Montana to Oregon Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 869 mile interstate move from Montana to Oregon? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Oregon across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Bison steak vs Marionberry pie), real estate & housing (rustic, log homes vs craftsman, bungalow), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bison steak and Elk burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Marionberry pie & Dungeness crab
- Oregon housing costs are 9% more expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Oregon is 25.28% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Oregon will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Oregon movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Montana to Oregon Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Oregon
- Cold winters
- Isolated rural areas
- Limited job opportunities
- Lower cultural diversity
- Sparse amenities
- Milder winters
- Active urban centers
- Diverse job market
- Rich cultural scene
- Diverse dining and arts
- Higher cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Rains frequently
- Housing competition
- Dense population
- Beautiful landscapes
- Low crime rate
- Outdoor activities
- Cheap housing
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from Montana to Oregon
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from isolated rural areas and moving to Oregon with active urban centers
- Swap the limited job opportunities of Montana for a diverse job market in Oregon
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Oregon
Cons of moving from Montana to Oregon
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful landscapes in Montana to live with a higher cost of living in Oregon
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low crime rate and have to settle with the con of traffic congestion
- Time to bid farewell to outdoor activities and get used to frequent rains in Oregon
- Swap cheap housing for housing competition
Montana vs. Oregon: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | Marionberry pie |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Dungeness crab |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry ice cream | Street tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil chili | Vegan ramen |
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 Oregon, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious Marionberry pie of Oregon. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry ice cream, Oregon residents know they have tasty Dungeness crab and Street tacos 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 Vegan ramen of Oregon. In the days before your move, make sure you make one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Lark, Buck's T-4 Lodge, and Bozeman's Nova Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Oregon, don't wait too long before making your way to Oregon's acclaimed eateries like Pok Pok, Screen Door, and Voodoo Doughnut.
When comparing lifestyles, Oregon shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oregon compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oregon.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Oregon
Comparison | Montana | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rustic, Log Homes | Craftsman, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Privacy | Eco-friendly features, Proximity to nature |
- The Rustic and Log Homes architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Bungalow architecture typical of Oregon.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and privacy, Oregon real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly features and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Oregon is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Oregon is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Oregon has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Oregon housing costs are 9% more expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $497,946 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oregon have increased by 39% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Oregon is 25.28% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Oregon
Comparison | Montana | Oregon |
---|---|---|
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, Snowstorms | Earthquakes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 45Β°F | 81Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F / 17Β°F | 47Β°F / 37Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 84" | 11" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Montana to Oregon. Oregon gets 23% fewer sunshine days than Montana.
- Oregon has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and snowstorms in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and tsunamis in Oregon.
- The average summer high temperature in Oregon is 1 degree colder than Montana.
- The average winter lows are 20 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Oregon. Oregon receives 27 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Oregon
Comparison | Montana | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $75,657 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 110.55 |
State Income Tax | 1% to 6.9% | 4.75% to 9.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.07% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 0% to 3% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining | Technology, Forestry, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Higher |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Lower | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oregon tend to earn about 12% more than in Montana
- The COLI in Oregon will be 11% higher than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in OR is 4.75% to 9.9% compared to 1% to 6.9% in MT
- The affluence in Oregon is higher compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in Oregon compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in Montana and higher in Oregon
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Oregon
Comparison | Montana | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative rural areas with liberal cities like Missoula and Bozeman | Liberal urban areas like Portland and Eugene, with conservative rural regions |
Religion | Christianity dominant, with Protestant and Catholic majorities | Less religiously affiliated, higher percentage of nonreligious residents |
- Montana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Oregon, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Oregon's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with a higher percentage of nonreligious residents
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant, with Protestant and Catholic majorities
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Oregon
Comparison | Montana | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana Montana State University Carroll College | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Elementary (Great Falls) Morning Star Elementary (Bozeman) | Ainsworth Elementary (Portland) Findley Elementary (Beaverton) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Washington Middle School (Missoula) Lewis and Clark Middle School (Billings) | Stoller Middle School (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Cedar Park Middle School (Beaverton) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Billings Senior High School (Billings) | South Eugene High School (Eugene) Lincoln High School (Portland) Corvallis High School (Corvallis) |
Top 3 private high schools | Carroll College Preparatory (Helena) Montana Academy (Marion) Missoula International School (Missoula) | Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Catlin Gabel School (Portland) St. Mary's Academy (Portland) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Billings Christian School (Billings) Valley Christian School (Missoula) | Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Delphian School (Sheridan) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools | Lake Oswego School District Beaverton School District Portland Public Schools |
How Much Do Montana to Oregon Movers Cost?
Moving 869 miles from Montana to Oregon 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Portland Movers Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,695 | 300 ft3 | $5.65 |
1 Bedroom | $2,520 | 450 ft3 | $5.60 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,163 | 750 ft3 | $5.55 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,051 | 1100 ft3 | $5.50 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,721 | 1600 ft3 | $5.45 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,721 | 1800 ft3 | $5.40 |
Top Montana to Oregon Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Oregon movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for Montana to Oregon