How Much Does It Cost to Move to Montana? Movers vs. U-Pack vs. Truck Rental

Last updated: October 2026

Part of our Moving to Montana guide →

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The short answer: most long-distance moves cost from a couple thousand dollars to about $10,000. Angi’s 2026 data puts the national average for a cross-country move at $4,566, with most people paying $2,388 to $6,868 (Angi). Doing it yourself with a rental truck usually costs least in quoted price. Full-service movers cost the most. Pack-it-yourself options like U-Pack fall in between. Your actual price depends mostly on distance, how much you’re moving, and when you move. Montana adds a few twists of its own: long distances, mountain passes, winter weather, and a 4% tax on trucks rented inside the state.

No company publishes standard prices for moves into Montana. Every quote is custom, so the most reliable number is one you get for your own route and date. Below are the best published figures we could find and what drives the price.

The three main ways to move, compared

Cost ranges: Angi, “How Much Does It Cost to Move Across the Country?” (updated Oct. 2, 2026). These are national figures based on projects reported by Angi pros, not Montana-specific. U-Pack pricing basis: U-Pack.

Angi’s cross-country cost ranges by home size run from $700–$3,000 for a studio or one-bedroom to $1,800–$10,000 for a four-bedroom home. Movers charge an average of $0.50 to $0.80 per pound (Angi).

Real published quotes (and who published them)

The most detailed recent side-by-side comparisons come from U-Pack itself. Keep in mind that U-Pack is one of the companies being compared. Still, the line items show where the money goes.

Rental truck vs. U-Pack, 1,700-mile move (Salt Lake City to Nashville), quoted for October 2026:

Source: U-Pack, “How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moving Truck One Way?” (Aug. 21, 2026). U-Pack based its fuel estimates on AAA average prices in August 2026. The truck totals don’t include your own lodging and meals on the road.

Other U-Pack-published figures:

• Trailer price ranges (quoted for March 2026): 340 miles, $1,075 (5 linear feet) to $3,187 (whole trailer). 875 miles, $1,573 to $5,027. 2,260 miles, $3,379 to $9,825. U-Pack trailers have 28 linear feet of space, and a whole trailer typically fits a 3–4-bedroom home (U-Pack).
• ReloCube containers: as of July 2026, U-Pack said a single-ReloCube move averaged $2,100 (U-Pack).

Sample routes to Montana

The distances below are approximate driving distances from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), calculated October 19, 2026. We don’t list prices for these routes, because any price depends on your move date, how much you’re moving and the company. Use the ranges above as a guide, then get written quotes for your own route and date.

Distance source: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

What drives the price on a Montana move

1. Distance and weight. Angi calls these the two biggest cost factors. With movers, you pay largely by the pound (Angi). Moving less is the easiest way to save.

2. Season. Summer is the peak and most expensive time to move. Winter generally has the lowest rates, and midweek moves can cost less than weekends (Angi). In Montana, a cheaper winter move also means winter roads (see below).

3. Fuel and road time for DIY moves. In U-Pack’s 1,700-mile example, estimated fuel alone ran $694 to $1,026, depending on the truck (U-Pack). Montana is big and towns are far apart, so budget for fuel, motels and meals on the way.

4. The 4% Montana rental vehicle tax. If you rent a truck or trailer in Montana (under 22,000 lb gross vehicle weight, for under 30 days), Montana charges 4% on the base rental charge (MT DOR). A one-way truck you rent in another state falls under that state’s taxes instead. More on Montana’s point-of-sale taxes: Does Montana Have Sales Tax? What New Residents Actually Pay.

5. Mountain passes and chain rules. The Montana Department of Transportation can require chains on designated passes at any time of year. When it does, vehicles towing a trailer must chain one drive axle. AutoSocks are an approved alternative. Designated passes include Lookout Pass at the Idaho line, Homestake Pass near Butte, and Bozeman Hill on I-90, plus Marias Pass on US-2 and MacDonald Pass on US-12. From Oct. 1 to April 30, towing units of 26,001 lb GVW or more must carry chains in those areas unless they have four-wheel drive (MDT). Check MDT 511 road reports before each driving day.

6. Add-ons. Angi lists typical 2026 costs for extras: storage at about $100–$450 a month, furniture assembly or disassembly at $35–$90 per piece, and move-out cleaning at $120–$420. Moving insurance usually costs 1%–2% of your belongings’ value (Angi). If you’re arriving before you have keys, storage can add up fast.

