Montana to Indiana Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 1,499 mile interstate move from Montana to Indiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Indiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Bison steak vs Pork tenderloin sandwich), real estate & housing (rustic, mountain vs colonial, 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 Meatloaf, but get your taste buds ready for Pork tenderloin sandwich & Hoosier Pie
- Indiana housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Indiana is 4.25% more affordable than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Indiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Montana to Indiana movers is MVM Moving & Storage
Montana to Indiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Indiana
- Harsh winters
- Remote locations
- Limited job market
- High cost of living
- Milder winters
- More urbanized
- Diverse opportunities
- Affordable housing
- Fewer scenic vistas
- Less wildlife
- Higher crime rates
- Less cultural diversity
- Natural beauty
- Outdoor activities
- Low crime rates
- Unique culture
Pros of moving from Montana to Indiana
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from remote locations and moving to Indiana with more urbanization
- Swap the limited job market of Montana for diverse opportunities in Indiana
- Get ready for affordable housing in Indiana
Cons of moving from Montana to Indiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the natural beauty in Montana to live with fewer scenic vistas in Indiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor activities and have to settle for the con of less wildlife
- Time to bid farewell to low crime rates and get used to higher crime rates in Indiana
- Swap unique culture for less cultural diversity
Montana vs. Indiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | Pork tenderloin sandwich |
Most popular meat dish | Elk Meatloaf | Hoosier Pie |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry hand pies | Deep-fried corn |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Seitan steak |
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 Indiana, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious Pork tenderloin sandwich of Indiana. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk Meatloaf and sumptuous Huckleberry hand pies, Indiana residents know they have tasty Hoosier Pie and Deep-fried corn to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan steak of Indiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Lark, The Montana Club, and Buck's T-4 Lodge. After the boxes are unpacked in Indiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Indiana's acclaimed eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, The Love Handle, and Bluebeard.
When comparing lifestyles, Indiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Indiana compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Indiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Indiana
Comparison | Montana | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rustic, Mountain | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, outdoor space | Historic details, proximity to amenities |
- The Rustic and Mountain architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Indiana.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and outdoor space, Indiana real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Indiana is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Indiana is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Indiana has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Indiana housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Montana with a median home price of $236,990 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Indiana have increased by 54% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Indiana is 4.25% more affordable than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Indiana
Comparison | Montana | Indiana |
---|---|---|
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, Flooding | Tornadoes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 45Β°F | 85Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 12Β°F | 36Β°F / 19Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 67" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Montana to Indiana. Indiana gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Montana.
- Indiana has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and flooding in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and flooding in Indiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Indiana is 5 degrees warmer than Montana.
- The average winter lows in Indiana are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Indiana. Indiana receives 27 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Indiana
Comparison | Montana | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $66,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 92.95 |
State Income Tax | 6.90% | 3.23% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.84% | 0.87% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Mining, Tourism | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | Moderate | Average |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Indiana tend to earn about 1% less than in Montana
- The COLI in Indiana will be 6% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in Indiana is 3.23% compared to 6.90% in Montana
- The affluence in Indiana is average compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is average in Indiana compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and moderate in Indiana
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Indiana
Comparison | Montana | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Conservative |
Local Politics | Significant Independent streak | Strong Republican presence in rural areas |
Religion | Protestant, Catholic | Protestant, Catholic |
- Montana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Indiana, on the other hand, is often described as lean Conservative
- Indiana's religious environment can be described as Protestant and Catholic
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Indiana
Comparison | Montana | Indiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech | Indiana University Purdue University Ball State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Elementary (Great Falls) Cold Springs Elementary (Missoula) | Signature School (Evansville) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High (West Lafayette) Batesville High (Batesville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle (Bozeman) East Middle (Great Falls) Washington Middle (Missoula) | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High (West Lafayette) Brown County Junior High (Nashville) Discovery Middle (Granger) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bozeman High (Bozeman) Great Falls High (Great Falls) Hellgate High (Missoula) | Signature School (Evansville) Carmel High (Carmel) West Lafayette Jr/Sr High (West Lafayette) |
Top 3 private high schools | Mt. Ellis Academy (Bozeman) Loyola Sacred Heart High (Missoula) Great Falls Central Catholic High (Great Falls) | Cathedral High (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) The International School (Indianapolis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula International School (Missoula) Billings Christian School (Billings) | University High School of Indiana (Carmel) The Orchard School (Indianapolis) Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman High School District Great Falls Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette Community School Corporation Munster School Corporation |
How Much Do Montana to Indiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,499 miles from Montana to Indiana 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: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Bulldogs Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,052 | 300 ft3 | $6.84 |
1 Bedroom | $3,056 | 450 ft3 | $6.79 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,056 | 750 ft3 | $6.74 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,360 | 1100 ft3 | $6.69 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,626 | 1600 ft3 | $6.64 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,864 | 1800 ft3 | $6.59 |
Top Montana to Indiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Indiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

MVM Moving & Storage
Best moving company overall for Montana to Indiana