South Dakota to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 1,543 mile interstate move from South Dakota to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Chislic vs Bagel with Lox), real estate & housing (ranch vs brownstone/tenement), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Bagel with Lox & Pastrami on Rye
- New York housing costs are 54% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in New York is 109.89% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to New York will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended South Dakota to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
South Dakota to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to New York
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- Lack of diversity
- Milder climate
- More job opportunities
- Numerous amenities
- Cultural richness
- High expenses
- City noise
- Impersonal atmosphere
- Less greenery
- Lower cost of living
- Tranquil environment
- Tight-knit community
- Nature access
Pros of moving from South Dakota to New York
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited job market and moving to New York with more job opportunities
- Swap the rural isolation of South Dakota for numerous amenities in New York
- Get ready for cultural richness in New York
Cons of moving from South Dakota to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lower cost of living in South Dakota to live with high expenses in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of tranquil environment and have to settle with the con of city noise
- Time to bid farewell to tight-knit community and get used to impersonal atmosphere in New York
- Swap nature access for less greenery
South Dakota vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Bagel with Lox |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Pastrami on Rye |
Most popular street food item | Fried Walleye | Halloumi Fries |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | Vegan Pizza |
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 New York, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Bagel with Lox of New York. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Fried Walleye, New York residents know they have tasty Pastrami on Rye and Halloumi Fries 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 Vegan Pizza of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Crazy Cow Cafe, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Lookout Lodge. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Carmine's Italian Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York, compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and New York
Comparison | South Dakota | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Brownstone/Tenement |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, Quiet neighborhoods | Public transportation access, Proximity to amenities |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Brownstone and Tenement architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings, which commonly reference large lots and quiet neighborhoods, New York real estate listings often highlight features like public transportation access and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- New York has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- New York housing costs are 54% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in New York is 109.89% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and New York
Comparison | South Dakota | New York |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/60 | 82/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30/-6 | 38/26 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 23 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 25-75 (varies widely across the state) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Dakota to New York. New York gets 1% fewer sunshine days than South Dakota.
- New York has higher humidity and a lower 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 nor'easters in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees colder than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows in New York are 32 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 19 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and New York
Comparison | South Dakota | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4-8.82% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.22% | 1.68% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 4% plus local |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing | Finance, Healthcare, Technology |
Affluence | Modest | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Notable |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 14% more than those in South Dakota
- The COLI in New York is 9% higher than what you are used to in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from South Dakota to New York, you'll now have a state income tax of 4-8.82%
- The affluence in New York is high compared to modest affluence in South Dakota
- The poverty level is notable in New York compared to moderate poverty in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Dakota and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. New York
Comparison | South Dakota | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Dominance |
Religion | Christian Majority | Religious Diversity |
- South Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- New York's religious environment can be described as religious diversity
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to New York
Comparison | South Dakota | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University | New York University Columbia University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center - Sioux Falls Buchanan Elementary - Pierre Freedom Elementary - Harrisburg | Success Academy Charter School - Bronx PS 77 Lower Lab School - New York NEST+m - New York |
Top 3 Middle Schools | George S. Mickelson Middle School - Brookings Edison Middle School - Sioux Falls Dakota Valley Middle School - North Sioux City | NEST+m - New York I.S. 187 The Christa McAuliffe School - Brooklyn The Anderson School PS 334 - New York |
Top 3 High School Schools | Roosevelt High School - Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sioux Falls Brookings High School - Brookings | Stuyvesant High School - New York Bronx High School of Science - Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School - Brooklyn |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Great Plains Lutheran High School - Watertown | Horace Mann School - Bronx The Brearley School - New York Collegiate School - New York |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Aberdeen Christian School - Aberdeen Mitchell Christian School - Mitchell | Trinity School - New York The Spence School - New York The Chapin School - New York |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Harrisburg School District Brandon Valley School District | Great Neck Public Schools Jericho Union Free School District Scarsdale Union Free School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 1,543 miles from South Dakota to New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,077 | 300 ft3 | $6.92 |
1 Bedroom | $3,093 | 450 ft3 | $6.87 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,118 | 750 ft3 | $6.82 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,452 | 1100 ft3 | $6.77 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,759 | 1600 ft3 | $6.72 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,014 | 1800 ft3 | $6.67 |
Top South Dakota to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to New York