South Dakota to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,827 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like frigid winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Chislic vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (ranch vs spanish colonial/mediterranean), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Bison steak, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Florida is 86.89% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Florida will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
South Dakota to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Florida
- Frigid winters
- Limited coastal access
- Rural isolation
- Smaller job market
- Less diverse dining
- Mild winters
- Beautiful beaches
- Urban opportunities
- Thriving industries
- Varied culinary scenes
- Higher living expenses
- Hurricane risk
- High traffic congestion
- Less personal connection
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Low cost of living
- Scenic landscapes
- Low traffic congestion
- Tight-knit communities
- Slower pace of life
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Florida
- Say goodbye to frigid winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastal access and moving to Florida with beautiful beaches
- Swap the rural isolation of South Dakota for urban opportunities in Florida
- Get ready for thriving industries in Florida
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher living expenses in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of scenic landscapes and have to settle for the con of hurricane risk
- Time to bid farewell to low traffic congestion and get used to high traffic congestion in Florida
- Swap tight-knit communities for less personal connections
South Dakota vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Bison steak | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Florida, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison steak and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwiches and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Minervas, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Mount Rushmore Concessions. After the boxes are unpacked in Florida, don't wait too long before making your way to Florida's acclaimed eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida, compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Florida
Comparison | South Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Spanish Colonial/Mediterranean |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Garage, Acreage | Pool, Waterfront |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial/Mediterranean architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference garage and acreage, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like pools and waterfronts.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Florida is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Florida is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Florida housing costs are 33% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Florida is 86.89% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Florida
Comparison | South Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
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 | Severe storms, tornadoes | Hurricanes, tropical storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable, regional variation |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 90Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 70Β°F / 48Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30" | 50-65" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60" | 0" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to Florida. Florida gets 4% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible severe storms and tornadoes in South Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Florida is 5 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 38 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 30 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Florida
Comparison | South Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.2% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance | Tourism, Agriculture, International Trade |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minimal | Noticeable |
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- The affluence in the destination city is higher compared to the source city
- The poverty level is lower in the destination city compared to the source city
- In terms of homelessness, it is higher in the source city and lower in the destination city
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Florida
Comparison | South Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative majority | Mix of conservative and liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in state offices | Competitive two-party system |
Religion | Largely Protestant, with a significant Catholic minority | Diverse; significant Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities |
- South Dakota tends to lean conservative majority in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as a mix of conservative and liberal
- Florida's religious environment can be described as diverse with significant Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Protestant with a significant Catholic minority
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Florida
Comparison | South Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center - Sioux Falls Discovery Elementary - Sioux Falls Fred Assam Elementary - Sioux Falls | Pine View School - Osprey Doral Academy of Technology - Doral Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Valparaiso |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Edison Middle School - Sioux Falls George S. Mickelson Middle School - Brookings Patrick Henry Middle School - Sioux Falls | Bak Middle School of the Arts - West Palm Beach Archimedean Middle Conservatory - Miami Pine View School - Osprey |
Top 3 High Schools | Roosevelt High School - Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sioux Falls Washington High School - Sioux Falls | Pine View School - Osprey School for Advanced Studies (SAS) - Miami Design and Architecture Senior High - Miami |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Roncalli High School - Aberdeen | Ransom Everglades School - Miami Pine Crest School - Fort Lauderdale The Bolles School - Jacksonville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Great Plains Lutheran High School - Watertown Sioux Falls Lutheran School - Sioux Falls Aberdeen Christian School - Aberdeen | American Heritage School - Plantation Gulliver Prep - Pinecrest North Broward Preparatory School - Coconut Creek |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Brandon Valley School District Harrisburg School District | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 1,827 miles from South Dakota to Florida will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,238 | 300 ft3 | $7.46 |
1 Bedroom | $3,335 | 450 ft3 | $7.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,521 | 750 ft3 | $7.36 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,042 | 1100 ft3 | $7.31 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,617 | 1600 ft3 | $7.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,980 | 1800 ft3 | $7.21 |
Top South Dakota to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Florida