Iowa to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,115 mile interstate move from Iowa to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winters vs scenic landscapes), food & health (like Corn vs Huckleberries), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs mountain rustic, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Corn and Pork tenderloin sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberries & Buffalo steak
- Montana housing costs are 113% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Montana is 30.43% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Montana will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to Montana movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Montana
- Severe winters
- Limited outdoor activities
- Dense population
- Flooding risk
- Flat terrain
- Scenic landscapes
- Abundant hiking trails
- Sparse, peaceful living
- Less natural disasters
- Mountainous views
- Less fertile soil
- Fewer social events
- Fewer job opportunities
- Higher living costs
- Fewer schools
- Rich farmland
- Vibrant community
- Abundant job market
- Affordable housing
- Strong educational system
Pros of moving from Iowa to Montana
- Say goodbye to severe winters and hello to scenic landscapes
- Look forward to moving away from limited outdoor activities and moving to Montana with abundant hiking trails
- Swap the dense population of Iowa for sparse and peaceful living in Montana
- Get ready for fewer natural disasters in Montana
Cons of moving from Iowa to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich farmland in Iowa to live with less fertile soil in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of a vibrant community and have to settle for the con of fewer social events
- Time to bid farewell to an abundant job market and get used to fewer job opportunities in Montana
- Swap affordable housing for higher living costs
Iowa vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Corn | Huckleberries |
Most popular meat dish | Pork tenderloin sandwich | Buffalo steak |
Most popular street food item | Taco trucks | Elk burgers |
Most popular vegan food | Grain bowls | Wild mushroom dishes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Iowa to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Corn of Iowa for the equally delicious Huckleberries of Montana. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Montana residents know they have tasty Buffalo Steak and Elk Burgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grain Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Mushroom Dishes of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Restaurant 1, Iowa, Restaurant 2, Iowa, and Restaurant 3, Iowa. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Restaurant 1, Montana, Restaurant 2, Montana, and Restaurant 3, Montana.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Montana
Comparison | Iowa | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Mountain Rustic, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, Quiet neighborhoods | Mountain views, Proximity to nature |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Rustic and Modern architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and quiet neighborhoods, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and proximity to nature.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Montana is less walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Montana is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Montana housing costs are 113% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Montana is 30.43% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Montana
Comparison | Iowa | 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, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/63Β°F | 81Β°F/50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F/14Β°F | 34Β°F/16Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 36" | 90" |
- Montana gets an equal number of sunshine days as Iowa.
- Montana has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Montana.
- The average summer high temperature in Montana is 1 degree colder than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows in Montana are 2 degrees warmer than those in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana, as Montana receives 19 fewer inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Montana
Comparison | Iowa | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 4.5% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.5% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0% | 0.0% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Mining, Timber, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 3% less than in Iowa
- The COLI in Montana will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in MT is 6.9% compared to 4.5% in IA
- The affluence in Montana is varied compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is moderate in Montana compared to moderate in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Montana
Comparison | Iowa | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, leans slightly Republican | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Mix of urban liberal & rural conservative | Conservative, with some liberal strongholds |
Religion | Christian, Protestant majority | Christian, with a Protestant majority |
- Iowa tends to lean swing State and leans slightly Republican in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as leans Republican
- Montana's religious environment can be described as Christian with a Protestant majority
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian with a Protestant majority
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Montana
Comparison | Iowa | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Roosevelt Elementary (Ames) | Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Chief Charlo Elementary (Missoula) Meadowlark Elementary (Great Falls) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (Coralville) Southeast Junior High (Iowa City) | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Washington Middle School (Missoula) East Middle School (Great Falls) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Sentinel High School (Missoula) Great Falls High School (Great Falls) |
Top 3 private high schools | Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Wahlert Catholic High School (Dubuque) | Missoula International School (Missoula) Great Falls Central Catholic High School (Great Falls) Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Quad Cities Christian School (Moline) | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Foothills Community Christian School (Great Falls) Montana Christian Academy (Kalispell) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community Schools | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Great Falls Public Schools |
How Much Do Iowa to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,115 miles from Iowa to Montana will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,835 | 300 ft3 | $6.12 |
1 Bedroom | $2,729 | 450 ft3 | $6.07 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,512 | 750 ft3 | $6.02 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,562 | 1100 ft3 | $5.97 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,465 | 1600 ft3 | $5.92 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,558 | 1800 ft3 | $5.87 |
Top Iowa to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Montana