DC to Montana Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 2,015 mile interstate move from DC to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like traffic congestion vs open roads), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Huckleberry Pie), real estate & housing (victorian, federal vs rustic, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo Sauce on Chicken Wings, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberry Pie & Buffalo Steak
- Montana housing costs are 26% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Montana is 41.27% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Montana will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended DC to Montana movers is Bookstore Movers

Top DC to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Bookstore Movers
Best moving company overall for DC to Montana

Mic's Moving

Ap Pro Moving Llc
DC to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Montana
- Traffic congestion
- High cost of living
- Urban sprawl
- Busy lifestyle
- Noise pollution
- Open roads
- Affordable housing
- Natural landscapes
- Relaxed pace
- Tranquility
- Limited diversity
- Fewer industries
- Car dependency
- Quiet evenings
- Fewer attractions
- Cultural diversity
- Job opportunities
- Public transportation
- Vibrant nightlife
- Renowned landmarks
Pros of moving from DC to Montana
- Say goodbye to traffic congestion and hello to open roads
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Montana with affordable housing
- Swap the urban sprawl of DC for natural landscapes in Montana
- Get ready for a relaxed pace in Montana
Cons of moving from DC to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in DC to live with limited diversity in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of job opportunities and have to settle for the con of fewer industries
- Time to bid farewell to public transportation and get used to car dependency in Montana
- Swap vibrant nightlife for quiet evenings
DC vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce on Chicken Wings | Buffalo Steak |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo Slice Pizza | Elk Burgers |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Lentil Soup |
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 DC to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Huckleberry Pie of Montana. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce on Chicken Wings and sumptuous Jumbo Slice Pizza, Montana residents know they have tasty Buffalo Steak and Elk Burgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Soup of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Le Diplomate. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like The Ranch at Rock Creek, Buck's T-4 Lodge, and Loula's Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Montana
Comparison | DC | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Federal | Rustic, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, historic charm | Mountain views, acreage |
- The Victorian and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Rustic and Craftsman architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to the metro and historic charm, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and acreage.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Montana is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Montana is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Montana housing costs are 26% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Montana is 41.27% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Montana
Comparison | DC | Montana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ~203 days | ~200 days |
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 | Hurricanes/remnants, flooding, severe thunderstorms, winter storms, heat waves | Wildfires, winter storms/blizzards, drought, flooding from snowmelt, hail/severe storms, occasional earthquakes |
Air Quality | Generally Good-Moderate; occasional summer ozone/PM spikes | Generally Good; can degrade to Unhealthy during wildfire season |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | ~87degF / ~70degF | ~80-90degF / ~45-55degF |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | ~44degF / ~29degF | ~25-35degF / ~5-20degF |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | ~43 | ~15 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | ~15 | ~50 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to Montana. Montana gets an equal number of sunshine days as DC.
- Montana has similar humidity and a similar average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and remnants, flooding, severe thunderstorms, winter storms, and heat waves in DC, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires, winter storms and blizzards, drought, flooding from snowmelt, hail and severe storms, and occasional earthquakes in Montana.
- The average summer high temperature in Montana is the same as DC at NaN degrees.
- The average winter lows are NaN degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be used the same in Montana. Montana receives inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Montana
Comparison | DC | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 8.95% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.58% | 0.84% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Federal Government, Education, Health Services | Mining, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 33% less than in DC
- The COLI in Montana will be 29% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in MT is 6.9% compared to 8.95% in DC
- The affluence in Montana is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is low in Montana compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in DC and minimal in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Montana
Comparison | DC | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal policies and initiatives | Conservative, with a focus on state rights |
Religion | Varied, with no single dominant religion | Primarily Protestant, with significant Catholic representation |
- DC tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Montana's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant with significant Catholic representation
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as varied with no single dominant religion
How Much Do DC to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 2,015 miles from DC to Montana will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,345 | 300 ft3 | $7.82 |
1 Bedroom | $3,495 | 450 ft3 | $7.77 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,787 | 750 ft3 | $7.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,433 | 1100 ft3 | $7.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,186 | 1600 ft3 | $7.62 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,619 | 1800 ft3 | $7.57 |