Montana to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 1,795 mile interstate move from Montana to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Bison steak vs BBQ ribs), real estate & housing (rustic, mountain vs traditional, colonial), 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 BBQ ribs & Hot chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Tennessee is 19.29% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Tennessee will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Montana to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- Rural isolation
- Limited job market
- High altitude adjustments
- Expensive land costs
- Milder climate
- Vibrant cities
- Diverse job opportunities
- Low altitude comfort
- Affordable housing
- Less natural beauty
- Fewer hiking trails
- More crowded
- Higher crime rates
- Less wildlife diversity
- Stunning landscapes
- Outdoor activities
- Low population density
- Friendly communities
- Wildlife presence
Pros of moving from Montana to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from rural isolation and moving to Tennessee with vibrant cities
- Swap the limited job market of Montana for diverse job opportunities in Tennessee
- Get ready for low altitude comfort in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Montana to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning landscapes in Montana to live with less natural beauty in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor activities and have to settle for the con of fewer hiking trails
- Time to bid farewell to low population density and get used to a more crowded Tennessee
- Swap friendly communities for higher crime rates
Montana vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison steak | BBQ ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Elk burgers | Hot chicken |
Most popular street food item | Huckleberry desserts | Pulled pork sandwiches |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil chili | BBQ jackfruit |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Bison steak of Montana for the equally delicious BBQ ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Elk burgers and sumptuous Huckleberry desserts, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot chicken and Pulled pork sandwiches 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 BBQ jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like The Bull Mountain Grille, Ciao Mambo, and Buck's T-4 Lodge. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Pancake Pantry, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and The Peabody Memphis.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee, compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Tennessee
Comparison | Montana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Rustic, Mountain | Traditional, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | "Big Sky views", "Access to nature" | "Close to amenities", "Family-friendly neighborhoods" |
- The Rustic and Mountain architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Traditional and Colonial architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference 'big sky views' and 'access to nature', Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like 'close to amenities' and 'family-friendly neighborhoods'.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Tennessee housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Montanaβs $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Tennessee is 19.29% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Tennessee
Comparison | Montana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F/45Β°F | 89Β°F/68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F/10Β°F | 49Β°F/30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60" | 5" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 1% more sunshine days than Montana.
- Tennessee 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 tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 9 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 Tennessee. Tennessee receives 35 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Tennessee
Comparison | Montana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 6.9% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 0.7% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 7.0% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Energy | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 4% less than in Montana
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 11% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in Montana
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and moderate in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Montana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Strongly Conservative |
Local Politics | Mixed urban liberal trends, rural conservative views | Urban areas more liberal, rural areas predominantly conservative |
Religion | Christianity predominant, but with a strong sense of religious freedom and diversity | Heavily Christian, with a significant influence of the Baptist tradition |
- Montana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Conservative
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as heavily Christian with a significant influence of the Baptist tradition
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity but with a strong sense of religious freedom and diversity
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Tennessee
Comparison | Montana | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana Montana State University Carroll College | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Middle Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary (Bozeman) Cold Springs Elementary (Missoula) Arrowhead School (Pray) | Lipscomb Academy Elem (Nashville) Campus School (Memphis) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Chief Joseph Middle School (Bozeman) East Middle School (Great Falls) | Meigs Magnet Middle (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Houston Middle School (Germantown) |
Top 3 High Schools | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Sentinel High School (Missoula) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Carroll College High School (Helena) Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) Great Falls Central Catholic (Great Falls) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula International School (Missoula) Foothills Community Christian School (Great Falls) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) University School of Nashville (Nashville) The Webb School (Bell Buckle) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman Public Schools Billings Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools | Williamson County Schools Oak Ridge City Schools Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do Montana to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 1,795 miles from Montana to Tennessee will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,220 | 300 ft3 | $7.40 |
1 Bedroom | $3,308 | 450 ft3 | $7.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,475 | 750 ft3 | $7.30 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,975 | 1100 ft3 | $7.25 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,521 | 1600 ft3 | $7.20 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,871 | 1800 ft3 | $7.15 |
Top Montana to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Montana to Tennessee