North Dakota to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,508 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winter weather vs warm, sunny climate), food & health (like Lefse vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (ranch style vs spanish colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 70% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Arizona is 87.50% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Arizona will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
North Dakota to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Arizona
- Harsh winter weather
- Limited job opportunities
- Rural isolation
- Warm, sunny climate
- Growing job market
- Urban amenities
- Higher living costs
- Less community feel
- Desert environment
- Low cost of living
- Tight-knit communities
- Open landscapes
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Arizona
- Say goodbye to harsh winter weather and hello to a warm, sunny climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Arizona with a growing job market
- Swap the rural isolation of North Dakota for urban amenities in Arizona
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in North Dakota to live with higher living costs in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of tight-knit communities and have to settle with the con of a less community feel
- Time to bid farewell to open landscapes and get used to a desert environment in Arizona
North Dakota vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Knoephla Soup | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | 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 North Dakota to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Knoephla Soup, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, Badger's Business, and Prairie Knights Casino and Resort. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like El GΓΌero Canelo, Pizzicletta, and Durant's.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Arizona
Comparison | North Dakota | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch Style | Spanish Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, proximity to nature | Swimming pools, solar panels |
- The Ranch Style architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and proximity to nature, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and solar panels.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Arizona housing costs are 70% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased 63% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Arizona is 87.50% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Arizona
Comparison | North Dakota | Arizona |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Floods | Heatwaves, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; urban areas have higher pollution |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 55Β°F | 106Β°F / 83Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 18Β°F / 0Β°F | 67Β°F / 46Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17 | 13 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 46 | 0 in lower areas; up to 100 in highlands |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Arizona. Arizona gets 42% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential heatwaves and wildfires in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 24 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 46 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Arizona
Comparison | North Dakota | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 2.90% | 4.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.00% | 0.65% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.85% | 8.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing | Tourism, Manufacturing, Aerospace |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rare | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 4% more than in North Dakota
- The COLI in Arizona will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in AZ is 4.50% compared to 2.90% in ND
- The affluence in Arizona is varied compared to moderate affluence in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Arizona compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is rare in North Dakota and noticeable in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Arizona
Comparison | North Dakota | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Mixed, with a slight Democratic lean |
Local Politics | Conservative policies dominate | Varies by region; urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas lean Republican |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a strong Lutheran presence | Diverse, Christianity prevalent but with a significant non-religious population |
- North Dakota tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a slight Democratic lean
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as diverse with Christianity prevalent but a significant non-religious population
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a strong Lutheran presence
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Arizona
Comparison | North Dakota | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Minot State University | University of Arizona Arizona State University Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedman Elementary (Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) Roosevelt Elementary (Mandan) | Knox Gifted Academy (Chandler) BASIS Scottsdale Primary - East Campus (Scottsdale) Manzanita Elementary School (Tucson) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) Wachter Middle School (Mandan) | BASIS Chandler (Chandler) BASIS Oro Valley (Oro Valley) Preparatory Academy (Mesa) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Minot High School (Minot) | BASIS Scottsdale (Scottsdale) BASIS Tucson North (Tucson) University High School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Minot Ryan Catholic School (Minot) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Trinity Christian School (Williston) | Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) The Gregory School (Tucson) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools | Scottsdale Unified School District Chandler Unified School District Tucson Unified School District |
How Much Do North Dakota to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 1,508 miles from North Dakota to Arizona will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3.5-11 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sterling Interstate LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,057 | 300 ft3 | $6.86 |
1 Bedroom | $3,064 | 450 ft3 | $6.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,069 | 750 ft3 | $6.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,379 | 1100 ft3 | $6.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,653 | 1600 ft3 | $6.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,894 | 1800 ft3 | $6.61 |
Top North Dakota to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for North Dakota to Arizona