Montana to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 1,714 mile interstate move from Montana to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Buffalo steak vs Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (rustic, mountain vs colonial, federal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Buffalo steak and Elk burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Chicken & Hot Brown sandwich
- Kentucky housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Kentucky is 7.10% more affordable than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Kentucky will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Kentucky movers is From Here to There
Montana to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Kentucky
- Harsh winters
- Isolation
- Higher cost of living
- Limited job market
- Mild climate
- Community focus
- Affordable housing
- Diverse opportunities
- Fewer open spaces
- Limited outdoor spots
- Higher population density
- Urban growth
- Spectacular scenery
- Outdoor adventures
- Low population density
- Pure wilderness
Pros of moving from Montana to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from isolation and moving to Kentucky with community focus
- Swap the higher cost of living in Montana for affordable housing in Kentucky
- Get ready for diverse opportunities in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Montana to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from spectacular scenery in Montana to live with fewer open spaces in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor adventures and have to settle for the con of limited outdoor spots
- Time to bid farewell to low population density and get used to higher population density in Kentucky
- Swap pure wilderness for urban growth
Montana vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buffalo steak | Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Hot Brown sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry pie | Burgoo |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa salad | Fried green tomatoes |
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 Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Buffalo steak of Montana for the equally delicious Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry pie, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Hot Brown sandwich and Burgoo 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 Fried green tomatoes of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Bozeman Chophouse, Montana Brewing Company, and Ciao Mambo. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel, Claudia Sanders Dinner House, and Mammy's Kitchen and Bar.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kentucky, compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Kentucky
Comparison | Montana | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rustic, Mountain | Colonial, Federal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Big Sky, Mountain Views | Horse Farms, Bluegrass |
- The Rustic and Mountain architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Federal architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference big sky and mountain views, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like horse farms and bluegrass.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Kentucky is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Kentucky is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Kentucky has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Kentucky housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Kentucky is 7.10% more affordable than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Kentucky
Comparison | Montana | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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) | 82Β°F / 45Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F / 17Β°F | 44Β°F / 28Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 45" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 70" | 13" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Montana to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 5% fewer sunshine days than Montana.
- Kentucky has higher humidity and a higher 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 Kentucky.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 5 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 30 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Kentucky
Comparison | Montana | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 6.90% | 5.00% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.82% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0.00% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Noticeable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Limited | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 12% less than those in Montana
- The COLI in Kentucky is 12% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in KY is 5.00% compared to 6.90% in MT
- The affluence in Kentucky is varied compared to moderate affluence in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in Kentucky compared to noticeable poverty in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is limited in Montana and manageable in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Montana | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Libertarian elements | Conservative values |
Religion | Christian majority, with a significant non-religious population | Strong Baptist presence, overall more religiously active |
- Montana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as having a strong Baptist presence and being overall more religiously active
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a significant non-religious population
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Kentucky
Comparison | Montana | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Morning Star Elementary (Bozeman) Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Elementary (Great Falls) | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary (Louisville) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Beechwood Elementary (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) East Middle School (Great Falls) Lewis and Clark Middle School (Billings) | Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Highlands Middle School (Fort Thomas) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Helena High School (Helena) Billings West High School (Billings) | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 private high schools | Carroll College (Helena) Rocky Mountain College (Billings) Montana Academy (Marion) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Saint Xavier High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Missoula International School (Missoula) Petra Academy (Bozeman) Billings Christian School (Billings) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman Public Schools Billings Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools | Fort Thomas Independent Schools Beechwood Independent School District Oldham County Schools |
How Much Do Montana to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 1,714 miles from Montana to Kentucky will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,174 | 300 ft3 | $7.25 |
1 Bedroom | $3,239 | 450 ft3 | $7.20 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,360 | 750 ft3 | $7.15 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,807 | 1100 ft3 | $7.10 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,276 | 1600 ft3 | $7.05 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,595 | 1800 ft3 | $7.00 |
Top Montana to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.