Extreme weather, limited economic opportunities, and minimal amenities in rural areas are just several reasons you might regret moving to Montana. But it’s the surprisingly dismal access to healthcare that might finally convince you to stay away.
Big Sky Country is beautiful. There’s no denying that Montana’s quiet wilderness has a certain charm—plus, there’s no sales tax. But before you relocate, you should think carefully about whether you are ready for lengthy winters, rugged DIY, and a car-dependent lifestyle.
Here to get you up to speed on the biggest drawbacks of life in Montana is Jerry
, the super app
that simplifies car
and home insurance
shopping. Let’s dive into the top six reasons that people regret moving to Montana. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
1. Extreme weather and extreme wildlife
Montana is spacious and rugged, with extreme weather conditions all year round. The average temperature in January is 0°F. Although there are two separate climate regions in the east (Rocky Mountains) and west (prairies) parts of the state, you’re guaranteed to find more extreme hots and colds than in most other parts of the country.
In winter, expect feet of snow on the ground and ice on the roads for months and months on end, thanks to cold air coming down from Canada. You may even need special equipment, like an engine heater, to keep your car operating in the depths of winter blizzards. Plus, Montana road closures skyrocket in extreme weather conditions. In spring, roads turn to gumbo
. In summer, once it’s safe to venture out again, you’ll be faced with thunderstorms, wildfires, and high temperatures—and this dangerous weather is only going to increase
due to climate change. In fact, Montana is one of the 10 states at the highest risk
for home damage due to wildfire. If extreme weather isn’t enough to make you regret moving to Montana, what about extreme wildlife? Moose, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, wolves, and elk are commonplace in Big Sky Country. Locals have learned to live alongside their wild neighbors, hunting and hiking, and traveling with a bear safety kit. But for the uninitiated, Montana’s wild creatures can be downright threatening.
Consider instead: South Dakota
If you want to experience all four seasons without worrying about grizzly bear encounters, try moving to South Dakota instead. You’ll still get hot summers and cold winters, but this smaller state has a lower wildfire risk, less scary wildlife, and more access to services.
2. Difficulty accessing healthcare
If you are an able-bodied young person without a family, Montana’s lack of healthcare may not be a concern for you. But what if you have kids, become seriously ill, or end up retiring in Montana?
Montana is 36th overall among all U.S. states for healthcare—and Montana ranks 44th for quality of healthcare. There are large rural swathes
of Montana where access to healthcare is difficult. You may have to drive more than one hour to reach a clinic, or even two hours to reach a proper hospital. Consider instead: Minnesota
Where Montana ranks low for quality and access to healthcare, nearby Minnesota ranks much higher at 16th overall. Although Minnesota is small, it has 100 rural health clinics compared to Montana’s 61 rural health clinics.
3. Life in rural Montana is isolated, so amenities are limited—and get ready to DIY!
Social isolation is no joke in rural Montana. Lack of amenities and social networks can lead to poor health outcomes
, like loneliness and even drug use. But even if you are resilient and resourced, it can still be a daily struggle to get needs met in rural Montana. Let’s start with basic survival. Cell service can be patchy, so you won’t be able to call for help if you need it. If you lose power in a storm, you may need a generator to provide electricity. Snowy backcountry roads are unlikely to be plowed immediately—unless your neighbors are kind enough to help out with a plow attachment.
If you want mail delivery, trash pick up, or doorside school bus pick up for your kids, you will not find these amenities in rural Montana. Cowboy up and do it yourself! Nightlife and arts & culture are equally hard to come by in some parts of the state. While you can find a local dive bar and a community theater in most Montana towns, you’ll have to drive to a bigger city to go dancing or attend the ballet.
Montana locals know how to help each other through difficult situations, and the DIY culture here is real. After all, if you don’t get it done, no one is coming to help you! Make do or do without.
Consider instead: Idaho or Washington
If you want to enjoy the great outdoors—but also want someone else to pick up your garbage from the curb—consider moving to Idaho or eastern Washington. Just like Montana, these Pacific states offer plenty of delightfully remote wilderness. But unlike Montana, you’re almost guaranteed to be within sight of some type of city and all its amenities.
