Pennsylvania to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,925 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like overcrowded cities vs open spaces), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Huckleberry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs ranch, log cabin), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pork and Sauerkraut, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberry Pie & Bison Burger
- Montana housing costs are 75% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in Montana is 5.03% more affordable than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to Montana will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to Montana movers is Pittsburgh Moving
Pennsylvania to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to Montana
- Overcrowded cities
- High cost of living
- Tough winters
- Heavy traffic
- Limited outdoor activities
- Open spaces
- Affordable living
- Mild weather
- Less congestion
- Outdoor adventures
- Less historical sites
- Lesser diversity
- Fewer job markets
- Quieter lifestyle
- Limited transit options
- Rich history
- Diverse culture
- Abundant job opportunities
- Vibrant city life
- Public transportation
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to Montana
- Say goodbye to overcrowded cities and hello to open spaces
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Montana with affordable living
- Swap the tough winters of Pennsylvania for mild weather in Montana
- Get ready for less congestion in Montana
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Pennsylvania to live with fewer historical sites in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle for the con of lesser diversity
- Time to bid farewell to abundant job opportunities and get used to fewer job markets in Montana
- Swap vibrant city life for a quieter lifestyle
Pennsylvania vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pork and Sauerkraut | Bison Burger |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Elk Sausages |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Soup | 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 Pennsylvania to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Huckleberry Pie of Montana. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pork and Sauerkraut and sumptuous Pretzels, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison Burger and Elk Sausages to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Soup 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 Pennsylvania eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Zahav, and Vetri Cucina. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Cattleman's Cut Steakhouse, Huckleberry's Jam House, and The Last Best Plates.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and Montana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Ranch, Log Cabin |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Mountain views, Acreage |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Log Cabin architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, 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 Pennsylvania.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Montana is less bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- Montana housing costs are 75% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in Montana is 5.03% more affordable than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and Montana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | 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, Snowstorms | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Good to Moderate) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 82/49 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37/21 | 34/15 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 15 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 55 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to Montana. Montana gets 15% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- Montana has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and snowstorms in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Montana.
- The average summer high temperature in Montana is 3 degrees colder than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 27 fewer inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and Montana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 3.07 | 6.9 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.50 | 0.85 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34 | 0.00 |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Finance | Agriculture, Tourism, Wood Products |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Lower | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 6% less than in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in Montana will be 0% lower than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in MT is 6.9 compared to 3.07 in PA
- The affluence in Montana is modest compared to moderate in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is higher in Montana compared to moderate in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in Pennsylvania and moderate in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. Montana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Lean Conservative |
Local Politics | urban areas lean more Democratic | Republican strongholds in rural areas |
Religion | Christianity dominant, diverse religious communities | Christianity predominant, less religious diversity |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean swing State in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as lean Conservative
- Montana's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with less religious diversity
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to Montana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Pennsylvania Penn State University Temple University | University of Montana Montana State University Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Gilbertsville Elementary Blue Bell Elementary Bradford Heights Elementary | Hawthorne Elementary Cold Springs Elementary Chief Charlo Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haverford Middle School Radnor Middle School Charles F. Patton Middle School | Sacajawea Middle School Chief Joseph Middle School East Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School Conestoga High School Central High School | Bozeman High School Hellgate High School Sentinel High School |
Top 3 private high schools | The Haverford School The Baldwin School Episcopal Academy | Carroll College High School Mount Ellis Academy Great Falls Central Catholic High School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Agnes Irwin School Germantown Friends School Friends' Central School | Missoula International School Valley Christian School Petra Academy |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Radnor Township School District Lower Merion School District | Bozeman High School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,925 miles from Pennsylvania to Montana 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: 1-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,294 | 300 ft3 | $7.65 |
1 Bedroom | $3,418 | 450 ft3 | $7.60 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,660 | 750 ft3 | $7.55 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,246 | 1100 ft3 | $7.50 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,914 | 1600 ft3 | $7.45 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,313 | 1800 ft3 | $7.40 |
Top Pennsylvania to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to Montana