Moving to South Dakota from NYC

Are you looking for some elbow room? Moving to South Dakota from New York City can provide exactly that – the entire state has the same population, give or take a few guys, as one Manhattan block. The Mount Rushmore state is experiencing quite a bit of growth. Here’s why:

Jobs

78% of the people who move to South Dakota do so for a job. Unemployment is very low, with plenty of opportunity in the agricultural, mechanical/machining, healthcare and financial services industry. Citibank, Wells Fargo, and other big banks all maintain a presence in South Dakota.

A Low Cost of Living

Moving long-distance to the extremely rural state of South Dakota from one of the world’s busiest cities is bound to cause some culture shock, but you’re really going to feel it when you look for a place to live. The majority of houses are single-family homes, although apartments can be found in Sioux Falls and Billings – the two biggest cities.

While $1,000/month may get you a decent sized closet in Manhattan, in South Dakota, you can expect to spend a little more than that for a 2 or 3 bedrooms home. The other costs of living are similarly low, with the possible exception of outdoor recreation – with so much open space, families have a tendency to purchase things like four wheelers, dirt bikes, and horses that aren’t generally a part of New York City living.

No State Income Tax

When you live in New York City, you see a good chunk of your paycheck go to state and city taxes. That’s not the case in South Dakota, which has no state income tax. That can be a significant amount of savings – but be aware that salaries in South Dakota do tend to be quite a bit lower than what you can expect in New York City.

Wild Wide Open Spaces

South Dakota is extremely rural, which means you can indulge your adventurous side to your heart’s content. There’s lots of wildlife in South Dakota, including herds of buffalo. If you ever find yourself missing rush hour – hey, stranger things have happened! – watching them running by evokes the same feel of barely contained chaos.