Florida to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,829 mile interstate move from Florida to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs less humidity), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Chislic), real estate & housing (spanish revival, mediterranean vs ranch, split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in South Dakota is 46.49% more affordable than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Florida to South Dakota movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to South Dakota
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Heavy traffic
- Higher cost of living
- Flat landscapes
- Less humidity
- Low natural disasters
- Less congestion
- Affordable housing
- Diverse scenery
- Cold winters
- Far from the coast
- Quieter entertainment
- Rural lifestyle
- Seasonal sports
- Warm winters
- Beach accessibility
- Vibrant nightlife
- Diverse culture
- Year-round golf
Pros of moving from Florida to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to less humidity
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to South Dakota with low natural disasters
- Swap the heavy traffic of Florida for less congestion in South Dakota
- Get ready for affordable housing in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Florida to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warm winters in Florida to live with cold winters in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of beach accessibility and have to settle for the con of being far from the coast
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant nightlife and get used to quieter entertainment in South Dakota
- Swap diverse culture for a rural lifestyle
Florida vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Cuban Sandwich | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | Wild Rice Dish |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Florida to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Cuban Sandwich, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Dish of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Minervas, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Mount Rushmore Dining.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and South Dakota
Comparison | Florida | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Spanish Revival, Mediterranean | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Pool, Waterfront | Spacious yard, Garage |
- The Spanish Revival and Mediterranean architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference pools and waterfront properties, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Florida.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Dakota is less bike-friendly than Florida.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Florida.
- South Dakota housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in South Dakota is 46.49% more affordable than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and South Dakota
Comparison | Florida | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Floods | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 75Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 48Β°F | 30Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 22" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 44" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 10% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in South Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 5 degrees colder than Florida.
- The average winter lows are 38 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and South Dakota
Comparison | Florida | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.32% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.8% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Healthcare | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Low |
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Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Florida | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leaning towards Republican in recent elections | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Varies greatly from one region to another | More homogeneous, conservative values prevalent |
Religion | Christian majority (Evangelical Protestant, Catholic), with religious diversity including Jewish and Muslim communities | Largely Christian (Evangelical Protestant), less religious diversity |
- Florida tends to lean mixed, leaning towards Republican in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as largely Christian (Evangelical Protestant) with less religious diversity
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority (Evangelical Protestant, Catholic) with religious diversity including Jewish and Muslim communities
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to South Dakota
Comparison | Florida | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Miami | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota South Dakota School of Mines & Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Archimedean Academy (Miami) Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines) | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elem (Harrisburg) Fred Assam Elem (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Young Women's Preparatory Academy (Miami) Falcon Cove Middle School (Weston) | George S. Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Edison Middle School (Sioux Falls) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Stanton College Preparatory (Jacksonville) School for Advanced Studies (Miami) | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Washington High School (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 private high schools | Ransom Everglades School (Coconut Grove) Bolles School (Jacksonville) Berkeley Preparatory School (Tampa) | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | North Broward Preparatory School (Coconut Creek) American Heritage School (Plantation) Bolles School (Jacksonville) | Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Aberdeen Christian School (Aberdeen) Mitchell Christian School (Mitchell) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sarasota County Schools St. Johns County School District Okaloosa County School District | Sioux Falls School District Brookings School District Harrisburg School District |
How Much Do Florida to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,829 miles from Florida to South Dakota will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,239 | 300 ft3 | $7.46 |
1 Bedroom | $3,337 | 450 ft3 | $7.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,523 | 750 ft3 | $7.36 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,046 | 1100 ft3 | $7.31 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,623 | 1600 ft3 | $7.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,986 | 1800 ft3 | $7.21 |
Top Florida to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Florida to South Dakota