Kentucky to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,711 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cool, dry summers), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Bison), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs ranch, log cabin), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for Bison & Elk Steak
- Montana housing costs are 127% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Montana is 7.65% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Montana will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Montana movers is From Here to There
Kentucky to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Montana
- Hot, humid summers
- Limited outdoor recreation
- High pollen count
- Cool, dry summers
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Cleaner air quality
- Isolated rural areas
- Harsh winter conditions
- Higher cost of living
- Rich cultural history
- Southern hospitality
- Affordable cost of living
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Montana
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to cool, dry summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited outdoor recreation and moving to Montana with abundant outdoor activities
- Swap the high pollen count of Kentucky for cleaner air quality in Montana
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich cultural history in Kentucky to live with isolated rural areas in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of southern hospitality and have to settle for the con of harsh winter conditions
- Time to bid farewell to an affordable cost of living and get used to a higher cost of living in Montana
Kentucky vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Bison |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | Elk Steak |
Most popular street food item | Burgoo | Huckleberry Treats |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Barbecue | Lentil Burgers |
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 Kentucky to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Bison of Montana. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Burgoo, Montana residents know they have tasty Elk Steak and Huckleberry Treats to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Barbecue they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Burgers of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like Holly Hill Inn, Mama Dip's, and The Brown Hotel. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Pearl CafΓ©, Casa Blanca, and Whitefish Lake Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Montana
Comparison | Kentucky | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Ranch, Log Cabin |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Basements | Mountain views, Proximity to parks |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Log Cabin architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and basements, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and proximity to parks.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Montana is less walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Montana is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Montana housing costs are 127% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased 71% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Montana is 7.65% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Montana
Comparison | Kentucky | 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-Moderate | Good-Varies with wildfires |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F/66Β°F | 82Β°F/45Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F/28Β°F | 34Β°F/17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11" | 90" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Montana. Montana gets 5% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Montana has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, 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 in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 34 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Montana
Comparison | Kentucky | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | High | Average |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 14% more than in Kentucky
- The COLI in Montana will be 13% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in MT is 6.9% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Montana is moderate compared to moderate in Kentucky
- The poverty level is average in Montana compared to high in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and low in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Montana
Comparison | Kentucky | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican, with rural areas strongly conservative and urban areas more liberal | Leans Republican, particularly strong in rural areas, with some liberal pockets in cities like Missoula |
Local Politics | Mix of local governance styles, from urban Democratic leadership in Louisville to conservative rural areas | Conservative local governance, with some progressive local politics in towns like Bozeman |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian with a strong Baptist presence | Moderately religious, with a significant Christian population, including Catholics and Lutherans |
- Kentucky tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican, particularly strong in rural areas with some liberal pockets in cities like Missoula
- Montana's religious environment can be described as moderately religious, with a significant Christian population including Catholics and Lutherans
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, predominantly Christian with a strong Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Montana
Comparison | Kentucky | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pikeville Elementary Pikeville; Brandeis Elementary Louisville; Ashland Elementary Lexington | Hawthorne Elementary Bozeman; Hellgate Elementary Missoula; Chief Joseph Elementary Great Falls |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winburn Middle School Lexington; Highlands Middle School Fort Thomas; Bowling Green Junior High Bowling Green | Sacajawea Middle School Bozeman; Washington Middle School Missoula; East Middle School Great Falls |
Top 3 High Schools | DuPont Manual High Louisville; Highlands High Fort Thomas; Bowling Green High Bowling Green | Bozeman High School Bozeman; Hellgate High School Missoula; Great Falls High Great Falls |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville; Lexington Catholic High Lexington; St. Xavier High Louisville | Mount Ellis Academy Bozeman; Missoula International School Missoula; Great Falls Central Catholic Great Falls |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School Lexington; Louisville Collegiate School Louisville; Sayre School Lexington | Petra Academy Bozeman; Valley Christian School Missoula; Foothills Community Christian School Great Falls |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools; Jefferson County Public Schools; Bowling Green Independent School District | Bozeman School District; Billings School District 2; Missoula County Public Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,711 miles from Kentucky to Montana will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,172 | 300 ft3 | $7.24 |
1 Bedroom | $3,236 | 450 ft3 | $7.19 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,356 | 750 ft3 | $7.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,801 | 1100 ft3 | $7.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,267 | 1600 ft3 | $7.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,585 | 1800 ft3 | $6.99 |
Top Kentucky to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.