Protect yourself if you hire movers

Federal rules for interstate movers are worth knowing before you sign:

• Binding vs. non-binding estimates. With a binding estimate, you can’t be required to pay more than the estimate at delivery, except for services you add later and certain “impracticable operations” charges. With a non-binding estimate, be ready to pay up to 110% of the estimate at delivery. Any remainder is billed later. Impracticable-operations charges due at delivery can’t exceed 15% of the other charges (FMCSA).
• A “rate quote” is not an estimate. Movers must give you a written estimate, and if you’re within 50 miles of the mover’s office, it must be based on a physical survey unless you waive that in writing (FMCSA).
• Know your coverage. Full Value Protection is the default. Released Value is free but pays at most 60 cents per pound per item. FMCSA’s example is a 25-lb TV, which would bring just $15 (FMCSA).
• File damage claims in writing within 9 months of delivery (FMCSA).

Can you deduct moving costs?

For most people, no. On federal returns, the moving-expense deduction applies to active-duty Armed Forces members moving under military orders and, starting in 2026, certain intelligence-community employees (IRS Topic 455). This is general information, not tax advice.

Costs after you arrive

Budget for Montana vehicle registration, which new residents must complete within 60 days (MT MVD). Annual light-vehicle registration runs $217 (0–4 years old), $87 (5–10 years) or $28 (11+ years), plus a county option tax and fees (MT MVD). Also get new auto and home or renters insurance for your Montana address. The full arrival timeline is in Moving to Montana in 2027: Costs, Best Towns & Timeline. For the documents and deadlines in order, see our Moving to Montana checklist.

What it costs once you live here: Bozeman, Missoula, Billings and Kalispell and the Flathead Valley.

If your lease or closing starts after you arrive, budget for a few nights of temporary lodging. A weekly-rate hotel or a furnished vacation rental can bridge the gap. A furnished rental of 30 or more continuous days is exempt from Montana’s 8% lodging tax (MT DOR).

Which option should you pick?

• Tight budget, small household, comfortable driving a big truck over passes: a rental truck, but price in fuel, coverage, fees and motels.
• You’ll pack but don’t want to drive a truck through the mountains: a trailer or container service like U-Pack.
• Large home, tight schedule, or physical limits: full-service movers. Get at least three written estimates, as Angi recommends, and ask for a binding one.

Sources

1. Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Move Across the Country? (2026 data, updated Oct. 2, 2026): https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-long-distance-move-cost.htm
2. U-Pack, How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Moving Truck One Way? (Aug. 21, 2026): https://www.upack.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-a-moving-truck-one-way
3. U-Pack, How Much Does a U-Pack Moving Trailer Cost? (Jan. 30, 2026): https://www.upack.com/articles/how-much-does-u-pack-moving-trailer-cost
4. U-Pack, How Much Does a ReloCube Cost? (July 8, 2026): https://www.upack.com/articles/how-much-does-a-relocube-cost
5. OSRM routing engine (OpenStreetMap data), distances calculated Oct. 19, 2026: https://project-osrm.org/
6. Montana DOR, Rental Vehicle Tax: https://revenue.mt.gov/taxes/miscellaneous/rental-vehicle-tax
7. Montana Department of Transportation, Tire and Chain Laws: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/chains.aspx
8. MDT 511 Travel Info: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/
9. FMCSA, Estimating Charges (Subpart D): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/how-to/subpartD
10. FMCSA, Liability & Protection: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/consumer-protection/protect-your-move/are-you-moving/liability-protection
11. IRS Topic 455, Moving expenses: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455
12. Montana MVD, Vehicle Registration: https://mvdmt.gov/vehicle-registration/
13. Montana MVD, Light Vehicle Registration and Fees: https://mvdmt.gov/vehicle-registration/light-vehicle-registration-and-fees/

Cole Bennett edits MontanaHelp, a research-driven guide to moving to and living in Montana. Articles cite official and public sources and are updated as rules and data change. AI tools help research and draft them; a person runs the editorial process and spot-checks one article from each batch before it’s published.

AI tools helped research and draft this article. A person runs MontanaHelp’s editorial process and spot-checks one article from each batch before it’s published.