Arkansas to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 1,621 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cooler summer temperatures), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Huckleberry Pie), real estate & housing (ranch-style vs mountain and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberry Pie & Bison Steak
- Montana housing costs are 124% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Montana is 7.08% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Montana will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Montana movers is B2 Moving
Arkansas to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Montana
- Hot, humid summers
- Severe tornado threats
- Limited mountain views
- Higher humidity
- Dense population areas
- Cooler summer temperatures
- More stable weather
- Stunning mountain vistas
- Lower humidity
- More open spaces
- Fewer people, less community
- Harsh winter conditions
- Fewer BBQ restaurants
- Colder winters
- Fewer cultural events
- Southern hospitality
- Lush greenery
- Rich BBQ culture
- Mild winters
- Thriving local arts
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Montana
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to cooler summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from severe tornado threats and moving to Montana with more stable weather
- Swap the limited mountain views of Arkansas for stunning mountain vistas in Montana
- Get ready for lower humidity in Montana
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern hospitality in Arkansas to live with fewer people and less community in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of lush greenery and have to settle for the con of harsh winter conditions
- Time to bid farewell to rich BBQ culture and get used to fewer BBQ restaurants in Montana
- Swap mild winters for colder winters
Arkansas vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Bison Steak |
Most popular street food item | Fried Pickles | Elk Burgers |
Most popular vegan food | Black Bean Burgers | Lentil Chili |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Arkansas to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Huckleberry Pie of Montana. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Fried Pickles, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Elk Burgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Black Bean Burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Chili of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like South on Main, McClard's Bar-B-Q, and The Southern Gourmasian. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Ted's Montana Grill, Cattleman's Cut Steakhouse, and Uptown CafΓ©.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Montana
Comparison | Arkansas | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch-style | Mountain and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, access to nature | Scenic views, proximity to outdoor activities |
- The Ranch-style architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Mountain and Craftsman architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and access to nature, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and proximity to outdoor activities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Montana is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Montana is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Montana has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Montana housing costs are 124% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Montana is 7.08% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Montana
Comparison | Arkansas | Montana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, floods | Wildfires, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Very good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 72Β°F | 85Β°F / 50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 51Β°F / 32Β°F | 34Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 15 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 67 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Montana. Montana gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Montana has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in Montana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 6 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 15 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 35 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Montana
Comparison | Arkansas | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | up to 5.5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.47% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing | Tourism, Mining, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 22% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Montana is 10% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- Hooray, moving to MT means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Montana is moderate compared to moderate in Arkansas
- The poverty level is low in Montana compared to moderate in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and low in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Montana
Comparison | Arkansas | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Conservative with a growing liberal presence |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in local and state government | Mixed, with both Republican and Democratic strongholds |
Religion | Primarily Protestant Christian | Mixed, with a significant Protestant Christian base and other religious groups |
- Arkansas tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as conservative with a growing liberal presence
- Montana's religious environment can be described as mixed with a significant Protestant Christian base and other religious groups
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Montana
Comparison | Arkansas | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | Montana State University University of Montana Carroll College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School Little Rock; Forest Park Elementary Little Rock; Vandergriff Elementary School Fayetteville | Hawthorne Elementary School Bozeman; Chief Joseph Elementary School Bozeman; Cold Springs Elementary School Missoula |
Top 3 Middle Schools | LISA Academy North Middle School Sherwood; Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; Bentonville Middle School Bentonville | Bozeman Middle School Bozeman; Sacajawea Middle School Bozeman; Washington Middle School Missoula |
Top 3 High School Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; Bentonville High School Bentonville; Central High School Little Rock | Bozeman High School Bozeman; Hellgate High School Missoula; Sentinel High School Missoula |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy Little Rock; Shiloh Christian School Springdale; Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock | Missoula International School Missoula; Carroll College Prepatory Helena; Montana Academy Marion |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Anthony School Little Rock; Subiaco Academy Subiaco; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock | Petra Academy Bozeman; Foothills Community Christian School Great Falls; Stillwater Christian School Kalispell |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayetteville School District Bentonville Public Schools Rogers Public Schools | Bozeman Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools |
How Much Do Arkansas to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,621 miles from Arkansas to Montana will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: B2 Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,121 | 300 ft3 | $7.07 |
1 Bedroom | $3,160 | 450 ft3 | $7.02 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,229 | 750 ft3 | $6.97 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,614 | 1100 ft3 | $6.92 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,995 | 1600 ft3 | $6.87 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,279 | 1800 ft3 | $6.82 |
Top Arkansas to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.