Oklahoma to South Dakota Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 746 mile interstate move from Oklahoma to South Dakota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oklahoma vs South Dakota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs cooler weather), food & health (like Chicken Fried Steak vs Chislic), real estate & housing (ranch and craftsman vs split-level and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chicken Fried Steak and Barbecue brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Chislic & Pheasant
- South Dakota housing costs are 47% more expensive than they are in Oklahoma
- Rent in South Dakota is 6.26% more affordable than in Oklahoma
- Moving from Oklahoma to South Dakota will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Oklahoma to South Dakota movers is Serenity Moving Services
Oklahoma to South Dakota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oklahoma to South Dakota
- Hot summers
- Tornado risk
- Limited winter activities
- High sales tax
- Cooler weather
- Lower natural disasters
- Plentiful ski resorts
- No state income tax
- Fewer cultural events
- Harsher winters
- Higher living costs
- Less culinary diversity
- Music festivals
- Wide open spaces
- Low living costs
- Diverse cuisine
Pros of moving from Oklahoma to South Dakota
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to cooler weather
- Look forward to moving away from tornado risk and moving to South Dakota with lower natural disasters
- Swap the limited winter activities of Oklahoma for plentiful ski resorts in South Dakota
- Get ready for no state income tax in South Dakota
Cons of moving from Oklahoma to South Dakota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from music festivals in Oklahoma to live with fewer cultural events in South Dakota
- You'll lose out on the pro of wide open spaces and have to settle for the con of harsher winters
- Time to bid farewell to low living costs and get used to higher living costs in South Dakota
- Swap diverse cuisine for less culinary diversity
Oklahoma vs. South Dakota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oklahoma | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chicken Fried Steak | Chislic |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue brisket | Pheasant |
Most popular street food item | Frybread tacos | Indian tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Okra gumbo | Knoephla soup (vegan version) |
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 Oklahoma to South Dakota, you will be trading the iconic Chicken Fried Steak of Oklahoma for the equally delicious Chislic of South Dakota. And while the locals in Oklahoma rave about their flavorful Barbecue Brisket and sumptuous Frybread Tacos, 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 Knoephla Soup (vegan version) of South Dakota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oklahoma eateries like Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Eischen's Bar, and Joe's BBQ. 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, Mad Mary's Steakhouse, and Look's Marketplace.
When comparing lifestyles, South Dakota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oklahoma. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Dakota compared to what you are used to in Oklahoma. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Dakota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oklahoma and South Dakota
Comparison | Oklahoma | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch and Craftsman | Split-level and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, open floor plans | Proximity to parks, energy efficiency |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Oklahoma is known for will be replaced with the Split-level and Ranch architecture typical of South Dakota.
- Compared to Oklahoma's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and open floor plans, South Dakota's real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to parks and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Dakota is less walkable than Oklahoma.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Dakota is less bike-friendly than Oklahoma.
- South Dakota has less of an urban feel than Oklahoma.
- South Dakota housing costs are 47% more expensive than they are in Oklahoma, with a median home price of $299,062 compared to Oklahomaβs $203,455.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Dakota have increased by 48% compared to a 50% increase in Oklahoma.
- Rent in South Dakota is 6.26% more affordable than in Oklahoma.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oklahoma and South Dakota
Comparison | Oklahoma | 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 | Tornadoes, Hail | Blizzards, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 94Β°F / 72Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 26Β°F / 6Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 9 | 39 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Oklahoma to South Dakota. South Dakota gets 8% fewer sunshine days than Oklahoma.
- South Dakota has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Oklahoma.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and hail in Oklahoma, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and floods in South Dakota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in South Dakota is 9 degrees colder than in Oklahoma.
- The average winter lows in South Dakota are 24 degrees colder than they are in Oklahoma.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Dakota. South Dakota receives 16 fewer inches of rain compared to Oklahoma.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oklahoma and South Dakota
Comparison | Oklahoma | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,673 | $69,728 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.1 | 94.1 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.90% | 1.31% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.95% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Aerospace | Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Very Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Dakota tend to earn about 17% more than those in Oklahoma
- The COLI in South Dakota will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Oklahoma
- Hooray, moving to SD means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in South Dakota is high compared to moderate affluence in Oklahoma
- The poverty level is low in South Dakota compared to moderate poverty in Oklahoma
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Oklahoma and very low in South Dakota
Political and Religious Climate in Oklahoma vs. South Dakota
Comparison | Oklahoma | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Conservative/Republican |
Local Politics | Local governments may vary, with a mix of conservative and moderate leadership | Local governments tend to lean conservative, but there's a notable interest in issues like conservation and local business development |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with a significant evangelical presence | Primarily Christian, with strong Lutheran and Catholic communities |
- Oklahoma tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- South Dakota, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
- South Dakota's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with strong Lutheran and Catholic communities
- Oklahoma's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian with a significant evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Oklahoma to South Dakota
Comparison | Oklahoma | South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University University of Tulsa | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Chisholm Elementary - Edmond Russell Dougherty Elementary - Edmond Wayland Bonds Elementary - Oklahoma City | Discovery Elementary - Sioux Falls Rosa Parks Elementary - Sioux Falls Challenge Center - Sioux Falls |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Whittier Middle School - Norman Sequoyah Middle School - Edmond Central Middle School - Edmond | George S. Mickelson Middle School - Brookings Patrick Henry Middle School - Sioux Falls Edison Middle School - Sioux Falls |
Top 3 High Schools | Edmond North High School - Edmond Norman North High School - Norman Jenks High School - Jenks | Roosevelt High School - Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sioux Falls O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School - Oklahoma City Cascia Hall Preparatory School - Tulsa Heritage Hall - Oklahoma City | O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Great Plains Lutheran High School - Watertown |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Heritage Hall - Oklahoma City Crossings Christian School - Oklahoma City Oklahoma Christian School - Edmond | SF Christian School - Sioux Falls Aberdeen Christian School - Aberdeen Mitchell Christian School - Mitchell |
Top 3 School Districts | Edmond Public Schools Norman Public Schools Jenks Public Schools | Sioux Falls School District Brookings School District Rapid City Area Schools |
How Much Do Oklahoma to South Dakota Movers Cost?
Moving 746 miles from Oklahoma 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
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Serenity Moving Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,625 | 300 ft3 | $5.42 |
1 Bedroom | $2,416 | 450 ft3 | $5.37 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,989 | 750 ft3 | $5.32 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,795 | 1100 ft3 | $5.27 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,349 | 1600 ft3 | $5.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,302 | 1800 ft3 | $5.17 |
Top Oklahoma to South Dakota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oklahoma to South Dakota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Serenity Moving Services
Best moving company overall for Oklahoma to South Dakota