($1,594) Cost of Moving From South Dakota to Arizona

Quick answer: The average cost to move from South Dakota to Arizona ranges from $936 to $8,290 and takes two–eight days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.

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  • Veteran owned
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  • Family owned
  • East coast focus
  • Affordable pricing
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  • Certified crews
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  • Family-owned
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  • Specialty packing services
  • White-glove reputation
  • 80+ years' experience
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  • 1,800 trucks
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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Arizona to South Dakota guide.

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The best South Dakota to Arizona full-service movers

Moving from South Dakota to Arizona? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.

To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.

Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving South Dakota for your Arizona relocation:

Best Overall Value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
(855) 650-0657
At A Glance
  • GPS tracking en route
  • Veteran-owned
  • Dedicated move coordinator
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Donates a portion of moves to charity
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(855) 650-0657
Best for personalized service
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
(980) 217-6841
At A Glance
  • Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
  • Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
  • Hands-on customer service
  • 24/7 support
  • Price-matching policy
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(980) 217-6841
Most Experienced Mover
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(866) 825-0554
At A Glance
  • Experienced & fully trained moving crews
  • Specializes in moving art & antiques
  • Competitive pricing
  • Can handle last-minute moves
  • Climate-controlled storage
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(866) 825-0554
Best for Contents Coverage
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5
(866) 935-3437
At A Glance
  • Fragile packing
  • Storage options
  • 24/7 shipment tracking
  • Quick & efficient
  • Accurate quotes
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(866) 935-3437
Best customized Plans
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(844) 950-2963
At A Glance
  • Custom crates for electronics & art
  • Satellite shipment tracking
  • 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
  • Self-packing option
  • No deposit required
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(844) 950-2963

The best South Dakota to Arizona moving container companies

Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in South Dakota and drop it off at your new home in Arizona.

Check out these highly rated moving container companies:

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  • Unlimited storage
  • 3 container sizes
  • 10% discount
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  • Fast delivery
  • Nationwide
  • 100+ miles moves
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Affordable pricing
  • Offers car shipping
  • No hidden fees

The best South Dakota to Arizona moving truck rentals

Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from South Dakota to Arizona, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.

We like these rental moving trucks:

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
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  • Affordable pricing
  • Online pricing
  • Several discounts
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4 / 5
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  • Most expensive
  • 4 truck sizes
  • Unlimited mileage
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.15 / 5
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  • Greatest coverage
  • 7 truck sizes
  • One way rentals

The best South Dakota to Arizona labor-only movers

If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.

Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from South Dakota to Arizona:

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  • Hire moving labor
  • Online quotes
  • Nationwide
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
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  • Online booking
  • Move Concierge
  • Affordable

How we chose the best moving companies for your SD to AZ movetoggle

moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 9 South Dakota movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.

Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.

Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.

Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.

Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.

Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.

Here is our full moving company rating methodology.

How much does it cost to move from South Dakota to Arizona?

The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from South Dakota to Arizona for different moving services depending on the size of your home.

Move size Moving company Moving container Rental truck
Studio / 1 Bedroom $1,594 - $6,791 $1,047 - $2,539 $891 - $1,636
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,547 - $8,290 $1,837 - $3,877 $936 - $1,965
4+ bedrooms $5,862 - $11,715 $2,590 - $4,748 $1,213 - $2,396

*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 1,246 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.

Cost to hire movers from South Dakota to Arizonatoggle

Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from South Dakota to Arizona will cost between $1,594 and $6,791. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from SD to AZ will range from $3,547 to $8,290, and a large move from South Dakota to Arizona will cost from $5,862 to $11,715.

Cost of moving containers from South Dakota to Arizonatoggle

Moving containers from South Dakota to Arizona will cost you $1,047 to $2,539 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,837 to $3,877. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $2,590 to $4,748. Learn more about PODS cost.

Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of South Dakota.

Cost of moving truck rentals from South Dakota to Arizonatoggle

A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.

Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around $891 to $1,636. A two to three-bedroom move will cost $936 to $1,965, and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from South Dakota to Arizona costs from $1,213 to $2,396.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.

Factors affecting the cost of moving from SD to AZ

There are many factors that influence South Dakota moving costs. The cost to move from South Dakota to Arizona will depend on these factors:

  • Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
  • Time of year: The peak moving season in South Dakota is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
  • DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.

What to know before moving from SD to AZ

If you’re moving to Arizona from South Dakota, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.

