Hawaii to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Poke vs Beef), real estate & housing (plantation, modern, asian vs rustic, craftsman, log cabins), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for Beef & Bison Burger
- Montana housing costs are 47% less expensive than those in Hawaii
- Rent in Montana is 51.94% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Montana movers is Moving On Up
Hawaii to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Montana
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Limited land space
- High humidity
- Tourism crowds
- Affordable housing
- Less crowded roads
- Expansive landscapes
- Four distinct seasons
- Tranquil lifestyle
- No ocean nearby
- Harsh winters
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited seafood options
- Variable climate conditions
- Beach access
- Warm winters
- Diverse culture
- Fresh seafood
- Tropical climate
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Montana
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Montana with less crowded roads
- Swap the limited land space of Hawaii for expansive landscapes in Montana
- Get ready for four distinct seasons in Montana
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beach access in Hawaii to live with no ocean nearby in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of warm winters and have to settle for the con of harsh winters
- Time to bid farewell to diverse culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Montana
- Swap fresh seafood for limited seafood options
Hawaii vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Beef |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Bison Burger |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular vegan food | Poi | Lentil Chili |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Beef of Montana. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Shave Ice, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison Burger and Huckleberry Pie to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Poi 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 Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Ono Hawaiian Foods. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Hops Downtown Grill, The Buckhorn, and Montana Jack's.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Montana
Comparison | Hawaii | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern, Asian | Rustic, Craftsman, Log Cabins |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Mountain view, Acreage |
- The Plantation, Modern and Asian architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Rustic, Craftsman, and Log Cabins architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, 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 Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Montana is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Montana housing costs are 47% less expensive than those in Hawaii, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Montana is 51.94% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Montana
Comparison | Hawaii | Montana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 80°F / 50°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 35°F / 17°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.70 | 15.3 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 (most areas) | 90 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Montana. Montana gets 31% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Montana has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, 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 5 degrees colder than Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in Montana are 46 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 48.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Montana
Comparison | Hawaii | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 1.40% - 11% | 1% - 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | No Sales Tax |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Agriculture, Mining, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 27% less than in Hawaii
- The COLI in Montana will be 40% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in MT is 1% to 6.9% compared to 1.40% to 11% in HI
- The affluence in Montana is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is low in Montana compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Montana
Comparison | Hawaii | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic majority | Conservative/Republican majority |
Local Politics | Focus on environmental & cultural preservation | Emphasis on land use and resource management |
Religion | A mix, with a significant Buddhist and Christian population | Predominantly Christian |
- Hawaii tends to lean Liberal/Democratic majority in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican majority
- Montana's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix with a significant Buddhist and Christian population
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Montana
Comparison | Hawaii | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University University of Hawaii at Hilo | Montana State University University of Montana Carroll College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Momilani Elementary School (Pearl City) Mililani Ike Elementary School (Mililani) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) | Hawthorne Elementary School (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Elementary School (Great Falls) Cold Springs Elementary School (Missoula) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) C.R. Anderson Middle School (Helena) Washington Middle School (Missoula) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Sentinel High School (Missoula) Hellgate High School (Missoula) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Waimea) | Missoula International School (Missoula) Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) Loyola Sacred Heart High School (Missoula) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Hanalani Schools (Mililani) Island School (Lihue) | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Stillwater Christian School (Kalispell) Valley Christian School (Missoula) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) | Bozeman School District Billings School District Missoula County Public Schools |
Top Hawaii to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.