New York to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,541 mile interstate move from New York to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Bagel vs Chislic), real estate & housing (high-rise & brownstone vs ranch & split-level), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel and Beef pastrami sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in South Dakota is 52.36% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to South Dakota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended New York to South Dakota movers is JP Urban Moving
Top New York to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for New York to South Dakota

Metropolis Moving

Flex Moving and Storage
New York to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to South Dakota
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Noise pollution
- Limited space
- Affordable housing
- Smooth commutes
- Peaceful environment
- Spacious land
- Fewer cultural events
- Rely on cars
- Limited cuisine variety
- Slower pace
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Extensive public transport
- Diverse dining options
- 24/7 lifestyle
Pros of moving from New York to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to South Dakota with smooth commutes
- Swap the noise pollution of New York for a peaceful environment in South Dakota
- Get ready for spacious land in South Dakota
Cons of moving from New York to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant cultural scene in New York to live with fewer cultural events in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of extensive public transport and have to settle with the con of relying on cars
- Time to bid farewell to diverse dining options and get used to limited cuisine variety in South Dakota
- Swap the 24/7 lifestyle for a slower pace
New York vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Beef pastrami sandwich | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Hot dog | Indian taco |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan pizza | Vegan buffalo wings |
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 York to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Bagel of New York for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Beef Pastrami Sandwich and sumptuous Hot Dog, South Dakota residents know they have tasty Pheasant and Indian Taco to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Buffalo Wings of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Per Se. After the boxes are unpacked in South Dakota, don't wait too long before making your way to South Dakota's acclaimed eateries like Phillips Avenue Diner, Carnaval Brazilian Grill, and Minervas.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and South Dakota
Comparison | New York | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | High-rise & Brownstone | Ranch & Split-level |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to subway, Views, Open Floor Plan | Spacious Yards, Quiet Streets, Outdoor Space |
- The High-rise and Brownstone architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Split-level architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway, views, and open floor plans, South Dakota real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards, quiet streets, and outdoor space.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. South Dakota is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. South Dakota is less bike-friendly than New York.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than New York.
- South Dakota housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in South Dakota is 52.36% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and South Dakota
Comparison | New York | 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, Blizzards | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F / 26Β°F | 31Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 20-30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 40-60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New York to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 1% more sunshine days than New York.
- South Dakota has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in New York, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in South Dakota.
- The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 3 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 29.9 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and South Dakota
Comparison | New York | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 6.85% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 1.32% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Financial Services, Healthcare, Technology | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 12% less than those in New York
- The COLI in South Dakota is 8% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in South Dakota compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. South Dakota
Comparison | New York | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Predominantly Democratic | Predominantly Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal policies in urban areas | Conservative policies statewide |
Religion | Diverse religious presence | Predominantly Christian |
- New York tends to lean predominantly Democratic in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as predominantly Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a diverse religious presence
How Much Do New York to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,541 miles from New York to South Dakota 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,076 | 300 ft3 | $6.92 |
1 Bedroom | $3,092 | 450 ft3 | $6.87 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,115 | 750 ft3 | $6.82 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,447 | 1100 ft3 | $6.77 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,753 | 1600 ft3 | $6.72 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,007 | 1800 ft3 | $6.67 |