South Dakota to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 415 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Chislic vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (ranch, split-level vs craftsman, bungalow), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Pheasant, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Ribs & Brisket
- Kansas housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Kansas is 7.83% more affordable than South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Kansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Kansas movers is American Movers
Top South Dakota to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

American Movers
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Kansas

Dial-A-Move Inc.

Two Men and a Truck
South Dakota to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Kansas
- Harsh winters
- Low population density
- Limited healthcare options
- Milder climate
- More urban areas
- Better medical facilities
- Higher housing prices
- Fewer national parks
- More flatlands
- Low cost of living
- Unique attractions
- Scenic landscapes
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Kansas
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from low population density and moving to Kansas with more urban areas
- Swap the limited healthcare options of South Dakota for better medical facilities in Kansas
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher housing prices in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of unique attractions and have to settle for the con of fewer national parks
- Time to bid farewell to scenic landscapes and get used to more flatlands in Kansas
South Dakota vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Pheasant | Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Smoked Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Stew | BBQ Jackfruit |
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 Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Kansas. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Pheasant and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Kansas residents know they have tasty Brisket and Smoked Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Phillips Avenue Diner, Minervas, and Granite City Food and Brewery. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Slap's BBQ, and Q39.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Kansas
Comparison | South Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Split-level | Craftsman, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Garage, Spacious backyard | Energy efficiency, Open-concept kitchens |
- The Ranch and Split-level architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Bungalow architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference a garage and spacious backyard, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and open-concept kitchens.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kansas is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kansas is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Kansas has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Kansas housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased 49% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Kansas is 7.83% more affordable than South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Kansas
Comparison | South Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/60 | 91/69 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 32/13 | 42/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30 | 28-40 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60 | 12-20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to Kansas. Kansas gets 1% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Kansas has similar humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in South Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Kansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 6 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows in Kansas are 7 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kansas. Kansas receives 8 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Kansas
Comparison | South Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3.1% - 5.7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.3% | 1.4% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 6.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 1% less than in South Dakota
- The COLI in Kansas will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from SD to KS, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.1% to 5.7%
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in South Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to low in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Dakota and low in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Kansas
Comparison | South Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Largely Republican, with Democratic strongholds |
Local Politics | Conservative lean in rural areas | Mixed, with liberal leanings in urban areas like Wichita and Lawrence |
Religion | Majority Christian, with a strong Protestant presence | Majority Christian, diverse denominations including a significant Catholic population |
- South Dakota tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate.
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican with Democratic strongholds.
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as majority Christian with diverse denominations including a significant Catholic population.
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majority Christian with a strong Protestant presence.
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Kansas
Comparison | South Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Black Hills State University | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elementary (Harrisburg) | Briarwood Elementary (Overland Park) Corinth Elementary (Prairie Village) Sunset Hill Elementary (Lawrence) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Whittier Middle School (Sioux Falls) | Leawood Middle School (Leawood) Lakewood Middle School (Overland Park) Harmony Middle School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 High Schools | Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Brookings High School (Brookings) | Blue Valley North High School (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village) Lawrence Free State High School (Lawrence) |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran (Watertown) | Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park) Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | No relevant data | The Independent School (Wichita) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Harrisburg School District Brookings School District | Blue Valley School District (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission School District (Shawnee Mission) DeSoto School District (DeSoto) |
How Much Do South Dakota to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 415 miles from South Dakota to Kansas will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mike's Moving Pros
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,438 | 300 ft3 | $4.79 |
1 Bedroom | $2,134 | 450 ft3 | $4.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,519 | 750 ft3 | $4.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,107 | 1100 ft3 | $4.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,348 | 1600 ft3 | $4.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,177 | 1800 ft3 | $4.54 |