Virginia to Montana Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 2,059 mile interstate move from Virginia to Montana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Montana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like heavy traffic vs less congestion), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Huckleberries), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs mountain modern, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Virginia Ham and Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Huckleberries & Bison steak
- Montana housing costs are 18% more expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Montana is 23% more affordable than Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Montana will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Montana movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Montana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Montana
- Heavy traffic
- Higher cost of living
- Humid summers
- Urban sprawl
- Densely populated
- Less congestion
- Affordable housing
- Cooler summers
- Open spaces
- Low population density
- Fewer historical sites
- Remote location
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited amenities
- Fewer job opportunities
- Rich history
- Proximity to D.C.
- Diverse culture
- Modern amenities
- Varied job market
Pros of moving from Virginia to Montana
- Say goodbye to heavy traffic and hello to less congestion
- Look forward to moving away from the higher cost of living and moving to Montana with affordable housing
- Swap the humid summers of Virginia for cooler summers in Montana
- Get ready for open spaces in Montana
Cons of moving from Virginia to Montana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historical sites in Montana
- You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to D.C. and have to settle for the con of a remote location
- Time to bid farewell to the diverse culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Montana
- Swap modern amenities for limited amenities
Virginia vs. Montana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Huckleberries |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue | Bison steak |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Elk Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Peanut Soup | Lentil Chili |
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 Virginia to Montana, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Huckleberries of Montana. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Barbecue and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Montana residents know they have tasty Bison steak and Elk Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Peanut Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Chili of Montana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint, The Savory Grain, and Mama J's Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in Montana, don't wait too long before making your way to Montana's acclaimed eateries like Buck's T-4 Lodge, Ciao Mambo, and 2nd Street Bistro.
When comparing lifestyles, Montana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Montana compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Montana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Montana
Comparison | Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Mountain Modern, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Washington D.C., historic landmarks | Access to nature, scenic views |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Modern and Ranch architecture typical of Montana.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to Washington D.C. and historic landmarks, Montana real estate listings often highlight features like access to nature and scenic views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Montana is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Montana is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Montana has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Montana housing costs are 18% more expensive than they are in Virginia with a median home price of $456,199 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Montana have increased by 71% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Montana is 23% more affordable than Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Montana
Comparison | Virginia | 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, Flooding | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 66Β°F | 82Β°F / 49Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 27Β°F | 30Β°F / 10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 14" | 90" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Virginia to Montana. Montana gets 8% fewer sunshine days than Virginia.
- Montana has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in Virginia, and be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Montana.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Montana is 4 degrees colder than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows in Montana are 17 degrees colder than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Montana. Montana receives 29 fewer inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Montana
Comparison | Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $67,631 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 99.4 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 0.84% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Government | Agriculture, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Lower |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Very Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Montana tend to earn about 21% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Montana will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in MT is 6.9% compared to 5.75% in VA
- The affluence in Montana is lower compared to moderate affluence in Virginia
- The poverty level is moderate in Montana compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and very low in Montana
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Montana
Comparison | Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal, tends to lean Democratic in federal elections | Conservative, generally votes Republican in federal elections |
Local Politics | Mix of conservative and liberal, depending on the region | Local politics can vary, but generally maintain a conservative lean |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with a diverse mix of other faiths | Largely Christian, with a significant presence of Evangelical Protestants |
- Virginia tends to lean moderately liberal and tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Montana, on the other hand, is often described as conservative and generally votes Republican in federal elections
- Montana's religious environment can be described as largely Christian with a significant presence of Evangelical Protestants
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominates with a diverse mix of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Montana
Comparison | Virginia | Montana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University | Montana State University University of Montana Montana Tech |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School Arlington; Stenwood Elementary School Vienna; Nottingham Elementary School Arlington | Hawthorne Elementary School Bozeman; Chief Joseph Elementary School Great Falls; Cold Springs Elementary School Missoula |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; Henley Middle School Crozet; Rocky Run Middle School Chantilly | Sacajawea Middle School Bozeman; Washington Middle School Missoula; East Middle School Great Falls |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; Maggie Walker Governor's School Richmond; McLean High School McLean | Bozeman High School Bozeman; Hellgate High School Missoula; Sentinel High School Missoula |
Top 3 private high schools | The Madeira School McLean; Potomac School McLean; St. Christopher's School Richmond | Billings Central Catholic High School Billings; Missoula Loyola Sacred Heart High School Missoula; Great Falls Central Catholic High School Great Falls |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Flint Hill School Oakton; Norfolk Academy Norfolk; Collegiate School Richmond | Petra Academy Bozeman; Stillwater Christian School Kalispell; Missoula International School Missoula |
Top 3 School Districts | Fairfax County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools | Bozeman Public Schools Billings Public Schools Missoula County Public Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to Montana Movers Cost?
Moving 2,059 miles from Virginia 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,370 | 300 ft3 | $7.90 |
1 Bedroom | $3,532 | 450 ft3 | $7.85 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,849 | 750 ft3 | $7.80 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,524 | 1100 ft3 | $7.75 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,319 | 1600 ft3 | $7.70 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,769 | 1800 ft3 | $7.65 |
Top Virginia to Montana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Montana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.