Mississippi to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 1,256 mile interstate move from Mississippi to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid climate vs drier weather), food & health (like Catfish vs Chislic), real estate & housing (antebellum, ranch vs ranch, split foyer), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 68% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in South Dakota is 13.05% more affordable than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Mississippi to South Dakota movers is Dial-A-Move Inc.
Mississippi to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to South Dakota
- Humid climate
- Crowded coastal areas
- High property taxes
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Drier weather
- Open landscapes
- Lower property taxes
- Safer storms
- Less traffic
- Limited cultural diversity
- Harsh winters
- Sparse vegetation
- Fewer culinary options
- New community adjustment
- Rich cultural history
- Warm winters
- Lush landscapes
- Southern cuisine
- Familiar community feel
Pros of moving from Mississippi to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to humid climate and hello to drier weather
- Look forward to moving away from crowded coastal areas and moving to South Dakota with open landscapes
- Swap the high property taxes of Mississippi for lower property taxes in South Dakota
- Get ready for safer storms in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Mississippi to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich cultural history in Mississippi to live with limited cultural diversity in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of warm winters and have to settle for the con of harsh winters
- Time to bid farewell to lush landscapes and get used to sparse vegetation in South Dakota
- Swap southern cuisine for fewer culinary options
Mississippi vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Wild Rice and Cranberry Porridge |
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 (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 Mississippi to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Tamales, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice and Cranberry Porridge of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like The Big Apple Inn, Doe's Eat Place, and City Grocery. 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, Prairie Berry Winery Kitchen, and Carnegie Deli.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Dakota compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and South Dakota
Comparison | Mississippi | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Ranch | Ranch, Split Foyer |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to water | Energy efficiency, outdoor living spaces |
- The Antebellum and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split Foyer architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to water, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and outdoor living spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. South Dakota is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. South Dakota is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- South Dakota has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- South Dakota housing costs are 68% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in South Dakota is 13.05% more affordable than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and South Dakota
Comparison | Mississippi | 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, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 70Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55Β°F / 34Β°F | 29Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59" | 20" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 39" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Mississippi to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 1% more sunshine days than Mississippi.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 39 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and South Dakota
Comparison | Mississippi | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 3%-5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 1.3% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate-High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Very Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 32% more than those in Mississippi
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 2% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- 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 Mississippi
- The poverty level is moderate in South Dakota compared to high in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Mississippi and very low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Mississippi | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally conservative, with strong Republican representation | Predominantly Republican, reflecting conservative values |
Local Politics | Local elections often reflect statewide political leanings | Local politics can vary, with some areas showing independent or moderate leanings |
Religion | Highly religious, with a major presence of Protestant Christianity | Religious, with a diverse presence of Protestant denominations |
- Mississippi tends to lean traditionally conservative with strong Republican representation in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as predominantly Republican reflecting conservative values
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as religious with a diverse presence of Protestant denominations
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious with a major presence of Protestant Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to South Dakota
Comparison | Mississippi | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Oxford Elementary (Oxford) Eastside Elementary (Clinton) | Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elementary (Harrisburg) Fred Assam Elementary (Brandon) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Madison Middle School (Madison) Lewisburg Middle School (Olive Branch) | George S. Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Yankton Middle School (Yankton) |
Top 3 High Schools | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) | Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Brookings High School (Brookings) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Academy (Jackson) Jackson Preparatory School (Flowood) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) French Camp Academy (French Camp) Heritage Academy (Columbus) | Roncalli Catholic Schools (Aberdeen) Sioux Falls Lutheran School (Sioux Falls) Dakota Christian School (Corsica) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County School District Clinton Public School District Oxford School District | Sioux Falls School District Brookings School District Harrisburg School District |
How Much Do Mississippi to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,256 miles from Mississippi 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
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Two Men and a Truck
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,915 | 300 ft3 | $6.38 |
1 Bedroom | $2,849 | 450 ft3 | $6.33 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,711 | 750 ft3 | $6.28 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,855 | 1100 ft3 | $6.23 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,891 | 1600 ft3 | $6.18 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,037 | 1800 ft3 | $6.13 |
Top Mississippi to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Dial-A-Move Inc.
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to South Dakota