South Dakota to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,145 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Chislic vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Dakota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Pheasant, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Ribs & Hot Chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 6% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Tennessee is 41.22% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Tennessee will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
South Dakota to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- Isolated rural areas
- Limited entertainment
- Milder climate
- Vibrant city life
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher state taxes
- Busy urban centers
- Low state taxes
- Quiet living
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from isolated rural areas and moving to Tennessee with vibrant city life
- Swap the limited entertainment of South Dakota for a rich cultural scene in Tennessee
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from low state taxes in South Dakota to live with higher state taxes in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of quiet living and have to settle with the con of busy urban centers
- Time to bid farewell to undefined and get used to undefined in Tennessee
South Dakota vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Pheasant | Hot Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Dish | BBQ Jackfruit |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from South Dakota to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Pheasant and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Dish they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Phillips Avenue Diner, The Sioux Falls Silo, and Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and The Rendezvous.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Tennessee
Comparison | South Dakota | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Natural landscapes, Spacious yards | Music scene, Historic neighborhoods |
- The Ranch architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference natural landscapes and spacious yards, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like a music scene and historic neighborhoods.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Tennessee housing costs are 6% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to South Dakota's $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Tennessee is 41.22% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Tennessee
Comparison | South Dakota | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Snowstorms, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good, varies in urban areas |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F/60°F | 89°F/68°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 30°F/10°F | 49°F/30°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22-26 | 50-60 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 30-60 | 5-10 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Dakota to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 9% fewer sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and tornadoes in South Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 4 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 20 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 28 more inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Tennessee
Comparison | South Dakota | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.2% | 0.7% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Finance | Healthcare, Automotive, Entertainment |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
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Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Tennessee
Comparison | South Dakota | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Conservative on most issues | Mix of conservative and moderate, with urban areas leaning more liberal |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse denominations | Christianity predominant, with a strong evangelical presence |
- South Dakota tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity with a strong evangelical presence
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity across diverse denominations
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Tennessee
Comparison | South Dakota | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | South Dakota State University University of South Dakota Dakota State University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center - Sioux Falls Discovery Elementary - Sioux Falls Harvey Dunn Elementary - Sioux Falls | Lipscomb Elementary - Brentwood Int'l School of Nashville - Nashville New Hope Christian Academy - Memphis |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Edison Middle - Sioux Falls Patrick Henry Middle - Sioux Falls Whittier Middle - Sioux Falls | Meigs Magnet Middle School - Nashville Brentwood Middle School - Brentwood Independence Middle School - Franklin |
Top 3 High School Schools | Roosevelt High - Sioux Falls Lincoln High - Sioux Falls Washington High - Sioux Falls | Hume-Fogg Academic High - Nashville Central Magnet School - Murfreesboro Franklin High - Franklin |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian - Sioux Falls St. Thomas More High School - Rapid City | Baylor School - Chattanooga Montgomery Bell Academy - Nashville Harpeth Hall School - Nashville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Rapid City Christian School - Rapid City Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Roncalli Catholic High School - Aberdeen | Webb School of Knoxville - Knoxville University School of Nashville - Nashville Franklin Road Academy - Nashville |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Brandon Valley School District Harrisburg School District | Williamson County Schools Metro Nashville Public Schools Oak Ridge School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 1,145 miles from South Dakota to Tennessee will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,852 | 300 ft3 | $6.17 |
1 Bedroom | $2,755 | 450 ft3 | $6.12 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,554 | 750 ft3 | $6.07 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,624 | 1100 ft3 | $6.02 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,555 | 1600 ft3 | $5.97 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,660 | 1800 ft3 | $5.92 |
Top South Dakota to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Tennessee