Where to move from South Dakota
On a $75,000 salary (about the South Dakota median household income) you keep $61,593 after 2026 taxes. 5 states have lower overall prices. No state raises your buying power at this salary; the closest is North Dakota (-0.8%).
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving South Dakota
The ranking starts at about South Dakota's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $75,000, filing single, no state raises your buying power; the closest is North Dakota (-0.8%).
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | -0.8% | -$203 | $980 | $75,700 |
| Mississippi | -1.9% | -$2,268 | $990 | $76,700 |
| Arkansas | -2.0% | -$2,390 | $982 | $76,800 |
| Louisiana | -2.6% | -$1,864 | $1,064 | $77,400 |
| Iowa | -2.7% | -$2,198 | $981 | $77,500 |
| Tennessee | -3.6% | $0 | $1,284 | $78,300 |
| Oklahoma | -3.7% | -$2,830 | $1,044 | $78,500 |
| Wyoming | -4.4% | $0 | $998 | $79,100 |
| West Virginia | -5.1% | -$2,546 | $883 | $79,800 |
| Alabama | -5.3% | -$3,127 | $1,077 | $79,900 |
| Nebraska | -5.7% | -$2,533 | $1,102 | $80,400 |
| Kentucky | -5.8% | -$2,507 | $998 | $80,400 |
| Missouri | -6.4% | -$2,534 | $1,067 | $81,200 |
| Ohio | -6.5% | -$1,287 | $1,090 | $81,200 |
| Kansas | -7.1% | -$3,385 | $1,079 | $81,800 |
| New Mexico | -7.6% | -$2,359 | $1,117 | $82,400 |
| Texas | -8.8% | $0 | $1,475 | $83,400 |
| South Carolina | -9.5% | -$2,657 | $1,272 | $84,700 |
| North Carolina | -9.8% | -$2,484 | $1,338 | $84,700 |
| Indiana | -10.3% | -$3,404 | $1,104 | $85,100 |
| Wisconsin | -10.3% | -$2,944 | $1,142 | $85,500 |
| Montana | -10.7% | -$2,877 | $1,177 | $85,900 |
| Nevada | -11.4% | $0 | $1,709 | $86,300 |
| Idaho | -11.5% | -$2,867 | $1,384 | $86,800 |
| Michigan | -12.3% | -$2,937 | $1,168 | $87,400 |
| Georgia | -12.5% | -$2,994 | $1,506 | $87,800 |
| Pennsylvania | -12.7% | -$2,355 | $1,252 | $87,800 |
| Vermont | -13.2% | -$2,490 | $1,319 | $89,200 |
| Alaska | -13.9% | -$271 | $1,444 | $89,000 |
| Arizona | -14.1% | -$1,473 | $1,672 | $89,600 |
| Maine | -14.2% | -$3,760 | $1,210 | $90,200 |
| Florida | -14.3% | $0 | $1,812 | $89,600 |
| Utah | -14.9% | -$3,110 | $1,593 | $90,900 |
| New Hampshire | -15.0% | $0 | $1,558 | $90,400 |
| Minnesota | -15.8% | -$3,907 | $1,291 | $92,200 |
| Illinois | -16.5% | -$3,568 | $1,322 | $92,600 |
| Delaware | -16.9% | -$3,909 | $1,530 | $93,500 |
| Virginia | -17.3% | -$3,498 | $1,646 | $93,900 |
| Rhode Island | -17.6% | -$3,021 | $1,418 | $94,200 |
| Colorado | -18.1% | -$2,922 | $1,822 | $94,800 |
| Washington | -18.6% | -$1,040 | $1,824 | $95,100 |
| Connecticut | -19.8% | -$3,850 | $1,550 | $97,400 |
| Massachusetts | -21.5% | -$3,875 | $1,848 | $99,400 |
| Oregon | -22.1% | -$5,580 | $1,597 | $101,300 |
| New Jersey | -22.7% | -$3,101 | $1,800 | $102,000 |
| Maryland | -22.9% | -$5,321 | $1,721 | $102,000 |
| New York | -22.9% | -$3,777 | $1,634 | $101,700 |
| Washington, DC | -23.9% | -$3,429 | $1,931 | $104,400 |
| California | -24.8% | -$3,750 | $2,104 | $106,900 |
| Hawaii | -25.0% | -$4,271 | $1,942 | $105,500 |
Single filer, $75,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.
Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.
Where South Dakota residents actually move
South Dakota gained households from other states in every one of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in South Dakota
- Average electric bill
- $128/mo
- Regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,011/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $655/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- About average (56.6)
EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.
Cities in South Dakota
More about living in South Dakota
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in South Dakota.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median South Dakota home.
Retiring in South Dakota
How South Dakota taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to South Dakota
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from South Dakota to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from South Dakota to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for South Dakota and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in South Dakota by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every South Dakota county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from South Dakota move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were Minnesota (1,855 households), Iowa (977 households), Texas (926 households).
Is South Dakota gaining or losing residents to other states?
South Dakota had a net gain of 1,539 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave South Dakota?
On a $75,000 salary, no state raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income; the closest is North Dakota (-0.8%).
Moving to South Dakota instead?
The Moving to South Dakota guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. For a move from any state, use the calculator.