Montana to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 779 mile interstate move from Montana to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Bison Steak vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (ranch and craftsman vs mountain modern and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bison Steak and Elk Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Lamb Chops
- Colorado housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Colorado is 43.80% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Colorado will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Montana to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Colorado
- Long, harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Remote locations
- Fewer cultural events
- High car dependency
- Milder winters
- Thriving tech industry
- Vibrant cities
- Abundant cultural activities
- Biking and public transit options
- Crowded tourist areas
- Higher living costs
- Noisy urban centers
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Homogenized urban culture
- Pristine natural beauty
- Low cost of living
- Quiet communities
- Simple lifestyle
- Strong local culture
Pros of moving from Montana to Colorado
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Colorado with a thriving tech industry
- Swap the remote locations of Montana for vibrant cities in Colorado
- Get ready for abundant cultural activities in Colorado
Cons of moving from Montana to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the pristine natural beauty in Montana to live with crowded tourist areas in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to quiet communities and get used to noisy urban centers in Colorado
- Swap a simple lifestyle for a fast-paced lifestyle
Montana vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison Steak | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Elk Burgers | Lamb Chops |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry Hand Pies | Green Chili Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil Dahl | Quinoa Tacos |
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 Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Bison Steak of Montana for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk Burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry Hand Pies, Colorado residents know they have tasty Lamb Chops and Green Chili Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Lentil Dahl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Tacos of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Buckhorn Inn, Lantana Grill, and Mountain Berry Bowls. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Linger, Root Down, and OAK at Fourteenth.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Colorado
Comparison | Montana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch and Craftsman | Mountain Modern and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Big Sky views, Privacy | Mountain views, Proximity to outdoor activities |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference big sky views and privacy, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and proximity to outdoor activities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Colorado is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Colorado housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Colorado is 43.80% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Colorado
Comparison | Montana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Wildfires | Wildfires, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Fair | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 65Β°F/40Β°F | 85Β°F/60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F/10Β°F | 45Β°F/15Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15 | 17 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 90 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to Colorado. Colorado gets 30% more sunshine days than Montana.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and wildfires in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and tornadoes in Colorado.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 20 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows in Colorado are 5 degrees warmer than those in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Colorado. Colorado receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Colorado
Comparison | Montana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 6.75% | 4.63% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.50% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 2.9% - 11.2% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining | Aerospace, Biotechnology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Modest | Prosperous |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 32% more than in Montana
- The COLI in Colorado will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in Colorado is 4.63% compared to 6.75% in Montana
- The affluence in Colorado is prosperous compared to modest in Montana
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and concerning in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Colorado
Comparison | Montana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Swing State, recently leaning Liberal |
Local Politics | Strong local governance with community involvement | Highly active local politics with emphasis on environmental and social policies |
Religion | Christian majority, with a notable presence of non-religious residents | More religiously diverse, with a growing number of non-affiliated individuals |
- Montana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, recently leaning Liberal
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as more religiously diverse, with a growing number of non-affiliated individuals
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a notable presence of non-religious residents
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Colorado
Comparison | Montana | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | 1. University of Montana (Missoula) 2. Montana State University (Bozeman) 3. Montana Tech (Butte) | 1. University of Colorado Boulder 2. Colorado State University (Fort Collins) 3. University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | 1. Hawthorne School (Bozeman) 2. Cold Springs School (Missoula) 3. Arrowhead School (Pray) | 1. Cory Elementary (Denver) 2. Bear Creek Elementary (Boulder) 3. Dry Creek Elementary (Centennial) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | 1. Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) 2. Chief Joseph Middle School (Bozeman) 3. Washington Middle School (Missoula) | 1. Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) 2. Mountain Ridge Middle School (Highlands Ranch) 3. Denver School of the Arts (Denver) |
Top 3 High Schools | 1. Bozeman High School (Bozeman) 2. Hellgate High School (Missoula) 3. Sentinel High School (Missoula) | 1. Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) 2. Fairview High School (Boulder) 3. Denver School of Science and Technology: Stapleton High School (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | 1. Carroll College High School (Helena) 2. Montana School for the Deaf & Blind (Great Falls) 3. Missoula International School (Missoula) | 1. Colorado Academy (Denver) 2. Kent Denver School (Englewood) 3. The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Data not available | 1. Graland Country Day School (Denver) 2. St. Mary's Academy (Englewood) 3. Fountain Valley School of Colorado (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 School Districts | 1. Bozeman School District 2. Missoula County Public Schools 3. Billings Public Schools | 1. Cherry Creek School District 2. Boulder Valley School District 3. Douglas County School District |
How Much Do Montana to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 779 miles from Montana to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: The Move Caddies
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,644 | 300 ft3 | $5.48 |
1 Bedroom | $2,444 | 450 ft3 | $5.43 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,035 | 750 ft3 | $5.38 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,863 | 1100 ft3 | $5.33 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,449 | 1600 ft3 | $5.28 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,415 | 1800 ft3 | $5.23 |
Top Montana to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.