MORE: Car loan in Washington
4. Economic opportunities are limited to certain industries
Since 2020, more than 26,000 jobs have been created in Montana. If you are ready to embrace a career in cattle farming, mineral extraction, or oil & gas engineering, then you can probably find a job in Montana. But if industries like energy production, agriculture, forestry, and mining do not appeal, then Montana’s booming
economy may not offer you much. Tourism is another vital industry in Montana. With Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks situated here, millions of visitors come to enjoy Montana’s wide open spaces every year. Though locals complain about the influx of slow drivers, this injection of tourist cash is a major source of economic growth in Montana.
Consider instead: Utah
Utah has economic opportunities in all the same industries as Montana, including mineral extraction, agriculture, energy production, and tourism. But Utah also has jobs in manufacturing, aerospace, government services, data management, and digital media. Even better, Utah had the 2nd highest GDP growth in 2018.
5. Cost of living in Montana is higher than you might think
You may think that rural life is guaranteed to be more affordable than city life. Yes, there’s no sales tax in Montana. But although the cost of living in Montana is just close to the national average, you’ll still pay a lot for transportation costs, healthcare, food, and housing. There is a dire housing shortage, too, thanks to out-of-towners buying up property.
Sure, you could set up a homestead, bake bread, and never leave home. But you will still need to pay for new equipment to help you survive life in Montana: a four-wheel drive vehicle to get around in winter, an engine heater to get your car started, a snow plow attachment, a winter emergency car kit
, outdoorsy gear, and winter and summer tires, for starters. Consider instead: Wyoming or Nebraska
With less extreme weather and a lower cost of living, Wyoming and Nebraska are excellent choices if you want to pay less for rural life. The cost of living index in these two states are 94.3 and 93.7, respectively—and food costs are even lower in Nebraska than in Wyoming.
MORE:Tips for moving out of state
6. Long commutes, if you need to travel to a city for work
This won’t apply to everyone, but you will definitely regret moving to Montana if your commute triples or quadruples. After all, there are no light rail or bus systems to get you from a rural area into the big city. Since there’s no mass transit, you will have to spend hours in the car just to commute to work and run errands.
In Big Sky, for instance, the Chamber of Commerce estimates that 83% of the workforce commutes into the city because they can’t find affordable housing near their place of employment.
Disregard this point if you live in a rural area or telecommute, as backcountry traffic is pretty non-existent—unless you get stuck behind a bunch of cows or prairie maggots (aka sheep). If you are someone who must show up at work in person, then think carefully about whether a long commute will cause you to regret moving to Montana.
Consider instead: Iowa or Kansas
If you desire clear roads and minimal commute time, Iowa and Kansas might be a good choice. The average commute times are lower in these states, and public transit options are more readily available. Wherever you live, remember that living rurally does require some sacrifices—and a long commute might be an unavoidable part of your new life.
How to save on car insurance in Montana
Moving to a new state is a big deal. If you are considering a move, we hope this article helped you confront the realistic disadvantages of life in Big Sky Country.
Car insurance in Montana
is mandatory. We promise you’ll be glad to have coverage if you get into a fender bender with a moose or if you need roadside assistance on a particularly icy road that sends your outfit into a borrow pit
.
Unlike chipping your vehicle out of an ice block, it is not a good idea to DIY insurance shopping. To find the right policy, use the Jerry
app for fast, easy, and free insurance shopping. With Jerry, you can be smug about finding the absolute lowest rate—like Montana residents who feel (legitimately) smug about paying no sales tax. Get help from your smart friend Jerry. And if you have already relocated to Montana and you’re facing another lengthy winter, we empathize. At least you can snack on Rocky Mountain Oysters and sip a whiskey ditch until the spring comes around again.
“I was nervous to buy insurance for my first car because I had heard horror stories about the insurance prices in Montana. After not even two minutes, I found four quotes from Jerry
under $125/month. By the end of the night, I was on the road safe and insured!” —Reuben R. 
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