New Mexico to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 884 mile interstate move from New Mexico to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like arid climate vs milder summers), food & health (like Green Chile vs Chislic), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs queen anne), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 0% less expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in South Dakota is 12.61% more affordable than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to South Dakota will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended New Mexico to South Dakota movers is JP Moving
New Mexico to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to South Dakota
- Arid climate
- Limited water supply
- High crime rates
- Sparse vegetation
- Higher cost of living
- Milder summers
- Abundant lakes
- Lower crime rates
- Lush landscapes
- Affordable housing
- Fewer cultural venues
- Colder winters
- Limited dining options
- Flat terrains
- Fewer art galleries
- Rich culture
- Endless sunshine
- Unique cuisine
- Diverse landscapes
- Vibrant arts scene
Pros of moving from New Mexico to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to arid climate and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited water supply and moving to South Dakota with abundant lakes
- Swap the high crime rates of New Mexico for lower crime rates in South Dakota
- Get ready for lush landscapes in South Dakota
Cons of moving from New Mexico to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich culture in New Mexico to live with fewer cultural venues in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of endless sunshine and have to settle for the con of colder winters
- Time to bid farewell to unique cuisine and get used to limited dining options in South Dakota
- Swap diverse landscapes for flat terrains
New Mexico vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Wild Rice Bowl |
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 New Mexico to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Tacos, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blue Corn Enchiladas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Bowl of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like El Modelo Mexican Foods, Frontier Restaurant, and Sadie's of New Mexico. 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, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Minervas.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota, compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and South Dakota
Comparison | New Mexico | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Queen Anne |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, open spaces | Community feel, outdoor activities |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Queen Anne architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open spaces, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like a community feel and outdoor activities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. South Dakota is more walkable than New Mexico.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. South Dakota is less bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- South Dakota housing costs are 0% less expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in South Dakota is 12.61% more affordable than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and South Dakota
Comparison | New Mexico | 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 | Wildfires, Floods | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 64Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 26Β°F / 6Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13.9 | 20.1 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 39 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 24% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- South Dakota has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in New Mexico, 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 7 degrees colder than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees colder than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 6.2 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and South Dakota
Comparison | New Mexico | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 1.7 - 4.9 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.78% | 1.32% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.83% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Agriculture | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Low |
Homelessness | Challenging | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 17% more than in New Mexico
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate compared to moderate affluence in New Mexico
- The poverty level is low in South Dakota compared to high poverty in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is challenging in New Mexico and manageable in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. South Dakota
Comparison | New Mexico | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Conservative across most regions |
Religion | Catholic, Protestant | Lutheran, Catholic |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as Lutheran and Catholic
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic and Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to South Dakota
Comparison | New Mexico | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Georgia OβKeeffe Elementary (Albuquerque) | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Fred Assam Elementary (Sioux Falls) Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Desert Ridge Middle (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle (Roswell) Mountain View Middle (Rio Rancho) | Edison Middle School (Sioux Falls) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) |
Top 3 High School Schools | La Cueva High (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science Early College Academy (Albuquerque) | Lincoln High (Sioux Falls) Washington High (Sioux Falls) Roosevelt High (Sioux Falls) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian (Sioux Falls) Roncalli High School (Aberdeen) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School (Albuquerque) The Menaul School (Albuquerque) Desert Academy (Santa Fe) | No significant private K-12 schools match |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools | Sioux Falls School District Brandon Valley School District Harrisburg School District |
How Much Do New Mexico to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 884 miles from New Mexico 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,704 | 300 ft3 | $5.68 |
1 Bedroom | $2,533 | 450 ft3 | $5.63 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,184 | 750 ft3 | $5.58 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,082 | 1100 ft3 | $5.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,766 | 1600 ft3 | $5.48 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,772 | 1800 ft3 | $5.43 |
Top New Mexico to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.