Ultimate Guide to Living in South Dakota

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So, you’re curious about living in South Dakota? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help. 

We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of South Dakota.

Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in South Dakota matches what you’re looking for. 

We’ll explore whether South Dakota is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home. 

Pros and Cons of Living in South Dakota

You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.

Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether South Dakota is the best place for YOU to live. 

Here are some reasons to love living in South Dakota:

  • Low crime rates and unemployment 
  • Variety of activities to enjoy when you’re not working 
  • Lots of beautiful scenery with natural beauty at every turn. With all its outdoor opportunities it’s no surprise why so many people choose to live here! 

And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in South Dakota:

  • There is a lot more space than population, which means fewer choices for things like shopping or dining out. 
  • The winters can be very cold (although, this isn’t such an issue if you’re planning on spending your time outdoors in the cold with the right gear!). 
  • If you don’t have family already living in the state there may not be anyone close by that can offer help during difficult times without traveling quite far distances.



Read More: Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live?

Best Place to Live in South Dakota

So, you’ve got your heart set on living in South Dakota? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in South Dakota!

In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in South Dakota. 

Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:

  • The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more. 
  • The safest places to live. 
  • The cheapest places to live. 
  • The best schools. 
  • The best job markets. 
  • The best housing markets. 
  • And so much more. 

Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in South Dakota:

  • Dakota Dunes
  • Pierre
  • Sioux Falls


Read More: Best Places to Live in South Dakota

Checklist for Moving to South Dakota

So now you’re preparing for your big move to South Dakota. Maybe you’ve even started packing!

As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to South Dakota.

Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to South Dakota:

  1. Updating your address with USPS. 
  2. Getting your South Dakota driver’s license. 
  3. Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to South Dakota
  4. Getting South Dakota car insurance.
  5. Signing up for health insurance in South Dakota and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals. 
  6. Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
  7. Registering to vote in your district in South Dakota.
  8. Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay. 
  9. Enrolling your kids in their new school district. 
  10. Licensing your pets and finding a new vet. 
  11. Setting up your utilities for your new home. 
  12. Preparing to file state taxes for South Dakota and your previous home state. 

Visit your South Dakota Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.  

Read More: Moving to South Dakota Checklist


While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about South Dakota.

Things to Know About Living in South Dakota

As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in South Dakota, here are some things to know about living there. 

Cost of Living in South Dakota

One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living. 

South Dakota ranks 26th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 98.8, meaning it’s a slightly less expensive place to live. 

Here is how South Dakota scores for the cost of living in each specific category:

  • Groceries: 101.8
  • Housing: 112.7
  • Utilities: 91.2
  • Transportation: 89.7
  • Health: 96.1
  • Miscellaneous: 91.1

The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living. 

This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living. 

Sales Tax Rates in South Dakota

Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors. 

These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to South Dakota from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you. 

On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.

South Dakota’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4.5%, with an average local rate of 1.9% (the highest local sales tax rate is 4.5%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 6.4%. 

Check with the South Dakota tax office for the most current tax rates.

Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in South Dakota

If you own or plan to own real estate in South Dakota, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there. 

South Dakota ranks 35th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.31%

There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts. 

Check with the South Dakota tax office for the most current tax rates.

South Dakota’s Job Market & Economy

Another thing to think about when moving to South Dakota is the job market and economic indicators. 

Overall, South Dakota ranks 46th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States. 

The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time. 

Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:

  • Finance and insurance
  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance
  • Manufacturing
  • Real estate and rental and leasing
  • Wholesale trade
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
  • Retail trade
  • Professional and business services
  • Construction
  • Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services

The top employer in South Dakota is Avera Health.

Notable Destinations and Landmarks in South Dakota

Our South Dakota moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state. 

When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order. 

One of the most iconic landmarks in South Dakota is Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

National Parks that you can visit in South Dakota include:

  • Badlands National Park
  • Wind Cave National Park

National Monuments that you can find in South Dakota include: 

  • Jewel Cave National Monument

These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance. 

Facts about South Dakota

South Dakota is the 40th state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is North Dakota, to its south is Nebraska, to its east is Minnesota, and to its west is Wyoming. 

What is the capital of South Dakota?

The capital of South Dakota is Pierre.

Pierre is located in Hughes County with a population of 13,646.

What is the population of South Dakota?

The population of South Dakota based on 2020 US Census data is 886,667.

What is the largest city in South Dakota?

The largest city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls. 

Sioux Falls has a population of 192,517, and it is located in Minnehaha County.

What is the size of South Dakota?

South Dakota is 77,115 square miles, making it the 17th largest state in the U.S.

What is the state motto of South Dakota?

The state motto of South Dakota is: Under God the people rule

What is the state bird of South Dakota?

The state bird of South Dakota is the Ring-necked pheasant.

What is the state flower of South Dakota?

The state flower of South Dakota is the Pasque flower.

What is the state tree of South Dakota?

The state tree of South Dakota is the Black Hills Spruce.

What is the minimum wage in the state of South Dakota?

The minimum wage in South Dakota is $9.45 per hour.

What is the median income in South Dakota?

The median annual household salary in South Dakota is $56,274.