Moving to Montana from Australia

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Australia to Montana — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Australia to Montana, you would find that Montana is 10.2% more expensive than Australia overall. A A$108,774 salary in Australia would need to be roughly $75,553 in Montana to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helena averages 58°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Australia to Montana.

What does your salary buy?

A$108,774 $75,553

To maintain the same standard of living in Montana

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 8.4% more

Groceries

pay 21.9% more

Transportation

pay 18.8% less

Housing

pay 29.0% more

Childcare

pay 37.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 7.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate:1 AUD = 0.6895 USD(June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Montana cost about 11% more than cities in Australia.

Australia

Montana

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Montana

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Australia to Montana, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
3,500 ↓ 8% vs 2022

people moved from Australia to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Australia to Montana.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rateThe World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

AU
29.0%
MT
31.8%

Australia performs better than Montana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessThe World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

AU
96.0%
MT
88.7%

Australia performs better than Montana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateThe World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
3.7%
MT
3.7%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AU
$59,500
MT
$52,945

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Montana leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AU
83.1 yrs
MT
76.8 yrs

Australia performs better than Montana across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

CanberraRain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67°/44°F

Avg. annual high / low

HelenaRain: 11.2 in/yr (285 mm)
58°/33°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsCanberraHelena
Jan–Mar80°/54°F (26°/12°C)40°/18°F (4°/-8°C)
Apr–Jun61°/39°F (16°/4°C)67°/41°F (19°/5°C)
Jul–Sep56°/35°F (13°/1°C)81°/50°F (27°/10°C)
Oct–Dec73°/47°F (23°/9°C)45°/22°F (7°/-6°C)
View all months
MonthCanberraHelena
Jan82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)33°/13°F (0.7°/-10.6°C)
Feb81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)39°/17°F (3.7°/-8.4°C)
Mar76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)48°/24°F (9.0°/-4.3°C)
Apr68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)58°/32°F (14.3°/0.1°C)
May60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)67°/41°F (19.5°/4.9°C)
Jun54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)76°/49°F (24.3°/9.2°C)
Jul52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)86°/54°F (29.8°/12.4°C)
Aug55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)85°/52°F (29.2°/11.2°C)
Sep61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)73°/43°F (22.6°/6.2°C)
Oct67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)59°/33°F (14.8°/0.3°C)
Nov72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)43°/22°F (6.2°/-5.6°C)
Dec79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C)32°/12°F (-0.2°/-11.2°C)

Data: Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Australia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Australia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Montana than Australia?

Costs in Montana and Australia are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Montana?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,888 in Montana on a A$108,774 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Montana?

Usually fine from major cities in Montana. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Montana compared to Australia?

Australia performs better than Montana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Montana compared to Australia?

The average high temperature in Helena is 58°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Helena receives around 11.2 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.

What language do they speak in Montana?

Both Australia and Montana share the same official language: English.

Share this

At a Glance

AU
Population26,141,369989,415
CurrencyAustralian Dollar (A$)United States Dollar ($)
LanguagesEnglishEnglish
Driving sideLeftRight
Calling code+61+1
Time zones811
Emergency number000911