Montana to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,133 mile interstate move from Montana to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Bison steak vs Shrimp and grits), real estate & housing (rustic, cabin vs colonial, coastal), 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 Shrimp and grits & Pulled pork barbecue
- South Carolina housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in South Carolina is 17.27% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to South Carolina will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Montana to South Carolina movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Montana to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to South Carolina
- Long winters
- Limited job market
- Rural isolation
- High elevation
- Sparse entertainment
- Mild winters
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant social scene
- Sea-level elevation
- Abundant cultural events
- Humidity levels
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Crowded cities
- Higher crime rates
- Stunning landscapes
- Outdoor activities
- Low traffic
- Small town feel
- Sense of community
Pros of moving from Montana to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to long winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to South Carolina with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the rural isolation of Montana for a vibrant social scene in South Carolina
- Get ready for sea-level elevation in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Montana to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning landscapes in Montana to live with humidity levels in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor activities and have to settle for the con of hurricane risk
- Time to bid farewell to low traffic and get used to traffic congestion in South Carolina
- Swap the small-town feel for crowded cities
Montana vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | Shrimp and grits |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Pulled pork barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry pie | Boiled peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil chili | Collard greens |
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 South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious Shrimp and grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry pie, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled pork barbecue and Boiled peanuts 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 Collard greens of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The 406, The Nova Cafe, and Plonk. After the boxes are unpacked in South Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to South Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Home Team BBQ, Husk, and Bowen's Island Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Carolina, compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and South Carolina
Comparison | Montana | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rustic, Cabin | Colonial, Coastal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Acreage | Beach access, Historical properties |
- The Rustic and Cabin architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Coastal architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and acreage, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like beach access and historical properties.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. South Carolina is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. South Carolina is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- South Carolina has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- South Carolina housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased 58% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in South Carolina is 17.27% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and South Carolina
Comparison | Montana | South 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 | Wildfires, Snowstorms | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 45Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30Β°F / 15Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60 | 2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 12% more sunshine days than Montana.
- South Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and snowstorms in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in South Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 11 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows are 23 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 35 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and South Carolina
Comparison | Montana | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 6.9% | 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining | Manufacturing, Retail, Agribusiness |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Lower | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 5% less than in Montana
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in SC is 7% compared to 6.9% in MT
- The affluence in South Carolina is varied compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is higher in South Carolina compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in Montana and moderate in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Montana | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed with emphasis on local governance | Conservative with strong state governance |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious presence | Strongly Christian, evangelical presence |
- Montana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as strongly Christian with an evangelical presence
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a diverse religious presence
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to South Carolina
Comparison | Montana | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Radley Elementary (Helena) Arrowhead School (Pray) Cold Springs Elementary (Missoula) | Mitchell Road Elementary (Greenville) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Buist Academy (Charleston) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Clancy Elementary (Clancy) Lewis & Clark Middle School (Billings) Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) | Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Gold Hill Middle School (Fort Mill) Buist Academy (Charleston) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Sentinel High School (Missoula) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Greenville Technical Charter High School (Greenville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) Loyola Sacred Heart High School (Missoula) Great Falls Central Catholic High School (Great Falls) | Porter-Gaud (Charleston) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) Hammond School (Columbia) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula International School (Missoula) Stillwater Christian School (Kalispell) | Pinewood Preparatory School (Summerville) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) Hammond School (Columbia) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman High School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools | Fort Mill School District Charleston County School District Greenville County School District |
How Much Do Montana to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 2,133 miles from Montana to South 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,412 | 300 ft3 | $8.04 |
1 Bedroom | $3,595 | 450 ft3 | $7.99 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,954 | 750 ft3 | $7.94 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,678 | 1100 ft3 | $7.89 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,543 | 1600 ft3 | $7.84 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,020 | 1800 ft3 | $7.79 |
Top Montana to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Best moving company overall for Montana to South Carolina