Movers

New York to Montana Moving Guide

Updated June 7, 2025

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Planning a 2,124 mile interstate move from New York to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like New York-Style Pizza vs Buffalo Steak), real estate & housing (high-rise, brownstone vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to New York-Style Pizza and Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Buffalo Steak & Elk Burgers
  • Montana housing costs are 1% less expensive than they are in New York
  • Rent in Montana is 43.60% more affordable than in New York
  • Moving from New York to Montana will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
  • Our top recommended New York to Montana movers is JP Urban Moving

New York to Montana Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Montana

ConsNew York iconNew York
  • High cost of living
  • Dense population
  • Noisy environment
  • Heavy traffic congestion
  • Limited outdoor activities
ProsMontana iconMontana
  • Lower cost of living
  • More open spaces
  • Peaceful surroundings
  • Lighter traffic
  • Abundant outdoor activities

Montana iconMontana
  • Less cultural diversity
  • Fewer job opportunities
  • Limited public transit
  • Quiet nightlife
  • Fewer dining options
New York iconNew York
  • Diverse culture
  • Broad employment options
  • Public transportation
  • 24/7 nightlife
  • Variety of dining

Pros of moving from New York to Montana

  • Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
  • Look forward to moving away from a dense population and moving to Montana with more open spaces
  • Swap the noisy environment of New York for peaceful surroundings in Montana
  • Get ready for lighter traffic in Montana

Cons of moving from New York to Montana

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a diverse culture in New York to live with less cultural diversity in Montana
  • You'll lose out on the pro of broad employment options and have to settle with the con of fewer job opportunities
  • Time to bid farewell to public transportation and get used to limited public transit in Montana
  • Swap 24/7 nightlife for quiet nightlife

New York vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonNew YorkMontana
Most iconic local food itemNew York-Style PizzaBuffalo Steak
Most popular meat dishPastrami on RyeElk Burgers
Most popular street food itemHot DogsHuckleberry Hand Pies
Most popular vegan foodBagels with Avocado SpreadWild Mushroom Stew
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Katz's Delicatessen
  • Carmine's Italian Restaurant
  • Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
  • Rainbow Ranch Lodge
  • Lula Montana
  • Buck's T-4 Lodge
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10)πŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10)🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene (out of 10)🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly (out of 10)🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from New York to Montana, you will be trading the iconic New York-Style Pizza of New York for the equally delicious Buffalo Steak of Montana. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami on Rye and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Montana residents know they have tasty Elk Burgers and Huckleberry Hand Pies to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Bagels with Avocado Spread they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Mushroom Stew of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Carmine's Italian Restaurant, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Rainbow Ranch Lodge, Lula Montana, and Buck's T-4 Lodge.

When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana, compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Montana

ComparisonNew YorkMontana
Typical Architecture StyleHigh-rise, BrownstoneRanch, Craftsman
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingProximity to subway, ViewsMountain views, Acreage
  • The High-rise and Brownstone architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Montana.
  • Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to subway and views, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and acreage.
  • You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Montana is less walkable than New York.
  • You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Montana is less bike-friendly than New York.
  • Montana has less of an urban feel than New York.
  • Montana housing costs are 1% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to New York’s $460,812.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
  • Rent in Montana is 43.60% more affordable than in New York.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Montana

ComparisonNew YorkMontana
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersHurricanes, Nor'eastersWildfires, Snowstorms
Air QualityGood to ModerateGood to Very Good
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)82Β°F / 62Β°F85Β°F / 50Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)39Β°F / 26Β°F34Β°F / 17Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)49.915.3
Annual Snowfall (Inches)25.384.6
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to Montana. Montana gets 8% fewer sunshine days than New York.
  • Montana has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
  • Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in New York, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and snowstorms in Montana.
  • The average summer high temperature in Montana is 3 degrees warmer than in New York.
  • The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in New York.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 34.6 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.

Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Montana

ComparisonNew YorkMontana
Avg. Household Income$79,557$67,631
Cost of Living Index102.899.4
State Income Tax4% - 10.9%1% - 6.75%
Avg. Property Tax1.4%0.85%
Avg. Sales Tax4% - 8.875%0%
Top 3 IndustriesFinance, Health Care, Professional ServicesAgriculture, Tourism, Energy
AffluenceHighModerate
PovertyModerateModerate
HomelessnessNoticeableLess Noticeable
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 15% less than those in New York
  • The COLI in Montana is 3% lower than what you are used to living in New York
  • The state income tax in MT is 1% to 6.75% compared to 4% to 10.9% in NY
  • The affluence in Montana is moderate compared to high in New York
  • The poverty level is moderate in Montana compared to moderate in New York
  • In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in New York and less noticeable in Montana

Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Montana

ComparisonNew YorkMontana
Political Make-upLiberal/Democratic-leaningConservative/Republican-leaning
Local PoliticsDiverse with strong urban influenceRural-centric with emphasis on land and gun rights
ReligionMixed, with no single majority; strong Catholic and Jewish communitiesMore homogeneous, predominately Christian (Protestant)
  • New York tends to lean Liberal/Democratic-leaning in its political climate
  • Montana, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican-leaning
  • Montana's religious environment can be described as more homogeneous and predominately Christian (Protestant)
  • New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with no single majority and strong Catholic and Jewish communities

How Much Do New York to Montana Movers Cost?

Moving 2,124 miles from New York to Montana 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 - $8,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$2,407300 ft3$8.02
1 Bedroom$3,587450 ft3$7.97
2 Bedrooms$5,942750 ft3$7.92
3 Bedrooms$8,6591100 ft3$7.87
4 Bedrooms$12,5151600 ft3$7.82
5+ Bedrooms$13,9901800 ft3$7.77

Top New York to Montana Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
JP Urban Moving featured image

JP Urban Moving

Best moving company overall for New York to Montana

9.85/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Metropolis Moving featured image

Metropolis Moving

9.72/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Flex Moving and Storage featured image

Flex Moving and Storage

9.70/10
ExceptionalView details
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