Moving from San Francisco, CA to Elgin, IL
A 2130 mi cross-country move between San Francisco and Elgin is 37h 21m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 7 states. Nearly every household line — rent, taxes, climate, commute — usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.
2130 mi · 37h 21m by car · CA → NV → UT → WY → NE → IA → IL
Distance & route
| Route through | CA → NV → UT → WY → NE → IA → IL |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 80, I 88, IL 110 |
| Major cities en route | Santa Rosa, Richmond, Vallejo, Berkeley, Oakland |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| San Francisco | Elgin | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 103.595 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 83.581 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 107.258 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 112.01 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living drops 10.4% moving from San Francisco to Elgin — meaningful on rent but closer to parity on groceries.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Zillow ZHVI drops from $1,356,662 in San Francisco to $329,682 in Elgin, a 10.4% decrease on the typical home value.
YoY change: San Francisco +5.0%, Elgin +3.2%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | San Francisco | Elgin |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 56°F | 49°F |
| January avg low | 46°F | 14°F |
| July avg high | 62°F | 84°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 32.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 20.6" | 39.9" |
Annual temperature drops 7.2°F moving to Elgin per NOAA normals.
Significant snow at the destination: Elgin sees 32.1 in a year on NOAA normals — budget for winter gear and plowing.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US, ELGIN, IL US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | San Francisco | Elgin |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 836,321 | 114,106 |
| Median household income | $141,446 | $88,316 |
| Median age | 39.7 | 36.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 16.9% |
| Avg household size | 2.31 | 2.94 |
Elgin households earn about 10.4% less than San Francisco at the median — $141,446 → $88,316 on ACS 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Elgin MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 519,810 | $46,540 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 497,550 | $41,020 |
| Management Occupations | 405,130 | $125,280 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 386,070 | $38,490 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 368,000 | $33,540 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between California and Illinois
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Illinois's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
- I-80 east of Reno and US-50 across the Sierra can require chains in winter storms.
- I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
- I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April — check WYDOT 511 before departure.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- You are moving to a much snowier climate — Elgin averages 32.1 in annually vs 0.0 in at origin. Don't bury the winter gear in a hard-to-reach box.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
- Register to vote in Illinois after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
How far is Elgin, IL from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance is 2130 mi and the route typically takes 37h 21m via I 80 and I 88. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is Elgin more expensive than San Francisco?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Elgin is 10.4% lower than San Francisco (103.595 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in Elgin compared to San Francisco?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $329,682 in Elgin vs $1,356,662 in San Francisco — a 75.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
What is the climate difference between San Francisco and Elgin?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 49.0°F in Elgin vs 56.2°F in San Francisco (7.2°F colder). Annual snowfall: 32.1 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 39.9 in vs 20.6 in.
When is the best time to move from San Francisco to Elgin?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2130 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does the job market in Elgin compare to San Francisco?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $49,790 in the Elgin MSA vs $72,050 in the San Francisco MSA, on total employment of 4,506,800 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How does household income compare in San Francisco vs Elgin?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $88,316 in Elgin vs $141,446 in San Francisco — a 37.6% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Francisco.
City profiles: San Francisco, CA · Elgin, IL.