Louisiana to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,223 mile interstate move from Louisiana to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like sweltering summers vs cooler temperatures), food & health (like Gumbo vs Chislic), real estate & housing (french colonial, creole 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 Gumbo and Jambalaya, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Bison Steak
- South Dakota housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Louisiana
- Rent in South Dakota is 9.55% more affordable than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Louisiana to South Dakota movers is Henry Hauling LLC
Louisiana to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to South Dakota
- Sweltering summers
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Dense mosquito population
- High cost of living
- Cooler temperatures
- Dryer climate
- Low natural disaster risk
- Fewer insects
- Lower cost of living
- Limited seafood options
- Less diverse nightlife
- Fewer cultural attractions
- Fewer annual events
- Reserved social culture
- Rich seafood cuisine
- Vibrant music scene
- Historical sites
- Festivals year-round
- Southern hospitality
Pros of moving from Louisiana to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to sweltering summers and hello to cooler temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from high humidity and moving to South Dakota with a drier climate
- Swap the hurricane risk of Louisiana for a low natural disaster risk in South Dakota
- Get ready for fewer insects in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Louisiana to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich seafood cuisine in Louisiana to live with limited seafood options in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of a vibrant music scene and have to settle with the con of less diverse nightlife
- Time to bid farewell to historical sites and get used to fewer cultural attractions in South Dakota
- Swap festivals year-round for fewer annual events
Louisiana vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Jambalaya | Bison Steak |
Most popular street food item | Po'boys | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Maque Choux | Wild Rice Dish |
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 Louisiana to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Jambalaya and sumptuous Po'boys, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Maque Choux 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 Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, CafΓ© du Monde, and Dooky Chase's Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Cattleman's Club Steakhouse, Minervas, and Phillips Avenue Diner.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and South Dakota
Comparison | Louisiana | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Colonial, Creole | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Historic homes, Large porches | Spacious land, Quiet neighborhoods |
- The French Colonial and Creole architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference historic homes and large porches, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like spacious land and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; South Dakota is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- South Dakota housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Louisiana, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Louisianaβs $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in South Dakota is 9.55% more affordable than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and South Dakota
Comparison | Louisiana | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | 214 days | 227 days |
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 | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 73Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62Β°F / 43Β°F | 29Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 inches | 20 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 inches | 39 inches |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Louisiana to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 6% more sunshine days than Louisiana.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in South Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 6 degrees colder than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows are 33 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 40 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and South Dakota
Comparison | Louisiana | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 2.0% - 6.0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.53% | 1.32% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.52% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil, Agriculture, Tourism | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate-High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate-High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 26% more than those in Louisiana
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate-high compared to moderate in Louisiana
- The poverty level is moderate in South Dakota compared to high in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate-high in Louisiana and low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Louisiana | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Mix of urban progressive centers and conservative rural areas | Dominantly conservative across the state |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Catholic | High religiosity, with a mix of Protestant and Catholic |
- Louisiana tends to lean Democratic 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 having high religiosity with a mix of Protestant and Catholic
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to South Dakota
Comparison | Louisiana | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana at Lafayette | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Prairieville Primary (Prairieville) South Highlands Elementary Magnet (Shreveport) Milton Elementary School (Milton) | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Fred Assam Elementary (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Caddo Parish Middle Magnet (Shreveport) Youngsville Middle School (Youngsville) Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) | Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Edison Middle School (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 High Schools | Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts (Natchitoches) Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Brookings High School (Brookings) |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Aberdeen Roncalli High School (Aberdeen) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Dunham School (Baton Rouge) Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade) Parkview Baptist School (Baton Rouge) | Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) Mitchell Christian School (Mitchell) |
Top 3 School Districts | Zachary Community School District (Zachary) Central Community School System (Central) Ascension Parish Schools (Donaldsonville) | Brandon Valley School District (Brandon) Harrisburg School District (Harrisburg) Sioux Falls School District (Sioux Fall) |
How Much Do Louisiana to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,223 miles from Louisiana to South Dakota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Henry Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,896 | 300 ft3 | $6.32 |
1 Bedroom | $2,821 | 450 ft3 | $6.27 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,665 | 750 ft3 | $6.22 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,786 | 1100 ft3 | $6.17 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,791 | 1600 ft3 | $6.12 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,925 | 1800 ft3 | $6.07 |
Top Louisiana to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Henry Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for Louisiana to South Dakota