South Dakota to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,534 mile interstate move from South Dakota to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Chislic vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial revival), 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 Shrimp and Grits & Pulled Pork BBQ
- South Carolina housing costs are 2% less expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in South Carolina is 38.83% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to South Carolina will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended South Dakota to South Carolina movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
South Dakota to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to South Carolina
- Harsh winters
- Limited coastline
- Fewer job opportunities
- Remote living
- Sparse population
- Mild winters
- Beautiful beaches
- Diverse economy
- Vibrant urban areas
- Rich nightlife
- Higher humidity
- Higher living costs
- Higher crime rates
- Busy urban life
- Tourist congestion
- Scenic landscapes
- Low cost of living
- Low crime rates
- Quiet rural life
- Small town charm
Pros of moving from South Dakota to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastline and moving to South Carolina with beautiful beaches
- Swap the fewer job opportunities of South Dakota for a diverse economy in South Carolina
- Get ready for vibrant urban areas in South Carolina
Cons of moving from South Dakota to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic landscapes in South Dakota to live with higher humidity in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to low crime rates and get used to higher crime rates in South Carolina
- Swap a quiet rural life for a busy urban life
South Dakota vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Bison | Pulled Pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Collard Greens |
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 South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison and sumptuous Indian Tacos, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Boiled Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard Greens of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Phillips Avenue Diner, Minervas, and Prairie Berry Winery. After the boxes are unpacked in South Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to South Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill (Closed), and FIG.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Carolina compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and South Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | South 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 | Beach proximity, Historical features |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like beach proximity and historical elements.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. South Carolina is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. South Carolina is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- South Carolina has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- South Carolina housing costs are 2% less expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in South Carolina is 38.83% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and South Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | South 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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20-30" | 40-60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60" | 1-5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 12% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- South Carolina has higher 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 hurricanes and flooding in South Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 6 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 28 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 20 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and South Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% to 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.22% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism | Tourism, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 8% less than in South Dakota
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from South Dakota to South Carolina, you'll now have a state income tax of 0% to 7%
- The affluence in South Carolina is varied compared to moderate affluence in South Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in South Carolina compared to low in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Dakota and moderate in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. South Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Conservative with a focus on agriculture | Conservative, with emphasis on industry and tourism |
Religion | Mainly Protestant with a significant Catholic minority | Primarily Protestant, including a large Evangelical community |
- South Dakota tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant, including a large Evangelical community
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Protestant with a significant Catholic minority
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to South Carolina
Comparison | South Dakota | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Dakota South Dakota State University Dakota State University | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center (Sioux Falls) Endeavor Elementary (Harrisburg) Discovery Elementary (Sioux Falls) | Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Buist Academy (Charleston) Forestbrook Elementary School (Myrtle Beach) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | George S. Mickelson Middle School (Brookings) Patrick Henry Middle School (Sioux Falls) Yankton Middle School (Yankton) | Gold Hill Middle School (Fort Mill) Langston Charter Middle School (Greenville) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 High Schools | Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls) Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls) Washington High School (Sioux Falls) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Wando High School (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School (Sioux Falls) Sioux Falls Christian Schools (Sioux Falls) Dakota Valley High School (North Sioux City) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sioux Falls Lutheran School (Sioux Falls) Great Plains Lutheran High School (Watertown) Roncalli Catholic High School (Aberdeen) | Trident Academy (Mount Pleasant) The King's Academy (Florence) Northside Christian Academy (Lexington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Brandon Valley School District Harrisburg School District | Fort Mill School District Lexington 1 School District Charleston County School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 1,534 miles from South Dakota to South 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,072 | 300 ft3 | $6.91 |
1 Bedroom | $3,086 | 450 ft3 | $6.86 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,105 | 750 ft3 | $6.81 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,433 | 1100 ft3 | $6.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,731 | 1600 ft3 | $6.71 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,983 | 1800 ft3 | $6.66 |
Top South Dakota to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to South Carolina