Montana to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 2,270 mile interstate move from Montana to Rhode Island? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Rhode Island across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Buffalo steak vs Clam Cakes), real estate & housing (ranch, log cabin vs colonial, cottage), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Rhode Island), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Buffalo steak and Beef bison burger, but get your taste buds ready for Clam Cakes & Stuffies (stuffed clams)
- Rhode Island housing costs are 1% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Rhode Island is 47.70% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Rhode Island will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Rhode Island movers is Moving On Up
Top Montana to Rhode Island Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Rhode Island movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Moving On Up
Best moving company overall for Montana to Rhode Island

On The Move LLC

A Team Moving and Storage
Montana to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Rhode Island
- Harsh winters
- Limited cultural events
- Long travel distances
- Fewer dining options
- Milder climate
- Rich cultural scene
- Close-knit communities
- Varied cuisine
- Higher living costs
- Dense population
- Fast-paced urban life
- Heavy traffic
- Amazing landscapes
- Wide open spaces
- Peaceful lifestyle
- Lower traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Montana to Rhode Island
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited cultural events and moving to Rhode Island with a rich cultural scene
- Swap the long travel distances of Montana for close-knit communities in Rhode Island
- Get ready for varied cuisine in Rhode Island
Cons of moving from Montana to Rhode Island
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from amazing landscapes in Montana to live with higher living costs in Rhode Island
- You'll lose out on the pro of wide open spaces and have to settle for the con of a dense population
- Time to bid farewell to a peaceful lifestyle and get used to a fast-paced urban life in Rhode Island
- Swap lower traffic congestion for heavy traffic
Montana vs. Rhode Island: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Buffalo steak | Clam Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Beef bison burger | Stuffies (stuffed clams) |
Most popular street food item | Wild game sausages | Hot Wieners |
Most popular vegan food | Huckleberry pie | Del's Lemonade |
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 Rhode Island, you will be trading the iconic Buffalo steak of Montana for the equally delicious Clam Cakes of Rhode Island. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Beef bison burger and sumptuous Wild game sausages, Rhode Island residents know they have tasty Stuffies (stuffed clams) and Hot Wieners to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Huckleberry pie they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Del's Lemonade of Rhode Island. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like Ciao Mambo, The Uptown Diner, and Bozeman Sacajawea Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Rhode Island, don't wait too long before making your way to Rhode Island's acclaimed eateries like Florence Grille, Olneyville New York System, and The Lobster Pot.
When comparing lifestyles, Rhode Island shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Rhode Island compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Rhode Island.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Rhode Island
Comparison | Montana | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Log Cabin | Colonial, Cottage |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic Views, Large Lots | Ocean Access, Proximity to Amenities |
- The Ranch and Log Cabin architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of Rhode Island.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and large lots, Rhode Island real estate listings often highlight features like ocean access and proximity to amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Rhode Island is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Rhode Island is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Rhode Island has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Rhode Island housing costs are 1% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $451,868 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Rhode Island have increased by 55% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Rhode Island is 47.70% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Rhode Island
Comparison | Montana | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Hurricanes, Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 45Β°F | 82Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 12Β°F | 37Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 90" | 35" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Montana to Rhode Island. Rhode Island gets 2% fewer sunshine days than Montana.
- Rhode Island has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and winter storms in Rhode Island.
- The average summer high temperature in Rhode Island is 2 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 Rhode Island. Rhode Island receives 35 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Rhode Island
Comparison | Montana | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $81,854 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 123.3 |
State Income Tax | 6.9% | 5.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.76% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Agriculture, Tourism | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Rhode Island tend to earn about 21% more than those in Montana
- The COLI in Rhode Island will be 24% higher than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in RI is 5.99% compared to 6.9% in MT
- The affluence in Rhode Island is high compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in Rhode Island compared to low in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and moderate in Rhode Island
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Rhode Island
Comparison | Montana | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Mixed urban & rural perspectives | Primarily urban perspectives |
Religion | Christian majority, with a significant number of unaffiliated residents | Christian majority, with a notable Catholic presence |
- Montana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Rhode Island, on the other hand, is often described as lean Liberal
- Rhode Island's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority with a notable Catholic presence
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a significant number of unaffiliated residents
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Rhode Island
Comparison | Montana | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech | Brown University University of Rhode Island Rhode Island School of Design |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Chief Joseph Elementary - Bozeman Hawthorne Elementary - Bozeman Cold Springs Elementary - Missoula | Rockwell Elementary - Bristol Nayatt School - Barrington Hamilton School - North Kingstown |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School - Bozeman Chief Joseph Middle School - Bozeman Washington Middle School - Missoula | Barrington Middle School - Barrington Wickford Middle School - North Kingstown Portsmouth Middle School - Portsmouth |
Top 3 High Schools | Bozeman High School - Bozeman Hellgate High School - Missoula Sentinel High School - Missoula | Classical High School - Providence Barrington High School - Barrington East Greenwich High - East Greenwich |
Top 3 private high schools | Carroll College High School - Helena Montana Academy - Marion Yellowstone Academy - Billings | Moses Brown School - Providence St. George's School - Middletown The Wheeler School - Providence |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy - Bozeman Missoula International School - Missoula Valley Christian School - Missoula | Lincoln School - Providence Rocky Hill Country Day School - East Greenwich The Wheeler School - Providence |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Narragansett School System |
How Much Do Montana to Rhode Island Movers Cost?
Moving 2,270 miles from Montana to Rhode Island will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $9,000
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Two Men and a Truck
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,489 | 300 ft3 | $8.30 |
1 Bedroom | $3,712 | 450 ft3 | $8.25 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,149 | 750 ft3 | $8.20 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,963 | 1100 ft3 | $8.15 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,957 | 1600 ft3 | $8.10 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,486 | 1800 ft3 | $8.05 |