Montana to North Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 2,112 mile interstate move from Montana to North Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs North Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Bison steak vs Pulled pork BBQ), 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 burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Pulled pork BBQ & Eastern-style BBQ pork
- North Carolina housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in North Carolina is 22.91% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to North Carolina will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Montana to North Carolina movers is Just Move It, LLC
Montana to North Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to North Carolina
- Extreme winters
- Limited nightlife
- Rural isolation
- Less diverse food
- Higher elevation
- Milder climate
- Vibrant city life
- Urban opportunities
- Culinary variety
- Lower elevation
- Fewer mountains
- Busier lifestyle
- Higher risk areas
- Denser population
- Traffic congestion
- Natural beauty
- Privacy
- Low crime rate
- Open spaces
- Less traffic
Pros of moving from Montana to North Carolina
- Say goodbye to extreme winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited nightlife and moving to North Carolina with vibrant city life
- Swap the rural isolation of Montana for urban opportunities in North Carolina
- Get ready for culinary variety in North Carolina
Cons of moving from Montana to North Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the natural beauty in Montana to live with fewer mountains in North Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of privacy and have to settle for the con of a busier lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to a low crime rate and get used to higher risk areas in North Carolina
- Swap open spaces for a denser population
Montana vs. North Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | Pulled pork BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Eastern-style BBQ pork |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry pie | Carolina-style hot dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Wild mushroom risotto | BBQ jackfruit sandwich |
Top 3 iconic restaurants |
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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 North Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious Pulled pork BBQ of North Carolina. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry pie, North Carolina residents know they have tasty Eastern-style BBQ pork and Carolina-style hot dogs 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 BBQ jackfruit sandwich of North Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Lark, Bison CafΓ©, and Big Sky Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in North Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to North Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Lexington Barbecue, The Pit, and Bida Manda.
When comparing lifestyles, North Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in North Carolina compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in North Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and North Carolina
Comparison | Montana | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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, Large acreage | Close to amenities, Energy efficiency |
- The Rustic and Mountain architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of North Carolina.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and large acreage, North Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to amenities and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. North Carolina is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. North Carolina is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- North Carolina has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- North Carolina housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $329,225 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in North Carolina have increased by 63% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in North Carolina is 22.91% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and North Carolina
Comparison | Montana | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 45Β°F | 88Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 10Β°F | 50Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 55" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to North Carolina. North Carolina gets 13% more sunshine days than Montana.
- North Carolina has higher 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 hurricanes and floods in North Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in North Carolina is 8 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 North Carolina. North Carolina receives 35 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and North Carolina
Comparison | Montana | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $67,481 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 95.85 |
State Income Tax | 6.9% | 5.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.75% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 4.75% |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Agriculture, Tourism | Finance, Technology, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in North Carolina tend to earn about 0% less than in Montana
- The COLI in North Carolina will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in NC is 5.25% compared to 6.9% in MT
- The affluence in North Carolina is varied compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is noticeable in North Carolina compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and moderate in North Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. North Carolina
Comparison | Montana | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative | Mixed, with both conservative and liberal areas |
Local Politics | Local governments often reflect state-level conservatism | Varies significantly between urban (liberal) and rural (conservative) areas |
Religion | Christianity is predominant, with a notable influence on local culture and politics | Christianity is predominant, diverse denominations with a significant evangelical presence |
- Montana tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- North Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as mixed, with both conservative and liberal areas
- North Carolina's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity, with diverse denominations and a significant evangelical presence
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a notable influence on local culture and politics
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to North Carolina
Comparison | Montana | North Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana Montana State University Carroll College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bozeman Field School (Bozeman) Hawthorne Elementary School (Missoula) Lolo School (Lolo) | Endhaven Elementary School (Charlotte) Poe Magnet Elementary School (Raleigh) Morehead Elementary School (Greensboro) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Washington Middle School (Missoula) Lewis & Clark Middle School (Billings) | Smith Middle School (Chapel Hill) Piedmont IB Middle School (Charlotte) Ligon Magnet Middle School (Raleigh) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Billings Senior High (Billings) | Early College at Guilford (Greensboro) STEM Early College (Greensboro) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) |
Top 3 private high schools | Great Falls Central Catholic High School (Great Falls) Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) Loyola Sacred Heart High School (Missoula) | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Cary Academy (Cary) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula International School (Missoula) Foothills Montessori (Kalispell) | Cannon School (Concord) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) Carolina Friends School (Durham) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
How Much Do Montana to North Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 2,112 miles from Montana to North Carolina will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,400 | 300 ft3 | $8.00 |
1 Bedroom | $3,577 | 450 ft3 | $7.95 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,925 | 750 ft3 | $7.90 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,634 | 1100 ft3 | $7.85 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,479 | 1600 ft3 | $7.80 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,949 | 1800 ft3 | $7.75 |
Top Montana to North Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to North Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for Montana to North Carolina