Cost of living: South Dakota vs. Arizona

South Dakota Arizona
Average rent cost $878 $1,308
Average home cost $306,944 $428,711
Average income (per capita) $69,457 $72,581
Cost of Living Index 100 107
Unemployment rate 1.9% 3.6%
Average Sales Tax 6.4% 8.4%
State Income Tax 0.0% 2.5%
  • Rent is about 49% more expensive in Arizona than in South Dakota.
  • Home prices are about 40% higher in Arizona than in South Dakota.
  • The average income is about 4% higher in Arizona than in South Dakota.
  • Cost of living is 7% lower in Arizona than in South Dakota.
  • Arizona has a higher unemployment rate than South Dakota by about 89%.
  • Sales taxes are 31% higher in Arizona than in South Dakota.
  • Income taxes are 3% higher in Arizona than in South Dakota.

How life is different in Arizona vs. South Dakota

Arizona South Dakota
Population 7,431,344 919,318
Political leaning Democrat 56-44 Republican 63-37
Summer high 99ºF 85ºF
Winter low 34ºF 7ºF
Annual rain 12" 23"
Annual snow 6" 39"
Crime index 24.89 21.14
  • The population of Arizona is approximately 708% greater than the population of South Dakota.
  • In the last presidential election, Arizona voted Democrat and South Dakota voted Republican.
  • The average high in the summertime in Arizona is 99ºF and in South Dakota, it’s 85ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, Arizona reaches the temperature of 34ºF and South Dakota gets down to 7ºF.
  • You can expect about 12 inches of annual rainfall in Arizona versus 23 inches of rainfall in South Dakota.
  • In Arizona, it snows about 6 inches annually versus 39 inches of snow in South Dakota.
  • Arizona has a higher crime rate than South Dakota with a crime index of 24.89 vs. 21.14.

Comparing the pros of South Dakota vs. Arizona

Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in Arizona compared to South Dakota.

Pros of living in South Dakota Pros of living in Arizona
Outstanding tax benefits Ample economic opportunity
Robust job market Pleasant weather
Low cost of living Abundant recreational opportunities
Beautiful rural landscapes Cultural diversity
Abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities No traffic

Comparing the cons of living in South Dakota vs. Arizona

Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving South Dakota for Arizona.

Cons of living in South Dakota Cons of living in Arizona
Extreme weather Extreme weather
Small-town mindset Barren desert land
Sparsely populated Health hazards
Strange and offensive laws Limited public transportation
Unpredictable weather No winter

Other things to consider for your South Dakota to Arizona movetoggle

  • Weather: Arizona may be on of the top states where your move is least likely to be affected by climate due to the unlikelihood of extremely cold days and natural disasters.
  • HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
  • Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
  • Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
  • State licensing: Though Arizona is largely an “unregulated” state, local moving companies are subject to some Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and Department of Weights and Measures regulations intended to ensure that they operate safely and ethically. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
  • State regulator: You can verify a Arizona moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
  • Moving permits: Arizona does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
  • Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to Arizona. Get started here.
  • Mover's insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. Choose Released Value Protection for its cost-effectiveness—offered by movers at no extra charge, although it provides minimal coverage. With a liability limit of 60 cents per pound per article, consider this option carefully. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement would only be $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). For comprehensive coverage of your items' full value, consult with your moving company for alternative options or consider third-party insurance providers.
  • Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.

Things to do in Arizonatoggle

While you’re in Arizona, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:

  • Grand Canyon
  • Sedona
  • Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
  • Hoover Dam
  • Phoenix Zoo
  • Havasu Falls
  • Saguaro National Park
  • Canyon de Chelly National Monument
  • Arizona Science Center
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
  • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
  • Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area
  • Petrified Forest National Park
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  • Tumacácori National Historical Park
  • London Bridge
  • Horseshoe Bend
  • Desert Botanical Garden
  • Heard Museum

FAQs

What is the cheapest way to move from South Dakota to Arizona?toggle

Hiring a full-service South Dakota moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually the cheaper way to go, but requires more work. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.

Do movers transport your car from South Dakota to Arizona?toggle

Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from South Dakota to Arizona separately through one of the top car shipping companies.

What are the benefits of moving from South Dakota to Arizona?toggle

The main reasons people are moving from South Dakota to Arizona are the amazing upsides of living in Arizona such as ample economic opportunity and pleasant weather.

Is it cheaper to live in South Dakota or Arizona?toggle

It is generally cheaper to live in South Dakota than in Arizona. Housing is much more affordable in South Dakota, with average rent about 33% less and home prices 28% lower than in Arizona. South Dakota has no income tax.

How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Arizona?toggle

You should make approximately $63,151 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in Arizona. The cost of living in Arizona is approximately $1,747 per month for an individual and $4,546 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in Arizona you live For example, larger cities like Phoenix and Tucson will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.

Helpful moving resources