Tennessee to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,795 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs crisp mountain air), food & health (like Memphis BBQ vs Bison Burgers), real estate & housing (victorian, craftsman vs rustic, cabin), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Montana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Memphis BBQ and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Bison Burgers & Elk Steak
- Montana housing costs are 44% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Montana is 16.17% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Montana will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Montana movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Montana
- High humidity
- Traffic congestion
- Few outdoor activities
- Urban sprawl
- Severe storms
- Crisp mountain air
- Quieter roads
- Abundant hiking trails
- Wide open spaces
- Milder weather
- Limited theater options
- Cold, snowy winters
- Fewer social gatherings
- Fewer dining options
- Fewer historic sites
- Rich cultural scene
- Warm winters
- Southern hospitality
- Famous restaurants
- Historic landmarks
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Montana
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to crisp mountain air
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Montana with quieter roads
- Swap the few outdoor activities of Tennessee for abundant hiking trails in Montana
- Get ready for wide open spaces in Montana
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a rich cultural scene in Tennessee to live with limited theater options in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of warm winters and have to settle for the con of cold, snowy winters
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to fewer social gatherings in Montana
- Swap famous restaurants for fewer dining options
Tennessee vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Memphis BBQ | Bison Burgers |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Elk Steak |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Tacos | Huckleberry Pie |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich | Wild Mushroom Stew |
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 Tennessee to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Memphis BBQ of Tennessee for the equally delicious Bison Burgers of Montana. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous Gourmet Tacos, Montana residents know they have tasty Elk Steak and Huckleberry Pie to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich 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 Tennessee eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and Husk Nashville. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like The Last Best Steakhouse, Huckleberry House, and Bison CafΓ©.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Montana
Comparison | Tennessee | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Craftsman | Rustic, Cabin |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Storage space, hardwood floors | Mountain views, acreage |
- The Victorian and Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Rustic and Cabin architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference storage space and hardwood floors, 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 Tennessee.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Montana is less bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Montana housing costs are 44% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased 71% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Montana is 16.17% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Montana
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 85/50 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 34/17 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 15-30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 50-300 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to Montana. Montana gets 9% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Montana has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in Montana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 4 degrees colder than Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 39 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Montana
Comparison | Tennessee | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 4% more than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Montana will be 12% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to MT, you'll now have a state income tax of 6.9%
- The affluence in Montana is moderate compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is low in Montana compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Tennessee and low in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Montana
Comparison | Tennessee | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Mixed, with a slight Republican lean |
Local Politics | Urban areas more Democratic, rural areas Republican | Rural dominance with Republican lean, but with some Democratic strongholds |
Religion | Largely Protestant with significant Evangelical presence | Diverse, with Protestant Christianity being predominant |
- Tennessee tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a slight Republican lean
- Montana's religious environment can be described as diverse with Protestant Christianity being predominant
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Protestant with a significant Evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Montana
Comparison | Tennessee | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lakewood Elementary School (White House) Clovercroft Elementary School (Franklin) A. Z. Kelley Elementary School (Nashville) | Bozeman Field School (Bozeman) Hawthorne Elementary School (Bozeman) Cold Springs Elementary School (Missoula) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) West End Middle School (Nashville) Farragut Middle School (Knoxville) | Sacajawea Middle School (Bozeman) Washington Middle School (Missoula) East Middle School (Great Falls) |
Top 3 High Schools | Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) | Bozeman High School (Bozeman) Hellgate High School (Missoula) Sentinel High School (Missoula) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) The Ensworth School (Nashville) | Missoula International School (Missoula) Bozeman Summit School (Bozeman) Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School (Knoxville) Franklin Classical School (Franklin) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | Petra Academy (Bozeman) Missoula Valley Montessori (Missoula) Foothills Community Christian School (Great Falls) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge City Schools | Bozeman High School District Missoula County Public Schools Billings Public Schools |
How Much Do Tennessee to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,795 miles from Tennessee 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: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,220 | 300 ft3 | $7.40 |
1 Bedroom | $3,308 | 450 ft3 | $7.35 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,475 | 750 ft3 | $7.30 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,975 | 1100 ft3 | $7.25 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,521 | 1600 ft3 | $7.20 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,871 | 1800 ft3 | $7.15 |
Top Tennessee to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Montana