861 a year in Illinois and $44,435 in Louisiana if you rent: $4,426 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $57,621 and $49,350 ($8,271 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | IL | LA | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $85,000, single filer | $20,435 | $18,536 | -$1,899 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,320 | $1,692 | +$372 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,153 | $1,754 | +$601 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,337 | $1,933 | -$404 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,752 | $7,752 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $15,864 | $12,768 | -$3,096 |
| Total if you rent | $48,861 | $44,435 | -$4,426 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $17,838 | $14,184 | -$3,654 |
| Property tax median home | $5,399 | $1,187 | -$4,212 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,387 | $2,312 | +$925 |
| Total if you buy | $57,621 | $49,350 | -$8,271 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 state medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $19,807 a year in Illinois and $10,847 in Louisiana (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Cost of living in Louisiana cities: New Orleans, Baton Rouge.
After you arrive in Louisiana
- Louisiana new resident checklist: driver license and vehicle registration deadlines.
- Taxes the year you move: part-year returns in Illinois and Louisiana.
- How Louisiana taxes retirement income.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do I need in Louisiana to live like I do in Illinois?
An $85,000 salary in Illinois works out to about $70,900 in Louisiana once 2026 federal and state taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted. At $100,000 it is about $83,700.
Will I pay less tax in Louisiana than in Illinois?
Yes, about $1,899 less a year in income and payroll taxes on an $85,000 salary (24.0% of pay in Illinois vs 21.8% in Louisiana). Property and sales taxes are shown separately.
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Louisiana?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 880 miles, expect roughly $670–$2,650 with a rental truck, $1,490–$3,540 with a moving container, or $2,430–$9,230 with full-service movers.
Are more people moving from Illinois to Louisiana?
Moves from Illinois to Louisiana peaked in 2018–19 at 780 households, then fell 14% by 2022–23. That is still down 14% from 2018–19.
How many people move from Illinois to Louisiana?
IRS migration data for 2022–2023 show 671 households (1,071 people) moved from Illinois to Louisiana, making Louisiana the #34 destination for people leaving Illinois. 808 households moved the other way.
Is Louisiana cheaper than Illinois?
Overall prices in Louisiana are 11.8% lower than Illinois (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,064 vs $1,322 a month.
Compare other moves
Where people from Illinois actually move
- IL to Florida 14,834 households
- IL to Indiana 12,570 households
- IL to Texas 12,078 households
- IL to Wisconsin 11,331 households
- IL to California 10,407 households
- IL to Missouri 8,668 households
- IL to Arizona 5,528 households
- IL to New York 5,325 households