Montana to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 2,126 mile interstate move from Montana to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Bison steak vs Bagels), real estate & housing (ranch vs brownstone/high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bison steak and Elk burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels & Pastrami on rye
- New York housing costs are 1% more expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in New York is 77.30% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to New York will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Montana to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
Montana to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to New York
- Long winters
- Limited job opportunities
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer entertainment choices
- Milder winters
- Vast career options
- Diverse cultural scene
- Endless entertainment
- Lack of green spaces
- High living expenses
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Anonymity in big cities
- Beautiful natural landscapes
- Lower cost of living
- Slower pace of life
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Montana to New York
- Say goodbye to long winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to New York with vast career options
- Swap the less cultural diversity of Montana for a diverse cultural scene in New York
- Get ready for endless entertainment in New York
Cons of moving from Montana to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful natural landscapes in Montana to live with a lack of green spaces in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of high living expenses
- Time to bid farewell to a slower pace of life and get used to a fast-paced lifestyle in New York
- Swap close-knit communities for anonymity in big cities
Montana vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | Bagels |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Pastrami on rye |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry pie | Hot dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil Chili | Avocado toast |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 New York, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious Bagels of New York. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry pie, New York residents know they have tasty Pastrami on rye and Hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Lentil Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado toast of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Keep Restaurant, Buck's T-4, and Casey's Whitefish. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Junior's Cheesecake.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York, compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and New York
Comparison | Montana | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Brownstone/High-rise |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic views, outdoor space | Proximity to public transportation, luxury amenities |
- The Ranch architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Brownstone and High-rise architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings, which commonly reference scenic views and outdoor space, New York real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transportation and luxury amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; New York is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New York is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- New York has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- New York housing costs are 1% more expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in New York is 77.30% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and New York
Comparison | Montana | New York |
---|---|---|
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 | Fires, Floods | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 45Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 12Β°F | 38Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 49.9" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 89" | 25" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to New York. New York gets 9% more sunshine days than Montana.
- New York has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible fires and floods in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 3 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 34.9 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and New York
Comparison | Montana | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.00 | 8.82 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.84 | 1.68 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0.00 | 4.00 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Mining, Tourism | Finance, Media, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 18% more than in Montana
- The COLI in New York is 3% higher than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in NY is 8.82 compared to 5.00 in MT
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in New York compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. New York
Comparison | Montana | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | State and local decisions often reflect a strong sense of individual liberty and small government. | Politics at the state and local level tend to emphasize social welfare programs and regulations aimed at equal opportunity. |
Religion | Christianity is the predominant religion, with a significant presence of Latter-Day Saints in certain areas. | Religious diversity is higher, with significant numbers of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and non-religious individuals. |
- Montana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- New York's religious environment can be described as having higher religious diversity, with significant numbers of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and non-religious individuals
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity being the predominant religion, with a significant presence of Latter-Day Saints in certain areas
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to New York
Comparison | Montana | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech | New York University Columbia University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bozeman Field School (Bozeman) Middle Creek Montessori (Bozeman) Hawthorne Elementary School (Bozeman) | Scarsdale Public Schools (Scarsdale) P.S. 77 Lower Lab School (New York) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Chief Joseph Middle School (Bozeman) Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Meadow Hill Middle School (Missoula) | East Side Middle School (New York) Rye Neck Middle School (Mamaroneck) New Explorations into Science Tech & Math High School (New York) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Sentinel High School (Missoula) | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) |
Top 3 private high schools | Carroll College (Helena) Missoula Loyola High School (Missoula) Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) | Horace Mann School (Bronx) The Brearley School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Valley Christian School (Missoula) Missoula International School (Missoula) | The Chapin School (New York) The Dalton School (New York) Riverdale Country School (Bronx) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools | Great Neck Public Schools Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District |
How Much Do Montana to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 2,126 miles from Montana to New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,408 | 300 ft3 | $8.03 |
1 Bedroom | $3,589 | 450 ft3 | $7.98 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,944 | 750 ft3 | $7.93 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,663 | 1100 ft3 | $7.88 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,521 | 1600 ft3 | $7.83 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,997 | 1800 ft3 | $7.78 |
Top Montana to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.