Moving to South Dakota in 2023? Complete Relocation Guide

Cost of Living in South Dakota

The cost of living in South Dakota is rated 88.3. The national average is 100.

That means the cost of living in South Dakota is lower than the United States average. This is a key metric to consider while making up your mind about moving to South Dakota:

Housing market info in South Dakota

Housing costs are one of the key things you’ll most likely consider before making up your mind about moving to South Dakota.

• South Dakota’s median home cost is $193,700
• Homes in South Dakota has appreciated by 34.3% over the last 10 years
• Currently, home appreciation in South Dakota is up by 6.5%

Average rental costs in South Dakota

Renting a home is one of the most preferred housing options if you’re moving to South Dakota. About 28.3% of the state’s population are renters. Also, about 1.7% of homes and apartments in the state are available to rent. Here’s the average cost of renting a home in the state since you’re considering moving to South Dakota:

• The average cost of a studio apartment in South Dakota is $541
• The average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $625
• The average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $794
• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $1,070
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $1,221

How is the job market in South Dakota?

Getting a job is fairly easy if you’re moving to South Dakota. The state’s unemployment rate is 3.3%. The U.S. average is 6.0%.

Since you’re considering moving to South Dakota, here are key metrics of the state’s job market:

Top Career Options in South Dakota

Moving to South Dakota could mean considering a new career. The state has a booming job market and a robust economy. Here are the top career options in the state if you’re moving to South Dakota:

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in South Dakota, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Top Industries in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to several large industries propelling the state’s economy. Since you’re considering moving to South Dakota, here’s a list of the largest industries in the state:

• Manufacturing
• Bioscience
• Value-added AG
• Livestock development
• Precision AG
• Cybersecurity

South Dakota tax info

Will you be paying a higher or lower tax by moving to South Dakota?

Depending on where you’re moving from, moving to South Dakota could mean paying more or less. Check out the key tax rates in South Dakota:

• There is no income tax in South Dakota
• South Dakota sales tax is 4.50% - 7.50%
• South Dakota property tax is 1.22% average effective rate
• South Dakota gas tax is 28 cents per gallon of regular gasoline and diesel
• None of the cities in South Dakota has local income taxes

Best things to do in South Dakota

If you’re moving to South Dakota, you’ll most likely be interested in the best things to do in the state.

The state is home to several beautiful attractions and there are lots of exciting activities to keep you happy while having fun. Check out this list of best things to do if you’re moving to South Dakota:

• Visit the Spearfish Canyon

  A deep but narrow gorge carved by Spearfish Creek, Spearfish Canyon is assumed to be much ancient than the Grand Canyon. The sight of the 1,000-foot narrow walls of the canyon is breathtaking. A great wildlife spot, the Canyon is home to a large population of deer, mountain goats, porcupines, and bobcats. The canyon is also a popular spot for rock climbing, biking, hiking, and fishing.

• Explore the Wind Cave National Park

  This was the first cave to be designed as a national park in the US. Wind Cave National Park features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations along with 33,970 acres of forest and prairie on the surface that act as a natural sanctuary for wildlife. Wind Cave is the seventh longest cave in the world with 154.2 miles of explored cave passageways and the third-longest cave in the United States.

• Catch a glimpse of the Mammoth Site

  An active paleontological excavation site Near Hot Springs, Mammoth Site boasts the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world. More than 60 mammoths have been unearthed from this site, as well as over 85 other species of associated Ice Age fauna.

• See the Old Courthouse Museum

  The Old Minnehaha County Courthouse or Old Courthouse Museum is a restored Richardsonian Romanesque building constructed of native pink quartzite and is a National Historic Landmark. There is a tall clock tower, a restored circuit courtroom and law library, and 16 murals painted from 1915 to 1917 inside.

• Explore the Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove

  The butterfly house and aquarium have more than 800 free-flying butterflies from around the world in a tropical conservatory. In addition, a variety of marine life and live coral exhibits are displayed in more than 5,000 gallons of aquariums including a shark and stingray touch pool.

• Visit the Mount Rushmore National Historic Site

  Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The memorial park covers 1,278 acres and is often referred to as the "Shrine of Democracy”, attracting more than 2 million visitors annually.

• See the wild Mustangs

  The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary near Hot Springs is where wild horses run free. You’ll see large herds of wild horses freely roaming at this 11,000-acre prairie with no fences.

• Tour the Badlands National Park

  The 244,000-acre park protects an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today. Skeletons of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats are among the many fossilized species found here.

• Catch a glimpse of the Buffalo at Custer State Park

  The 71,000-acre Custer State Park reserve is home to a herd of 1,500 bison, Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros. Every last Friday of September, cowboys, and cowgirls drive a herd of approximately 1,300 buffalos, which is a famous festival inviting thousands of visitors.

• See the Needles Highway

  The 37.894-mile-long-Needles Highway or South Dakota Highway 87 passes through ponderosa pine and the Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The stretch includes sharp turns, narrow tunnels, and granite spires and is one of the adventurous driving routes in the US. The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations, which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.

• Catch a glimpse of the Crazy Horse Memorial

  The mountain monument in the Black Hills depicting the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse riding a horse will be the largest mountain carving in the world after its completion. The monument has been in progress since 1948.

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in South Dakota.

10 Safest cities in South Dakota

Moving to South Dakota most likely means living in the safest cities in the state. Check out the list of the ten safest cities in the state since you’re considering moving to South Dakota:

Best Schools & Universities in South Dakota

Moving to South Carolina gives you the opportunity to have easier access to the best schools in the state.