South Dakota to Colorado Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated June 17, 2025
Planning a 573 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Chislic vs Green Chili), real estate & housing (ranch vs modern and mountain), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Pheasant, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chili & Bison
- Colorado housing costs are 84% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Colorado is 70.24% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Colorado will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.

Top South Dakota to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Colorado

Smooth Movers

Dial-A-Move Inc.
South Dakota to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Colorado
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Few cultural events
- Rural isolation
- Flat landscapes
- Milder winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Rich cultural scene
- Urban conveniences
- Mountainous terrain
- Higher cost of living
- More traffic
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Higher air pollution
- Urban noise
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Community feel
- Low pollution
- Quiet rural charm
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Colorado
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Colorado with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the few cultural events of South Dakota for a rich cultural scene in Colorado
- Get ready for urban conveniences in Colorado
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in South Dakota to live with a higher cost of living in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic and have to settle with the con of more traffic
- Time to bid farewell to the community feel and get used to a fast-paced lifestyle in Colorado
- Swap low pollution for higher air pollution
South Dakota vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Green Chili |
Most popular meat dish | Pheasant | Bison |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil stew | Quinoa salad |
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 South Dakota to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Green Chili of Colorado. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Pheasant and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison and Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Lentil Stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Minervas, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Crawford's Bar. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Rioja, and Beatrice & Woodsley.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Colorado
Comparison | South Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Modern and Mountain |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | Mountain views, sustainability features |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Mountain architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and sustainability features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Colorado housing costs are 84% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Colorado is 70.24% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Colorado
Comparison | South Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 45Β°F / 15Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 25" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 45" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to Colorado. Colorado gets 8% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in South Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and avalanches in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is the same as in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Colorado
Comparison | South Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.31% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 2.9% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Mining, Tourism | Aerospace, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 28% more than those in South Dakota
- The COLI in Colorado is 4% higher than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from South Dakota to Colorado, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.55%
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate affluence in South Dakota
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to moderate poverty in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Dakota and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Colorado
Comparison | South Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Swing State, trend towards Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative tendencies in rural areas | Liberal tendencies in urban areas like Denver |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a notable Lutheran presence | Mixed religious landscape, higher percentage of unaffiliated or non-religious individuals |
- South Dakota tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state that trends towards Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as a mixed religious landscape with a higher percentage of unaffiliated or non-religious individuals
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a notable Lutheran presence
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Colorado
Comparison | South Dakota | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Dakota Vermillion South Dakota State University Brookings Black Hills State University Spearfish | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado State University Fort Collins University of Denver Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hayward Elementary School Sioux Falls Brandon Valley Elementary School Brandon Freeman Elementary School Freeman | Willow Creek Elementary School Centennial Coronado Hills Elementary School Northglenn Bear Creek Elementary School Boulder |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Harrisburg South Middle School Harrisburg Georgia Morse Middle School Pierre Edison Middle School Sioux Falls | Cherry Creek Academy Englewood Rocky Mountain Prep Aurora Hamilton Middle School Denver |
Top 3 High School Schools | Brookings High School Brookings OβGorman High School Sioux Falls Spearfish High School Spearfish | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village Boulder High School Boulder Denver School of the Arts Denver |
Top 3 private high schools | OβGorman High School Sioux Falls Rapid City Christian School Rapid City Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls | St. Mary's Academy Englewood Regis Jesuit High School Aurora Denver Jewish Day School Denver |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls Rapid City Christian School Rapid City Aberdeen Christian School Aberdeen | Colorado Academy Denver Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs Vail Mountain School Vail |
Top 3 School Districts | Brandon Valley School District Brandon Sioux Falls School District Sioux Falls Harrisburg School District Harrisburg | Cherry Creek School District Greenwood Village Boulder Valley School District Boulder Jeffco Public Schools Golden |
How Much Do South Dakota to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 573 miles from South Dakota to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Moving Colorado LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,527 | 300 ft3 | $5.09 |
1 Bedroom | $2,268 | 450 ft3 | $5.04 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,743 | 750 ft3 | $4.99 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,435 | 1100 ft3 | $4.94 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,826 | 1600 ft3 | $4.89 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,714 | 1800 ft3 | $4.84 |