South Dakota to North Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,528 mile interstate move from South Dakota to North Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs North Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winter weather vs milder winters), food & health (like Chislic vs Pulled pork BBQ), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Bison steak, but get your taste buds ready for Pulled pork BBQ & Eastern-style barbecue
- North Carolina housing costs are 10% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in North Carolina is 45.51% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to North Carolina will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended South Dakota to North Carolina movers is Just Move It, LLC
South Dakota to North Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to North Carolina
- Severe winter weather
- Limited job market
- Sparse urban centers
- Remote location
- Fewer cultural events
- Milder winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant city life
- Accessible amenities
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher living costs
- Busy urban lifestyle
- Higher taxes
- More traffic
- Fast-paced environment
- Low cost of living
- Peaceful rural life
- Tax-friendly environment
- Quiet surroundings
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from South Dakota to North Carolina
- Say goodbye to severe winter weather and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to North Carolina with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the sparse urban centers of South Dakota for vibrant city life in North Carolina
- Get ready for accessible amenities in North Carolina
Cons of moving from South Dakota to North Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher living costs in North Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of peaceful rural life and have to settle for the con of a busy urban lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to a tax-friendly environment and get used to higher taxes in North Carolina
- Swap quiet surroundings for more traffic
South Dakota vs. North Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Pulled pork BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Bison steak | Eastern-style barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Frybread tacos | BBQ sandwiches |
Most popular vegan food | Wild rice dishes | Collard greens |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 North Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious pulled pork BBQ of North Carolina. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful bison steak and sumptuous frybread tacos, North Carolina residents know they have tasty eastern-style barbecue and BBQ sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the wild rice dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the collard greens of North Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Cattleman's Steakhouse, Look's Marketplace, and Minervas. After the boxes are unpacked in North Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to North Carolina's acclaimed eateries like 12 Bones Smokehouse, Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Lexington Barbecue.
When comparing lifestyles, North Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in North Carolina compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in North Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and North Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, garages | Community amenities, proximity to business districts |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of North Carolina.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, North Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like community amenities and proximity to business districts.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. North Carolina is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. North Carolina is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- North Carolina has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- North Carolina housing costs are 10% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $329,225 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Carolina have increased by 63% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in North Carolina is 45.51% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and North Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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, Blizzards | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/60Β°F | 88Β°F/67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F/10Β°F | 50Β°F/30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30" | 40-50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-40" | 4-6" |
- North Carolina gets an equal number of sunshine days as South Dakota.
- North Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and blizzards in South Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in North Carolina.
- The average summer high temperature in North Carolina is 3 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows in North Carolina are 20 degrees warmer than those in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in North Carolina, as it receives 20 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and North Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $67,481 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 95.85 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 5.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.32% | 0.84% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.40% | 6.75% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing | Technology, Banking, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Lower | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Carolina tend to earn about 3% less than in South Dakota
- The COLI in North Carolina will be 2% higher than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from South Dakota to North Carolina, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.25%
- The affluence in North Carolina is varied compared to moderate affluence in South Dakota
- The poverty level is higher in North Carolina compared to moderate poverty in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in South Dakota and moderate in North Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. North Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Swing State |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Mixed Influence |
Religion | Christian Majority | Christian Majority with more diversity |
- South Dakota tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- North Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- North Carolina's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority with more diversity
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to North Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University East Carolina University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elem (Harrisburg) Discovery Elem (Sioux Falls) | Endhaven Elem (Charlotte) Davis Drive Elem (Cary) Morrisville Elem (Morrisville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mickelson Middle (Brookings) Memorial Middle (Sioux Falls) Whittier Middle (Sioux Falls) | Ligon Middle (Raleigh) Jay M. Robinson Middle (Charlotte) Mills Park Middle (Cary) |
Top 3 High Schools | Roosevelt High (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High (Sioux Falls) Washington High (Sioux Falls) | Green Hope High (Cary) Ardrey Kell High (Charlotte) Panther Creek High (Cary) |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian (Sioux Falls) Roncalli High School (Aberdeen) | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) Roncalli Primary School (Aberdeen) | Cary Academy (Cary) Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Harrisburg School District Brandon Valley School District | Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools |
How Much Do South Dakota to North Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 1,528 miles from South Dakota to North Carolina 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: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,069 | 300 ft3 | $6.90 |
1 Bedroom | $3,081 | 450 ft3 | $6.85 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,097 | 750 ft3 | $6.80 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,420 | 1100 ft3 | $6.75 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,713 | 1600 ft3 | $6.70 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,962 | 1800 ft3 | $6.65 |
Top South Dakota to North Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to North Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to North Carolina