North Dakota to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,526 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Knoephla Soup vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (ranch vs french creole and colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Knoephla Soup and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Jambalaya
- Louisiana housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Louisiana is 28.94% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Louisiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Louisiana movers is Two Men and a Truck
North Dakota to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Louisiana
- Harsh winters
- Limited job opportunities
- Low population density
- Remote location
- Mild winters
- Diverse economy
- Lively culture
- Rich culinary scene
- Higher humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Mosquito presence
- Low cost of living
- Quiet environment
- Community-focused
- Natural beauty
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Louisiana with a diverse economy
- Swap the low population density of North Dakota for a lively culture in Louisiana
- Get ready for a rich culinary scene in Louisiana
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in North Dakota to live with higher humidity in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quiet environment and have to settle with the con of hurricane risk
- Time to bid farewell to a community-focused environment and get used to traffic congestion in Louisiana
- Swap natural beauty for the presence of mosquitoes
North Dakota vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Knoephla Soup | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Jambalaya |
Most popular street food item | Chippers | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Grain Bowls | Okra Gumbo (Vegan) |
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 Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Knoephla Soup of North Dakota for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Chippers, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Jambalaya and Po'boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grain Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra Gumbo (Vegan) of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, The HoDo Restaurant, and Blarney Stone Pub. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commander's Palace, Galatoire's, and Willie Mae's Scotch House.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Louisiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | French Creole and Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious layouts, natural light | Historic touches, waterfront views |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the French Creole and Colonial architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious layouts and natural light, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like historic touches and waterfront views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Louisiana is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Louisiana is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Louisiana has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Louisiana housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Louisiana is 28.94% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Louisiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 91Β°F / 73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 18Β°F / 0Β°F | 62Β°F / 42Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17.8" | 60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 46" | 0.2" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 7% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Louisiana has higher 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 hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 9 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 42 degrees warmer in Louisiana than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 42.2 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Louisiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 1.1% - 2.9% | 2% - 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.95% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 9.45% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Petrochemicals, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Minimal | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 23% less than those in North Dakota
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in LA is 2% - 6% compared to 1.1% - 2.9% in ND
- The affluence in Louisiana is varied compared to moderate affluence in North Dakota
- The poverty level is high in Louisiana compared to moderate poverty in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in North Dakota and noticeable in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Louisiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative on economics, social issues | Mix of liberal and conservative, varies by region |
Religion | Christianity predominates, Lutheran strongholds | Christianity predominates, Catholic strongholds |
- North Dakota tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as Christianity predominates and Catholic strongholds
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominates and Lutheran strongholds
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Louisiana
Comparison | North Dakota | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedom Elementary (West Fargo) Independence Elementary (Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) South Highlands Elementary Magnet (Shreveport) Lake Forest Elementary Charter (New Orleans) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Discovery Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Caddo Parish Middle Magnet (Shreveport) Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Central High School (Grand Forks) Century High School (Bismarck) Red River High School (Grand Forks) | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (Metairie) |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School (Fargo) Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Trinity High School (Dickinson) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Dakota Adventist Academy (Bismarck) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools West Fargo Public Schools | Orleans Parish School Board Jefferson Parish Public Schools East Baton Rouge Parish School System |
How Much Do North Dakota to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,526 miles from North Dakota to Louisiana 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Henry Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,068 | 300 ft3 | $6.89 |
1 Bedroom | $3,079 | 450 ft3 | $6.84 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,094 | 750 ft3 | $6.79 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,416 | 1100 ft3 | $6.74 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,707 | 1600 ft3 | $6.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,956 | 1800 ft3 | $6.64 |
Top North Dakota to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Two Men and a Truck
Best moving company overall for North Dakota to Louisiana