So, you’re curious about living in Montana? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Montana.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Montana matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Montana is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Montana
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Montana is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Montana:
- The snow, the mountains and natural beauty.
- A low cost of living in most areas.
- Tremendous recreation opportunities within a short distance from just about anywhere!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Montana:
- Changing weather conditions can be unpredictable at times with freezing cold temperatures during any season of the year.
- The winters are long and dark.
- The summer days here are generally warm but without humidity or heavy rainstorms like other states experience for much of the year.
Read More: Is Montana a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Montana
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Montana? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Montana!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Montana.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Montana:
- Bozeman
- Miles City
Read More: Best Places to Live in Montana
Checklist for Moving to Montana
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Montana. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Montana.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Montana:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Montana driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Montana
- Getting Montana car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Montana and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Montana.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Montana and your previous home state.
Visit your Montana Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Montana Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Montana.
Things to Know About Living in Montana
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Montana, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Montana
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Montana ranks 28th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 100, meaning it’s a relatively average costing place to live.
Here is how Montana scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries:103.1
- Housing: 105.9
- Utilities: 88.1
- Transportation: 95.3
- Health: 98.8
- Miscellaneous: 98.6
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Montana
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Montana from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
There is no sales tax in Montana.
Check with the Montana tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Montana
If you own or plan to own real estate in Montana, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Montana ranks 20th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.84%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Montana tax office for the most current tax rates.
Montana’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Montana is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Montana ranks 48th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Professional and business services
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Wholesale trade
- Finance and insurance
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in Montana is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Montana
Our Montana moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Montana is Going-to-the-Sun Road.
National Parks that you can visit in Montana include:
- Glacier National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Montana include:
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- Pompeys Pillar National Monument
- Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Montana
Montana is the 41st state of the United States that lies in the western region. To its north is Canada, to its south is Wyoming, to its east is North Dakota, and to its west is Idaho.
What is the capital of Montana?
The capital of Montana is Helena.
Helena is located in Lewis and Clark County with a population of 28,190.
What is the population of Montana?
The population of Montana based on 2020 US Census data is 1,084,225.
What is the largest city in Montana?
The largest city in Montana is Billings.
Billings has a population of 116,827, and it is located in Yellowstone County.
What is the size of Montana?
Montana is 147,039 square miles, making it the 4th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Montana?
The state motto of Montana is: Oro y plata
What is the state bird of Montana?
The state bird of Montana is the Western meadowlark.
What is the state flower of Montana?
The state flower of Montana is the Bitterroot.
What is the state tree of Montana?
The state tree of Montana is the Ponderosa Pine.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Montana?
The minimum wage in Montana is $8.75 per hour.
What is the median income in Montana?
The median annual household salary in Montana is $55,328.