Kentucky to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 1,128 mile interstate move from Kentucky to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs low humidity), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Chislic), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Burgoo, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 49% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in South Dakota is 9.07% more affordable than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Kentucky to South Dakota movers is From Here to There
Kentucky to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to South Dakota
- High humidity
- Heavy traffic
- Tornado risks
- Less winter sports
- Low humidity
- Lighter traffic
- Fewer tornadoes
- Abundant winter sports
- Fewer historical sites
- Limited food options
- Colder winters
- No local bourbon
- Rich history
- Diverse cuisine
- Warmer winters
- Renowned bourbon
Pros of moving from Kentucky to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to low humidity
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to South Dakota with lighter traffic
- Swap the tornado risks of Kentucky for fewer tornadoes in South Dakota
- Get ready for abundant winter sports in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Kentucky to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich history in Kentucky to live with fewer historical sites in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse cuisine and have to settle with the con of limited food options
- Time to bid farewell to warmer winters and get used to colder winters in South Dakota
- Swap renowned bourbon for no local bourbon
Kentucky vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Burgoo | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Hot Brown Sandwich | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Wild Rice Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | 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 Kentucky to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Burgoo and sumptuous Hot Brown Sandwich, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Burger of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like Clifford's Restaurant, Corbett's, and 610 Magnolia. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Senor Frijoles, Carnaval Brazilian Grill, and Minervas.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and South Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, historic homes | Scenic views, family-friendly communities |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and historic homes, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and family-friendly communities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; South Dakota is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- South Dakota housing costs are 49% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in South Dakota is 9.07% more affordable than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and South Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | 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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 23Β°F | 30Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 20-30" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11" | 30-40" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 9% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in South Dakota.
- The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 2 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 30 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and South Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 1.32% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Logistics, Agriculture | Finance, Healthcare, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Above Average |
Poverty | Significant | Lower |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less Severe |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 18% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is above average compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is lower in South Dakota compared to significant poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Kentucky and less severe in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Varies by county | Conservative in most localities |
Religion | Christianity predominant, Baptist strong presence | Christianity predominant, with a strong Lutheran and Catholic presence |
- Kentucky tends to lean mixed and leans 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 predominantly Christianity, with a strong Lutheran and Catholic presence.
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a strong Baptist presence.
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to South Dakota
Comparison | Kentucky | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky Lexington University of Louisville Louisville Western Kentucky University Bowling Green | South Dakota State University Brookings University of South Dakota Vermillion Black Hills State University Spearfish |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Louisville Rosa Parks Elementary Lexington Beechwood Elementary Fort Mitchell | Fred Assam Elementary Sioux Falls Discovery Elementary Sioux Falls Challenge Center Sioux Falls |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barret Traditional Middle Louisville Beechwood High School (7-12) Fort Mitchell Kentucky Country Day School (K-12) Louisville | Edison Middle School Sioux Falls Patrick Henry Middle School Sioux Falls Whittier Middle School Sioux Falls |
Top 3 High Schools | DuPont Manual High Louisville Beechwood High Fort Mitchell North Oldham High Goshen | Lincoln High School Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School Sioux Falls Brookings High School Brookings |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville St. Xavier High School Louisville Lexington Catholic High School Lexington | O'Gorman High School Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls Roncalli High School Aberdeen |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Kentucky Country Day School Louisville Sayre School Lexington The Lexington School Lexington | Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls Aberdeen Christian School Aberdeen Great Plains Lutheran High School Watertown |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Lexington Jefferson County Public Schools Louisville Kenton County School District Fort Wright | Sioux Falls School District Sioux Falls Brookings School District Brookings Rapid City Area School District Rapid City |
How Much Do Kentucky to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,128 miles from Kentucky to South Dakota will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,842 | 300 ft3 | $6.14 |
1 Bedroom | $2,740 | 450 ft3 | $6.09 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,530 | 750 ft3 | $6.04 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,589 | 1100 ft3 | $5.99 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,504 | 1600 ft3 | $5.94 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,602 | 1800 ft3 | $5.89 |
Top Kentucky to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

From Here to There
Best moving company overall for Kentucky to South Dakota