Montana to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,621 mile interstate move from Montana to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Bison steak vs Fried catfish), real estate & housing (rustic, mountain vs traditional, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bison steak and Elk burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Fried catfish & Barbecue ribs
- Arkansas housing costs are 55% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Arkansas is 6.62% more affordable than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Arkansas will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Montana to Arkansas movers is B2 Moving
Montana to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Arkansas
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Mild climate
- Accessible amenities
- Affordable housing
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Less mountainous
- Fewer national parks
- Higher crime rates
- Higher humidity
- Stunning landscapes
- Outdoor recreation
- Low crime rate
- Community spirit
Pros of moving from Montana to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Arkansas with accessible amenities
- Swap the high cost of living in Montana for affordable housing in Arkansas
- Get ready for diverse employment opportunities in Arkansas
Cons of moving from Montana to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning landscapes in Montana to live with less mountainous scenery in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor recreation and have to settle for the con of fewer national parks
- Time to bid farewell to the low crime rate and get used to higher crime rates in Arkansas
- Swap community spirit for higher humidity
Montana vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | Fried catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Barbecue ribs |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry ice cream | Cheese dip |
Most popular vegan food | Wild mushroom risotto | Arkansas Caviar (black-eyed pea salad) |
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 Montana to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious Fried catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry ice cream, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Barbecue ribs and Cheese dip to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild mushroom risotto they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Arkansas Caviar (black-eyed pea salad) of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like Buck's T-4 Lodge, Montana Ale Works, and Caffe Dolce. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, Sim's Bar-B-Que, and The Pantry.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Arkansas
Comparison | Montana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rustic, Mountain | Traditional, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Large acreage | Lakeside access, Large backyards |
- The Rustic and Mountain architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Traditional and Craftsman architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and large acreage, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside access and large backyards.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Arkansas is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Arkansas is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Arkansas has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Arkansas housing costs are 55% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $203,305 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Arkansas is 6.62% more affordable than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Arkansas
Comparison | Montana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Blizzards | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 45Β°F | 92Β°F / 72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 50Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 6% more sunshine days than Montana.
- Arkansas has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and blizzards in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 12 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows are 20 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Arkansas. Arkansas receives 35 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Arkansas
Comparison | Montana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 6.9% | 4.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 0.6% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.6% | 9.4% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Forestry | Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 18% less than in Montana
- The COLI in Arkansas is 9% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in Arkansas is 4.9% compared to 6.9% in Montana
- The affluence in Arkansas is modest compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in Arkansas compared to low in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and moderate in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Arkansas
Comparison | Montana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Moderate local policies | Varies by region, generally conservative |
Religion | Christianity dominant, diverse religious communities | Primarily Christian, significant Baptist presence |
- Montana tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Baptist presence
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Arkansas
Comparison | Montana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arrowhead School (Billings) Morning Star School (Bozeman) Cold Springs School (Missoula) | Parkway Elementary (Bryant) Vandergriff Elementary (Fayetteville) Forest Park Elementary (Little Rock) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) C.R. Anderson Middle School (Helena) Washington Middle School (Missoula) | Lisa Academy North (Sherwood) Woodland Junior High School (Fayetteville) Fulbright Junior High (Bentonville) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Sentinel High School (Missoula) Hellgate High School (Missoula) | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High School (Bentonville) Central High School (Little Rock) |
Top 3 private high schools | Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) Loyola Sacred Heart High School (Missoula) Montana Academy (Marion) | Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) The New School (Fayetteville) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Missoula International School (Missoula) Petra Academy (Bozeman) Valley Christian School (Missoula) | Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) Episcopal Collegiate School (Little Rock) Subiaco Academy (Subiaco) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman School District Billings School District Missoula County Public Schools | Bentonville School District Fayetteville School District Rogers School District |
How Much Do Montana to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 1,621 miles from Montana to Arkansas will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: B2 Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,121 | 300 ft3 | $7.07 |
1 Bedroom | $3,160 | 450 ft3 | $7.02 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,229 | 750 ft3 | $6.97 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,614 | 1100 ft3 | $6.92 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,995 | 1600 ft3 | $6.87 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,279 | 1800 ft3 | $6.82 |
Top Montana to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.