Montana to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,221 mile interstate move from Montana to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Huckleberry vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (ranch, log cabin vs spanish colonial, pueblo revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Huckleberry and Bison Burger, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 6% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Arizona is 35.79% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Arizona will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
Montana to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Arizona
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- Limited nightlife
- Mild winters
- Urban amenities
- Vibrant entertainment
- Desert landscapes
- Higher living expenses
- Extreme summer heat
- Natural beauty
- Low cost of living
- Seasonal sports
Pros of moving from Montana to Arizona
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Arizona with urban amenities
- Swap the limited nightlife of Montana for vibrant entertainment in Arizona
Cons of moving from Montana to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from natural beauty in Montana to live with desert landscapes in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of low cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher living expenses
- Time to bid farewell to seasonal sports and get used to extreme summer heat in Arizona
Montana vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Huckleberry | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burger | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Elk Jerky | Taco Truck Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Salad | Vegan Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | ๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช | ๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช๐ช |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ |
Foodie Scene | ๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด | ๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด๐ด |
Vegan Friendly | ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ | ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ |
If you're moving from Montana to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Huckleberry of Montana for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Bison Burger and sumptuous Elk Jerky, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Taco Truck Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like Union Grille, Ford's Drive In, and The Grizzly Bar. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like Pizzeria Bianco, El Charro Cafรฉ, and Durant's.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona, compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Arizona
Comparison | Montana | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Log cabin | Spanish Colonial, Pueblo Revival |
Walkability | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ |
Bikeability | ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ | ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ |
Urban Lifestyle | ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ | ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | โBig skiesโ, โmountain viewsโ | โDesert landscapeโ, โpoolโ |
- The Ranch and Log cabin architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial and Pueblo Revival architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference โbig skiesโ and โmountain views,โ Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like โdesert landscapeโ and โpool.โ
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Arizona housing costs are 6% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to Montanaโs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Arizona is 35.79% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Arizona
Comparison | Montana | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ | โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ | ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ |
Avg. UV Index | ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ | ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ |
Natural Disasters | Floods, Wildfires | Wildfires, Heatwaves |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (ยฐF) | 80ยฐF / 45ยฐF | 104ยฐF / 81ยฐF |
Average Winter High/Low (ยฐF) | 35ยฐF / 17ยฐF | 68ยฐF / 46ยฐF |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 13" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 90" | 0.3" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to Arizona. Arizona gets 59% more sunshine days than Montana.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and wildfires in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and heatwaves in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 24 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows are 29 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Arizona
Comparison | Montana | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 6.90% | 4.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.84% | 0.66% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0.00% | 8.37% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Retail, Construction | Healthcare, Retail, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 10% more than those in Montana
- The COLI in Arizona will be 2% higher than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in AZ is 4.50% compared to 6.90% in MT
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in Arizona compared to low in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and higher in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Arizona
Comparison | Montana | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Moderately Republican/Increasing Democratic influence |
Local Politics | Rural interests dominate | Urban and rural interests |
Religion | Protestant & Catholic | Catholic & Protestant |
- Montana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Republican with increasing Democratic influence
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as Catholic and Protestant
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Arizona
Comparison | Montana | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech | Arizona State University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Elementary (Great Falls) Cold Springs Elementary (Missoula) | Knox Gifted Academy (Chandler) BASIS Chandler Primary North Campus (Chandler) Fireside Elementary School (Phoenix) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Washington Middle School (Missoula) East Middle School (Great Falls) | BASIS Scottsdale Middle (Scottsdale) BASIS Chandler Middle (Chandler) Paragon Science Academy (Chandler) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Capital High School (Helena) | BASIS Scottsdale (Scottsdale) BASIS Chandler (Chandler) University High School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private high schools | Missoula International School (Missoula) Bozeman Field School (Bozeman) Valley Christian High School (Missoula) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula International School (Missoula) Stillwater Christian School (Kalispell) | All Saintsโ Episcopal Day School (Phoenix) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Helena Public Schools | Chandler Unified School District Scottsdale Unified School District Gilbert Public Schools |
How Much Do Montana to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 1,221 miles from Montana to Arizona will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3.5-11 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sterling Interstate LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,895 | 300 ft3 | $6.32 |
1 Bedroom | $2,820 | 450 ft3 | $6.27 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,662 | 750 ft3 | $6.22 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,782 | 1100 ft3 | $6.17 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,785 | 1600 ft3 | $6.12 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,918 | 1800 ft3 | $6.07 |
Top Montana to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Montana to Arizona