Montana to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 742 mile interstate move from Montana to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Montana vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Huckleberries vs Jell-O), real estate & housing (ranch/cabin vs craftsman/modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Huckleberries and Bison steak, but get your taste buds ready for Jell-O & Fry sauce with everything
- Utah housing costs are 14% more expensive than they are in Montana
- Rent in Utah is 19.50% more expensive than in Montana
- Moving from Montana to Utah will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Montana to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
Montana to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Montana to Utah
- Cold winters
- Limited city amenities
- Fewer job opportunities
- Older infrastructure
- Milder winters
- More urban amenities
- More job opportunities
- Modern infrastructure
- Higher cost of living
- More crowded cities
- Fast-paced cities
- More transient
- Scenic beauty
- Less congestion
- Tranquil lifestyle
- Strong community
Pros of moving from Montana to Utah
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited city amenities and moving to Utah with more urban amenities
- Swap the fewer job opportunities of Montana for more job opportunities in Utah
- Get ready for modern infrastructure in Utah
Cons of moving from Montana to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the scenic beauty in Montana to live with a higher cost of living in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of less congestion and have to settle with the con of more crowded cities
- Time to bid farewell to a tranquil lifestyle and get used to fast-paced cities in Utah
- Swap a strong community for a more transient one
Montana vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Montana | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Huckleberries | Jell-O |
Most popular meat dish | Bison steak | Fry sauce with everything |
Most popular street food item | Pasties | Navajo tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Lentil Chili | Vegan Mormon Funeral Potatoes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Montana to Utah, you will be trading the iconic Huckleberries of Montana for the equally delicious Jell-O of Utah. And while the locals in Montana rave about their flavorful Bison steak and sumptuous Pasties, Utah residents know they have tasty Fry sauce with everything and Navajo 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 Mormon Funeral Potatoes of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Montana eateries like MacKenzie River Pizza Co., The Last Best Place, and The Grizzly Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Red Iguana, SLC Eatery, and Rainbow Sky.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Montana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Montana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Montana and Utah
Comparison | Montana | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch/Cabin | Craftsman/Modern |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Open space | Proximity to parks, Energy efficiency |
- The Ranch/Cabin architecture that Montana is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman/Modern architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Montana's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open space, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to parks and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Utah is more walkable than Montana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than Montana.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Montana.
- Utah housing costs are 14% more expensive than they are in Montana, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Montana's $456,199.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 71% increase in Montana.
- Rent in Utah is 19.50% more expensive than in Montana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Montana and Utah
Comparison | Montana | Utah |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Wildfires, Floods | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Varies by region |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 82°F / 45°F | 90°F / 62°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 34°F / 17°F | 37°F / 20°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 90 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Montana to Utah. Utah gets 16% more sunshine days than Montana.
- Utah has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Montana.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in Montana, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 8 degrees warmer than in Montana.
- The average winter lows in Utah are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Montana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Utah. Utah receives 5 more inches of rain compared to Montana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Montana and Utah
Comparison | Montana | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,631 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.4 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 6.9% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 4.85% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining | Technology, Education, Healthcare |
Affluence | Average | Above Average |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 32% more than those in Montana
- The COLI in Utah is 4% lower than what you are used to living in Montana
- The state income tax in UT is 4.95% compared to 6.9% in MT
- The affluence in Utah is above average compared to average in Montana
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to moderate in Montana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Montana and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Montana vs. Utah
Comparison | Montana | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed, with regional variances | Conservative, with some liberal enclaves |
Religion | Christian majority, with Protestant and Catholic presence | LDS (Mormon) majority, with other Christian denominations |
- Montana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Utah's religious environment can be described as an LDS (Mormon) majority with other Christian denominations
- Montana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a Protestant and Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Montana to Utah
Comparison | Montana | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Montana - Missoula Montana State University - Bozeman Montana Tech - Butte | University of Utah - Salt Lake City Brigham Young University - Provo Utah State University - Logan |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Hawthorne Elementary - Bozeman Chief Joseph Elementary - Bozeman Rattlesnake Elementary - Missoula | Edgemont Elementary School - Provo Canyon Crest Elementary - Provo Avenues Elementary - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Sacajawea Middle School - Bozeman Washington Middle School - Missoula Lewis and Clark Middle School - Billings | Foothill Elementary School - Orem Centennial Middle School - Provo Indian Hills Elementary School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 High School Schools | Bozeman High School - Bozeman Helena High School - Helena Billings Senior High - Billings | Timpview High School - Provo Alta High School - Sandy East High School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 private high schools | Billings Central Catholic High School - Billings Loyola Sacred Heart High School - Missoula Missoula International School - Missoula | Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City Waterford School - Sandy Juan Diego Catholic High School - Draper |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Petra Academy - Bozeman The Missoula International School - Missoula Valley Christian School - Missoula | The Waterford School - Sandy Juan Diego Catholic High School - Draper Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 School Districts | Bozeman Public Schools - Bozeman Billings Public Schools - Billings Missoula County Public Schools - Missoula | Alpine School District - American Fork Davis School District - Farmington Salt Lake City School District - Salt Lake City |
How Much Do Montana to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 742 miles from Montana to Utah 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: 4-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: 801 Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,623 | 300 ft3 | $5.41 |
1 Bedroom | $2,412 | 450 ft3 | $5.36 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,983 | 750 ft3 | $5.31 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,787 | 1100 ft3 | $5.26 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,337 | 1600 ft3 | $5.21 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,289 | 1800 ft3 | $5.16 |
Top Montana to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Montana to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.