South Dakota to Oklahoma Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 746 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Oklahoma? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Oklahoma across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs warmer climate), food & health (like Chislic vs Chicken Fried Steak), real estate & housing (prairie and ranch vs traditional and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Bison, but get your taste buds ready for Chicken Fried Steak & Barbecue
- Oklahoma housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Oklahoma is 6.68% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Oklahoma will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Oklahoma movers is Serenity Moving Services
South Dakota to Oklahoma Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Oklahoma
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- Limited job market
- Sparse amenities
- Warmer climate
- More urban areas
- Diverse opportunities
- Rich amenities
- Higher living costs
- Less varied scenery
- More hustle and bustle
- Low cost of living
- Stunning landscapes
- Quiet lifestyle
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Oklahoma
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a warmer climate
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Oklahoma with more urban areas
- Swap the limited job market of South Dakota for diverse opportunities in Oklahoma
- Get ready for rich amenities in Oklahoma
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Oklahoma
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher living costs in Oklahoma
- You'll lose out on the pro of stunning landscapes and have to settle for the con of less varied scenery
- Time to bid farewell to a quiet lifestyle and get used to more hustle and bustle in Oklahoma
South Dakota vs. Oklahoma: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Chicken Fried Steak |
Most popular meat dish | Bison | Barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Fried Onion Burger |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Dishes | Okra Dishes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Oklahoma, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Chicken Fried Steak of Oklahoma. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Oklahoma residents know they have tasty Barbecue and Fried Onion Burgers 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 Okra Dishes of Oklahoma. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Cattleman's Steakhouse, Phillips Avenue Diner, and Que Pasa Cantina. After the boxes are unpacked in Oklahoma, don't wait too long before making your way to Oklahoma's acclaimed eateries like Eischen's Bar, Cattlemen's Steakhouse, and Joe's Barbecue.
When comparing lifestyles, Oklahoma shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oklahoma compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oklahoma.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Oklahoma
Comparison | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Ranch | Traditional and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Garages | Storm shelters, Garages |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Traditional and Ranch architecture typical of Oklahoma.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, Oklahoma real estate listings often highlight features like storm shelters and garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Oklahoma is less walkable than South Dakota.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Oklahoma is less bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Oklahoma has less of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Oklahoma housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $203,455 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oklahoma have increased by 50% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Oklahoma is 6.68% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Oklahoma
Comparison | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
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, Hailstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 94Β°F / 72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 50Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30" | 36-56" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60" | 6-12" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to Oklahoma. Oklahoma gets 8% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Oklahoma 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 tornadoes and hailstorms in Oklahoma.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Oklahoma is 9 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows in Oklahoma are 20 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Oklahoma. Oklahoma receives 16 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Oklahoma
Comparison | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $59,673 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 90.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.2% | 0.9% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 8.95% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism | Energy, Agriculture, Aerospace |
Affluence | Moderate | Growing |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minimal | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oklahoma tend to earn about 14% less than in South Dakota
- The COLI in Oklahoma will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from SD to OK, you'll now have a state income tax of 5%
- The affluence in Oklahoma is growing compared to moderate affluence in South Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Oklahoma compared to low poverty in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in South Dakota and moderate in Oklahoma
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Oklahoma
Comparison | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Strongly Conservative |
Local Politics | <a href="https://sdsos.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">S.D. Secretary of State</a> | Oklahoma State Election Board |
Religion | Protestant Majority | Protestant Majority |
- South Dakota tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Oklahoma, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Conservative
- Oklahoma's religious environment can be described as a Protestant majority
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Protestant majority
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Oklahoma
Comparison | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Dakota South Dakota State University Augustana University | University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University University of Tulsa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elementary (Harrisburg) Fred Assam Elementary (Brandon) | Lincoln Elementary (Norman) Charleston Elementary (Broken Arrow) Jennings Elementary (Jennings) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | George McGovern Middle School (Sioux Falls) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) | Whittier Middle School (Norman) Sequoyah Middle School (Edmond) Central Middle School (Bartlesville) |
Top 3 High Schools | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Brookings High School (Brookings) | Edmond North High School (Edmond) Norman North High School (Norman) Jenks High School (Jenks) |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian (Sioux Falls) St. Thomas More High School (Rapid City) | Cascia Hall Preparatory School (Tulsa) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City) Holland Hall (Tulsa) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Roncalli Catholic School (Aberdeen) Sioux Falls Lutheran School (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) | Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (Oklahoma City) Christian Heritage Academy (Del City) Crossings Christian School (Oklahoma City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Harrisburg School District Brookings School District | Edmond Public Schools Norman Public Schools Jenks Public Schools |
How Much Do South Dakota to Oklahoma Movers Cost?
Moving 746 miles from South Dakota to Oklahoma will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Serenity Moving Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,625 | 300 ft3 | $5.42 |
1 Bedroom | $2,416 | 450 ft3 | $5.37 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,989 | 750 ft3 | $5.32 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,795 | 1100 ft3 | $5.27 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,349 | 1600 ft3 | $5.22 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,302 | 1800 ft3 | $5.17 |
Top South Dakota to Oklahoma Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Oklahoma movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Serenity Moving Services
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Oklahoma