Oregon to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 869 mile interstate move from Oregon to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oregon vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Marionberry pie vs Huckleberry pie), real estate & housing (craftsman vs ranch-style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Marionberry pie and Grilled salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberry pie & Bison steak
- Montana housing costs are 8% less expensive than they are in Oregon
- Rent in Montana is 20.18% more affordable than in Oregon
- Moving from Oregon to Montana will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Oregon to Montana movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Oregon to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oregon to Montana
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Overcrowded parks
- Rainy weather
- Affordable housing
- Quieter roads
- Expansive nature
- Sunny skies
- Less cultural variety
- Limited restaurant options
- Fewer entertainment spots
- Rural distances
- Diverse culture
- Farm-to-table dining
- Portland nightlife
- Public transport
Pros of moving from Oregon to Montana
- Say goodbye to high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Montana with quieter roads
- Swap the overcrowded parks of Oregon for expansive nature in Montana
- Get ready for sunny skies in Montana
Cons of moving from Oregon to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from diverse culture in Oregon to live with less cultural variety in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of farm-to-table dining and have to settle for the con of limited restaurant options
- Time to bid farewell to Portland nightlife and get used to fewer entertainment spots in Montana
- Swap public transport for rural distances
Oregon vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oregon | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Marionberry pie | Huckleberry pie |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled salmon | Bison steak |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Elk burgers |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu scramble | Quinoa salad |
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 Oregon to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Marionberry pie of Oregon for the equally delicious Huckleberry pie of Montana. And while the locals in Oregon rave about their flavorful Grilled salmon and sumptuous Tacos, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison steak and Elk burgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu scramble they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa salad of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oregon eateries like Pok Pok, Salt and Straw, and Voodoo Doughnut. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like The Bozeman Chophouse, Cattlemen's Bar and Grill, and Mackenzie River Pizza Co.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oregon. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Oregon. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oregon and Montana
Comparison | Oregon | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Ranch-style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Eco-friendly features | Large plots of land |
- The Craftsman architecture that Oregon is known for will be replaced with Ranch-style architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Oregon's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like large plots of land.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Montana is less walkable than Oregon.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Montana is less bike-friendly than Oregon.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Oregon.
- Montana housing costs are 8% less expensive than they are in Oregon, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Oregonβs $497,946.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 39% increase in Oregon.
- Rent in Montana is 20.18% more affordable than in Oregon.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oregon and Montana
Comparison | Oregon | 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 | Floods, Earthquakes | Wildfires, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 35Β°F | 30Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 15 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 67 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oregon to Montana. Montana gets 31% more sunshine days than Oregon.
- Montana has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oregon.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Oregon, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and blizzards in Montana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 5 degrees warmer than Oregon.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees colder than they are in Oregon.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 27 fewer inches of rain compared to Oregon.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oregon and Montana
Comparison | Oregon | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $75,657 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 110.55 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 9.9% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.1% | 0.8% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Tourism, Agriculture | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 11% less than in Oregon
- The COLI in Montana will be 10% lower than what you are used to living in Oregon
- The state income tax in MT is 6.9% compared to 9.9% in OR
- The affluence in Montana is modest compared to moderate in Oregon
- The poverty level is moderate in Montana compared to low in Oregon
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Oregon and less visible in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Oregon vs. Montana
Comparison | Oregon | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Republican-leaning |
Local Politics | Mixture of liberal & conservative, cities lean liberal | Conservative, with some liberal pockets |
Religion | Less religious overall, diverse religious communities | More religious, Christian majority |
- Oregon tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning
- Montana's religious environment can be described as more religious with a Christian majority
- Oregon's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Oregon to Montana
Comparison | Oregon | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Findley Elementary - Portland Jacob Wismer Elementary - Portland Bonny Slope Elementary - Portland | Hawthorne Elementary - Bozeman Chief Joseph Elementary - Great Falls Cold Springs Elementary - Missoula |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Stoller Middle School - Portland Lake Oswego Junior High - Lake Oswego Cedar Park Middle School - Beaverton | Sacajawea Middle School - Bozeman Washington Middle School - Missoula Bozeman Middle School - Bozeman |
Top 3 High Schools | International School of Beaverton - Beaverton Lake Oswego High School - Lake Oswego Corvallis High School - Corvallis | Bozeman High School - Bozeman Sentinel High School - Missoula Hellgate High School - Missoula |
Top 3 private high schools | Catlin Gabel School - Portland Oregon Episcopal School - Portland Valley Catholic School - Beaverton | Missoula International School - Missoula Foothills Community Christian School - Great Falls Petra Academy - Bozeman |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Delphian School - Sheridan Catlin Gabel School - Portland Oregon Episcopal School - Portland | Missoula International School - Missoula Petra Academy - Bozeman Montana Christian Academy - Kalispell |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Oswego School District Riverdale School District Corvallis School District | Bozeman School District Missoula County Public Schools Helena School District |
How Much Do Oregon to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 869 miles from Oregon to Montana 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Portland Movers Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,695 | 300 ft3 | $5.65 |
1 Bedroom | $2,520 | 450 ft3 | $5.60 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,163 | 750 ft3 | $5.55 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,051 | 1100 ft3 | $5.50 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,721 | 1600 ft3 | $5.45 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,721 | 1800 ft3 | $5.40 |
Top Oregon to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oregon to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for Oregon to Montana