Missouri to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 749 mile interstate move from Missouri to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs drier climate), food & health (like St. Louis BBQ vs Chislic), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch 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 St. Louis BBQ and Smoked Pork Steaks, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 23% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in South Dakota is 10.81% more affordable than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to South Dakota will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Missouri to South Dakota movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Top Missouri to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Missouri to South Dakota

Tiger Moving LLC

Action Moving
Missouri to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to South Dakota
- High Humidity
- Severe Storms
- Traffic Congestion
- Competitive Job Market
- Drier Climate
- Fewer Tornadoes
- Less Traffic
- Economic Opportunities
- Rural Areas
- Fewer Historical Sites
- Fewer Sports Teams
- Landlocked State
- Vibrant Cities
- Rich History
- Sports Culture
- Access to Waterways
Pros of moving from Missouri to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to drier climate
- Look forward to moving away from severe storms and moving to South Dakota with fewer tornadoes
- Swap the traffic congestion of Missouri for less traffic in South Dakota
- Get ready for economic opportunities in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Missouri to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from vibrant cities in Missouri to live with rural areas in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical sites
- Time to bid farewell to sports culture and get used to fewer sports teams in South Dakota
- Swap access to waterways for a landlocked state
Missouri vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis BBQ | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Pork Steaks | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Toasted Ravioli | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Cauliflower Wings | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Missouri to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis BBQ of Missouri for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Smoked Pork Steaks and sumptuous Toasted Ravioli, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Cauliflower Wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Bogart's Smokehouse, and CafΓ© Flora. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Carnaval Brazilian Grill, Minervas, and Phillips Avenue Diner.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows an equal emphasis on fitness and health consciousness compared to Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota, compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and South Dakota
Comparison | Missouri | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Ranch, Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, hardwood floors | Open concept, natural scenery |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and hardwood floors, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like open concept layouts and natural scenery.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. South Dakota is less walkable than Missouri.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. South Dakota is more bike-friendly than Missouri.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Missouri.
- South Dakota housing costs are 23% more expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Missouri's $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in South Dakota is 10.81% more affordable than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and South Dakota
Comparison | Missouri | 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, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 67Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 21Β°F | 29Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 39 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Missouri to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 4% more sunshine days than Missouri.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in South Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 4 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 22 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and South Dakota
Comparison | Missouri | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.4% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.91% | 1.31% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.25% | 6.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing | Finance, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Medium | Low |
Homelessness | Medium | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 8% more than those in Missouri
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Missouri
- Hooray, moving to SD means you will no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Missouri
- The poverty level is low in South Dakota compared to medium in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is medium in Missouri and low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Missouri | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Republican in recent elections | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas lean Republican | Rural state with strong Republican lean across most areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban centers | Christianity predominant, less religious diversity than Missouri |
- Missouri tends to lean mixed and leans Republican in recent elections 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 less religious diversity than Missouri
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities in urban centers
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to South Dakota
Comparison | Missouri | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Black Hills State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mason Ridge Elementary St. Louis; John Thomas School of Discovery Nixa; Wilson's Creek 5-6 School Springfield | Challenge Center Sioux Falls; Buchanan Elementary Huron; Discovery Elementary Sioux Falls |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis | Pierre Indian Learning Center Pierre; Mickelson Middle School Brookings; Memorial Middle School Sioux Falls |
Top 3 High Schools | Clayton High School Clayton; Ladue Horton Watkins High School St. Louis; Kirkwood High School Kirkwood | Roosevelt High School Sioux Falls; Lincoln High School Sioux Falls; Washington High School Sioux Falls |
Top 3 private high schools | Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis; St. Louis University High School St. Louis | Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls; O'Gorman High School Sioux Falls; Roncalli High School Aberdeen |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Barstow School Kansas City; Thomas Jefferson School St. Louis; St. Paul's Episcopal Day School Kansas City | Sacred Heart School Yankton; Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls; Dakota Christian School Corsica |
Top 3 School Districts | Clayton School District Ladue School District Parkway School District | SiouxFalls School District Harrisburg School District Brandon Valley School District |
How Much Do Missouri to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 749 miles from Missouri to South Dakota will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,627 | 300 ft3 | $5.42 |
1 Bedroom | $2,418 | 450 ft3 | $5.37 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,993 | 750 ft3 | $5.32 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,801 | 1100 ft3 | $5.27 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,358 | 1600 ft3 | $5.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,313 | 1800 ft3 | $5.17 |