Louisiana to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,908 mile interstate move from Louisiana to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs low humidity), food & health (like Gumbo vs Huckleberry Pie), real estate & housing (french colonial, plantation vs rustic, cabin-style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Gumbo and Crawfish Étouffée, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberry Pie & Bison Burger
- Montana housing costs are 129% more expensive than they are in Louisiana
- Rent in Montana is 7.08% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to Montana will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Louisiana to Montana movers is Henry Hauling LLC
Louisiana to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to Montana
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Crowded cities
- Mosquito issues
- Heavy traffic
- Low humidity
- Less natural disasters
- Open spaces
- Fewer insects
- Light traffic
- Harsh winters
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited dining options
- Quiet evenings
- Fewer festivals
- Mild winters
- Rich culture
- Delicious cuisine
- Bustling nightlife
- Festivals and events
Pros of moving from Louisiana to Montana
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to low humidity
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Montana with less natural disasters
- Swap the crowded cities of Louisiana for open spaces in Montana
- Get ready for fewer insects in Montana
Cons of moving from Louisiana to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Louisiana to live with harsh winters in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich culture and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural events
- Time to bid farewell to delicious cuisine and get used to limited dining options in Montana
- Swap bustling nightlife for quiet evenings
Louisiana vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Crawfish Étouffée | Bison Burger |
Most popular street food item | Po'boys | Elk Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo (Vegan version) | Lentil Chili |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Louisiana to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Huckleberry Pie of Montana. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Crawfish Étouffée and sumptuous Po'boys, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison Burger and Elk Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo (Vegan version) 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 Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, Antoine's Restaurant, and Café du Monde. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like The Montana Grille, Buck's T-4 Lodge, and Cisco Kid.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and Montana
Comparison | Louisiana | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Colonial, Plantation | Rustic, Cabin-style |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | French doors, porches | Mountain views, privacy |
- The French Colonial and Plantation architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Rustic and Cabin-style architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference French doors and porches, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and privacy.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Montana is less walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Montana is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- Montana housing costs are 129% more expensive than they are in Louisiana, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Louisiana’s $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in Montana is 7.08% more expensive than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and Montana
Comparison | Louisiana | Montana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Floods | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 91/73 | 85/50 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 62/42 | 34/13 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 | 15 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 | 90 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Louisiana to Montana. Montana gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Louisiana.
- Montana has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Montana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 6 degrees colder than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows are 29 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 45 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and Montana
Comparison | Louisiana | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 6% | 1% - 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.53% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.45% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Tourism | Agriculture, Healthcare, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Concerned | Controlled |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 22% more than in Louisiana
- The COLI in Montana will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- The state income tax in MT is 1% - 6.9% compared to 2% - 6% in LA
- The affluence in Montana is modest compared to moderate in Louisiana
- The poverty level is moderate in Montana compared to high in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Louisiana and controlled in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. Montana
Comparison | Louisiana | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mix of Democratic and Republican, with a higher tendency towards Democratic in urban areas | Largely Republican, especially in rural regions |
Local Politics | <a href="https://house.louisiana.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Louisiana Legislature</a>, mixed governance | <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Montana Legislature</a>, conservative lean |
Religion | Highly religious, predominately Christian with a significant Catholic population | Less religious overall, with a larger percentage of unaffiliated individuals, predominant Christian faith still present |
- Louisiana tends to lean a mix of Democratic and Republican in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican, especially in rural regions
- Montana's religious environment can be described as less religious overall, with a larger percentage of unaffiliated individuals and a predominant Christian faith still present
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, predominantly Christian with a significant Catholic population
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to Montana
Comparison | Louisiana | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lusher Charter (New Orleans) Baton Rouge FLAIM (Baton Rouge) Lake Forest Charter School (New Orleans) | Paxson Elementary (Missoula) Morning Star Elementary (Bozeman) Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (Jefferson) Lusher Charter (New Orleans) Glasgow Middle (Baton Rouge) | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Washington Middle School (Missoula) East Middle School (Great Falls) |
Top 3 High Schools | Benjamin Franklin High (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Magnet High (Baton Rouge) Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (Metairie) | Bozeman High (Bozeman) Hellgate High (Missoula) Sentinel High (Missoula) |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) | Carroll College High School (Helena) Great Falls Central Catholic High School (Great Falls) Missoula Catholic High School (Missoula) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie) Academy of the Sacred Heart (New Orleans) Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade) | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Valley Christian School (Missoula) Stillwater Christian School (Kalispell) |
Top 3 School Districts | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System St. Tammany Parish Public Schools | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools |
How Much Do Louisiana to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,908 miles from Louisiana to Montana will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Henry Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,284 | 300 ft3 | $7.61 |
1 Bedroom | $3,404 | 450 ft3 | $7.56 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,635 | 750 ft3 | $7.51 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,210 | 1100 ft3 | $7.46 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,862 | 1600 ft3 | $7.41 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,255 | 1800 ft3 | $7.36 |
Top Louisiana to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.