South Dakota to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 938 mile interstate move from South Dakota to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Dakota vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Chislic vs Fry sauce), real estate & housing (ranch-style homes vs craftsman-style homes), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chislic and Pheasant, but get your taste buds ready for Fry sauce & Utah scones
- Utah housing costs are 74% more expensive than they are in South Dakota
- Rent in Utah is 41.47% more expensive than in South Dakota
- Moving from South Dakota to Utah will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended South Dakota to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
South Dakota to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Dakota to Utah
- Harsh winters
- Limited cultural events
- Rural isolation
- Poor air connectivity
- Flat landscapes
- Milder winters
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Urban conveniences
- Major airports
- Mountain vistas
- Higher expenses
- Busy lifestyle
- City anonymity
- Increasing population
- Congestion
- Low cost of living
- Quiet pace
- Community feel
- Wide-open spaces
- Low traffic
Pros of moving from South Dakota to Utah
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited cultural events and moving to Utah with a vibrant cultural scene
- Swap the rural isolation of South Dakota for urban conveniences in Utah
- Get ready for major airports in Utah
Cons of moving from South Dakota to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in South Dakota to live with higher expenses in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quiet pace and have to settle for the con of a busy lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to the community feel and get used to city anonymity in Utah
- Swap wide-open spaces for an increasing population
South Dakota vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Dakota | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chislic | Fry sauce |
Most popular meat dish | Pheasant | Utah scones |
Most popular street food item | Indian tacos | Pastrami burgers |
Most popular vegan food | Wild rice dish | Vegan burritos |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Chislic of South Dakota for the equally delicious Fry Sauce of Utah. And while the locals in South Dakota rave about their flavorful Pheasant and sumptuous Indian Tacos, Utah residents know they have tasty Utah Scones and Pastrami Burgers 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 Vegan Burritos of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Dakota eateries like Phillips Avenue Diner, Minervas, and Crawford's Bar and Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like J Dawgs, HSL, and Pretty Bird.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in South Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Dakota and Utah
Comparison | South Dakota | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch-style homes | Craftsman-style homes |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, garage space | Energy efficiency, smart home features |
- The Ranch-style homes architecture that South Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman-style homes architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to South Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garage space, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and smart home features.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Utah is more walkable than South Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than South Dakota.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than South Dakota.
- Utah housing costs are 74% more expensive than they are in South Dakota, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to South Dakotaβs $299,062.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 48% increase in South Dakota.
- Rent in Utah is 41.47% more expensive than in South Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Dakota and Utah
Comparison | South Dakota | Utah |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornados, Blizzards | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°/60Β° | 90Β°/65Β° |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°/10Β° | 37Β°/20Β° |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 23" | 20" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 39" | 56" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Dakota to Utah. Utah gets 5% more sunshine days than South Dakota.
- Utah has lower humidity and a higher 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 earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 5 degrees warmer than in South Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in South Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to South Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Dakota and Utah
Comparison | South Dakota | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,728 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 94.1 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.22% | 0.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.4% | 7.2% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Tourism | Technology, Mining, Tourism |
Affluence | Modest | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Rare | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 28% more than in South Dakota
- The COLI in Utah will be 2% higher than what you are used to living in South Dakota
- Bummer... By moving from SD to UT, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.95%
- The affluence in Utah is moderate compared to modest in South Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Utah compared to low in South Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is rare in South Dakota and increasing in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in South Dakota vs. Utah
Comparison | South Dakota | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Mix of local governance styles, with a trend towards Republican leadership | Strong Republican influence, especially in state governance |
Religion | Christianity dominant, with a mix including Protestant and Catholic denominations | LDS Church (Mormon) highly influential, alongside other Christian denominations |
- South Dakota tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Utah's religious environment can be described as highly influenced by the LDS Church (Mormon), alongside other Christian denominations
- South Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as dominated by Christianity, with a mix including Protestant and Catholic denominations
Education Guide When Moving from South Dakota to Utah
Comparison | South Dakota | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Dakota South Dakota State University Dakota State University | University of Utah Utah State University Brigham Young University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Challenge Center - Sioux Falls Discovery Elementary - Sioux Falls Fred Assam Elementary - Sioux Falls | Edgemont Elementary - Provo Oakridge Elementary - Salt Lake City Wasatch Elementary - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Patrick Henry Middle School - Sioux Falls Whittier Middle School - Sioux Falls George S. Mickelson Middle School - Brookings | Centennial Middle School - Provo Bryant Middle School - Salt Lake City Fairfield Jr. High - Kaysville |
Top 3 High School Schools | Roosevelt High School - Sioux Falls Lincoln High School - Sioux Falls Washington High School - Sioux Falls | Academy for Math Engineering & Science - Salt Lake City Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science - Layton Timpview High School - Provo |
Top 3 private high schools | O'Gorman High School - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Christian Schools - Sioux Falls Roncalli High School - Aberdeen | Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City Waterford School - Sandy Judge Memorial Catholic High School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Madeleine Choir School - Salt Lake City Layton Christian Academy - Layton American Heritage School - American Fork | |
Top 3 School Districts | Sioux Falls School District Brookings School District Harrisburg School District | Park City School District Davis School District Canyons School District |
How Much Do South Dakota to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 938 miles from South Dakota to Utah 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: 4-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: 801 Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,734 | 300 ft3 | $5.78 |
1 Bedroom | $2,579 | 450 ft3 | $5.73 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,261 | 750 ft3 | $5.68 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,194 | 1100 ft3 | $5.63 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,929 | 1600 ft3 | $5.58 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,956 | 1800 ft3 | $5.53 |
Top South Dakota to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Dakota to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

801 Moving Company
Best moving company overall for South Dakota to Utah