New York to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

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
- High cost of living
- Dense population
- Noisy environment
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Limited outdoor activities
- Lower cost of living
- More open spaces
- Peaceful surroundings
- Lighter traffic
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer job opportunities
- Limited public transit
- Quiet nightlife
- Fewer dining options
- 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
Comparison | New York | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | New York-Style Pizza | Buffalo Steak |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami on Rye | Elk Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Huckleberry Hand Pies |
Most popular vegan food | Bagels with Avocado Spread | Wild Mushroom Stew |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 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
Comparison | New York | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | High-rise, Brownstone | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to subway, Views | Mountain 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 Yorkβs $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
Comparison | New York | Montana |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Nor'easters | Wildfires, Snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 62Β°F | 85Β°F / 50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 39Β°F / 26Β°F | 34Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 15.3 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 84.6 |
- 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
Comparison | New York | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 4% - 10.9% | 1% - 6.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% - 8.875% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Health Care, Professional Services | Agriculture, Tourism, Energy |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less 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
Comparison | New York | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic-leaning | Conservative/Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Diverse with strong urban influence | Rural-centric with emphasis on land and gun rights |
Religion | Mixed, with no single majority; strong Catholic and Jewish communities | More 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 SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,407 | 300 ft3 | $8.02 |
1 Bedroom | $3,587 | 450 ft3 | $7.97 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,942 | 750 ft3 | $7.92 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,659 | 1100 ft3 | $7.87 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,515 | 1600 ft3 | $7.82 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,990 | 1800 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.