South Dakota to Nevada Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,239 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Nevada? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Nevada across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Chislic vs Shrimp Cocktail), real estate & housing (ranch/farmhouse vs spanish revival/modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Nevada), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Pheasant, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp Cocktail & Prime Rib
- Nevada housing costs are 45% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Nevada is 45.92% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Nevada will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Nevada movers is Anytime Anywhere Piano & Moving Co.
South Dakota to Nevada Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Nevada
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- Limited nightlife
- Sparse shopping
- Mild winters
- Vibrant cities
- Exciting entertainment
- Extensive malls
- Higher living costs
- Noisy urban areas
- Transitory population
- Heavy congestion
- Low cost of living
- Quiet lifestyle
- Friendly communities
- Minimal traffic
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Nevada
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Nevada with vibrant cities
- Swap the limited nightlife of South Dakota for exciting entertainment in Nevada
- Get ready for extensive malls in Nevada
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Nevada
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher living costs in Nevada
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quiet lifestyle and have to settle with the con of noisy urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to a transitory population in Nevada
- Swap minimal traffic for heavy congestion
South Dakota vs. Nevada: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Shrimp Cocktail |
Most popular meat dish | Pheasant | Prime Rib |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Street Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil Stew | Grilled Veggie Bowl |
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 Nevada, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Shrimp Cocktail of Nevada. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Pheasant and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Nevada residents know they have tasty Prime Rib and Street Tacos 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 Grilled Veggie Bowl of Nevada. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Cattleman's Club Steakhouse, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Minervas. After the boxes are unpacked in Nevada, don't wait too long before making your way to Nevada's acclaimed eateries like Bimini Steakhouse, Bacchanal Buffet, and Lotus of Siam.
When comparing lifestyles, Nevada shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Nevada compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Nevada.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Nevada
Comparison | South Dakota | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch/Farmhouse | Spanish Revival/Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious land, proximity to nature | Energy efficiency, entertainment proximity |
- The Ranch/Farmhouse architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Revival/Modern architecture typical of Nevada.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious land and proximity to nature, Nevada real estate listings often highlight features such as energy efficiency and entertainment proximity.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Nevada is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Nevada is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Nevada has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Nevada housing costs are 45% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $432,764 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Nevada have increased by 44% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Nevada is 45.92% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Nevada
Comparison | South Dakota | Nevada |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/60Β°F | 94Β°F/69Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F/13Β°F | 45Β°F/26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20" | 10" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 39" | 22" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to Nevada. Nevada gets 18% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Nevada has lower 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 earthquakes and wildfires in Nevada.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Nevada is 9 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Nevada. Nevada receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Nevada
Comparison | South Dakota | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $72,333 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 101.5 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.14% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 8.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing | Tourism, Entertainment, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Mixed |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minor | Significant |
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Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Nevada
Comparison | South Dakota | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Swing state, leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in state government | Diverse political landscape with Democratic-leaning major cities |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with significant Lutheran and Catholic populations | Mixed, with a significant number of non-religious residents |
- South Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Nevada, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state that leans Democratic
- Nevada's religious environment can be described as mixed, with a significant number of non-religious residents
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, with significant Lutheran and Catholic populations
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Nevada
Comparison | South Dakota | Nevada |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Dakota South Dakota State University Augustana University | University of Nevada Las Vegas University of Nevada Reno Nevada State College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Discovery Elementary - Sioux Falls Challenge Center - Sioux Falls Fred Assam Elementary - Sioux Falls | John Vanderburg Elementary School - Henderson Eileen B. Conners Elementary School - Las Vegas Halle Hewetson Elementary School - Las Vegas |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Edison Middle School - Sioux Falls Patrick Henry Middle School - Sioux Falls George S. Mickelson Middle School - Brookings | Bob Miller Middle School - Henderson Sig Rogich Middle School - Las Vegas Davidson Academy - Reno |
Top 3 High Schools | Lincoln High School - Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School - Sioux Falls Brookings High School - Brookings | The Davidson Academy - Reno Advanced Technologies Academy - Las Vegas Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas - Las Vegas |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Great Plains Lutheran High School - Watertown | The Meadows School - Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School - Las Vegas Sage Ridge School - Reno |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Mitchell Christian School - Mitchell Aberdeen Christian School - Aberdeen | Lake Mead Christian Academy - Henderson Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School - Las Vegas The Meadows School - Las Vegas |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Brookings School District Yankton School District | Clark County School District Washoe County School District Elko County School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to Nevada Movers Cost?
Moving 1,239 miles from South Dakota to Nevada will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 4-14 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Anytime Anywhere Piano & Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,905 | 300 ft3 | $6.35 |
1 Bedroom | $2,835 | 450 ft3 | $6.30 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,687 | 750 ft3 | $6.25 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,820 | 1100 ft3 | $6.20 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,839 | 1600 ft3 | $6.15 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,979 | 1800 ft3 | $6.10 |
Top South Dakota to Nevada Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Nevada movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Anytime Anywhere Piano & Moving Co.
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Nevada