Every day I read about more and more people wanting to move to my lovely state of Colorado. In fact, so many people are moving here that I decided to relaunch my blog Colorado Luv Hub to share my love of the state and discuss all of the wonderful things living here offers its citizens. So you want to move to Colorado? Here are some money-related issues that you need to consider.
But, I also started to notice that people don’t seem to have all of the facts about life in Colorado so I thought I would share some thoughts about living here and things you should think about before making the big move.
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Colorado is NOT Cheap
Since I live here I am used to the prices and economize in a lot of ways that keep my expenses pretty low. But, Colorado as a place to live is not cheap. There is a lifestyle that people are living and even though it absolutely doesn’t include fashion it includes a lot of things that people might not be paying for before moving here.
In fact, when I was in Australia which is notoriously expensive I found groceries and other items to be similar in cost to what I pay in Denver. That’s alarming.
So here are some thoughts on lifestyle costs you might need to consider if you move here.
Rize
Start saving for your move (or next trip) to Colorado with Rize! I love this savings platform. It’s similar to Digit-but, you have control over how much money you save each month. I broke up with Digit for Rize. You can boost your savings, and save towards different goals. Check out Rize and start saving today! Once you finish setting up your savings account you’ll receive $10 towards your savings goal!
The Colorado Lifestyle Includes:
I am not saying that everyone does everything on the list that I’m about to share. But, most people will do a couple of things on this list.
- Going to watch sporting events-Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Avalanche, or the Colorado Barbarians (there’s a huge rugby league) I haven’t even included the local college teams. We love to watch sports. So, it’s highly likely that you will end up going to a sporting event several times throughout the year.
- Weekends in the Mountains-We go to the mountains A LOT. If you are fortunate enough to have a place to stay or a friend with a place to stay in the mountains you will spend time there. That cost includes: activities, eating out, gas, and equipment
- Day Trips To the Mountains-Again, we go to the mountains A LOT. You will have to factor in gas, food, and meals for day trips.
- Gear-We participate in a lot of activities which you may need to: borrow, rent, or purchase gear for. I have: A snowboard/snowshoes/jackets, a bike, golfing stuff, and a few items for camping. Gear is huge here. Click this link to check out the price of this North Face jacket. You’ll see what I mean!
- Happy Hours-The warmer it gets the more we hang out on patios outside and go to happy hour.
- Skiing-I should lump this together with a couple of the other line items but you have to factor in ski passes which aren’t cheap. I am also hoping that the ski train will come back!
But wait, there’s more!
- Going to the Theater/Museums/etc.-There is a thriving theater and arts scene in Colorado. We have the second largest theater complex in the U.S. (located in Denver) I have seen: Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Lenny Kravitz, the Blue Man Group, The Color Purple, and the list goes on at our theater complex. I plan to see Motown with my mom next month. Those tickets add up
- Watching Live Music-Red Rocks ROCKS!! We are finally getting a lot of great music. I missed seeing Prince two years ago because I was out of the country. Those tickets were $200+ yes…I would have paid it-it’s Prince and he was in a 500 person venue.
- Eating Out-I will be the first to admit that when I was a kid the food in Denver was…BLAH! Awful and boring. Not anymore. I can’t believe how good the food scene is here. I can’t keep up with the high-quality food that is being produced and sourced locally. We have a number of chefs in the running for the Jame’s Beard award this year which is astonishing to me to think about.
- Participating in Athletic Events (Seriously)-This is not a stereotype. You will have friends who are running, biking, and doing triathlons. You will then be compelled to do at least a Glitter Run. Really.
RELATED Post: Listen to Square State:
My podcast about all things Colorado!
The Colorado Spring/Summer Tool Kit
There are a several things that Coloradans can’t live without as the months get warmer. It’s extremely dry, doesn’t rain that much, and the sun is…intense. Colorado has a dry heat and while there are days that native Coloradans consider humid-people from the East Coast/South/Mid-West/Northwest….will think we’re crazy.
But, you will always need to have the following: sunblock, sunglasses, lip balm (I have one in every purse and coat) and a water bottle. Always, carry a water bottle. And, many people would also include a hat on the list too.
Housing Is Expensive In The Denver/Boulder Metro Area
Housing is very expensive and somewhat difficult to get in the Denver/Boulder metro area. In fact, last week The Denver Post reported that Denver and San Francisco have equal rates of inflated costs when looking at housing. Not cool.
Zillow even reported that in order afford housing the average person should be making around $35 dollars an hour. And, according to Rentjungle.com the average rental is around $1484 a month in the Denver Metropolitan area and around $1776 in Boulder.*Boulder is now the most expensive place to rent in Colorado. One bedroom apartments average around $2,000 a month.*
Housing is expensive, it’s super competitive and to be honest-most people want to live near Downtown or along the light rail lines. All of those options are expensive.
Please keep this in mind before you just pick up and move.
The Job Market Is Competitive
Do NOT come here without a job unless you have free housing for at least 3 months or at least 3-6 months of expenses set aside. It is very, very competitive. Be willing to do some things in the interim until you find the job you really want.
If you’re the type of person who can get a feel of a new town quickly, will look for opportunities daily, and aren’t shy about networking-I think you will be fine. But, if you prefer not to hedge your bets-I have just the tool for you to aid in your job search.
Hired.com
For those of you who work in technology-related fields (or, support roles) sign up for Hired.com.
Colorado has a thriving and growing tech community and companies are constantly looking for qualified individuals to fill available jobs. We current have the lowest unemployment in the United States-in the past 40-years! This is both good and bad. It’s good for you because we need qualified people to get our work done! If you’re interested in working in one of the following roles:
- Software engineer
- Designer
- Product Manager
- Data scientist
Or, in a role that is related to this type of work-sign up for Hired.com today! Not ready to move yet? Hired will help you find a job in a community near you!
Ibotta
If you love to eat like I do-get started saving on your groceries and other purchases with the Ibotta Savings App. You could even place your savings into a Colorado or Bust fund!
Ibotta is a Colorado-based company that is also always hiring people (it’s growing crazy fast). When you sign up with my affiliate code and redeem your first savings you will receive $10 towards your first payout.
I LOVE this app-and you can sign up for it now. Sign up for Ibotta today and start saving!
Should You Move to Colorado?
I’ve lived in a lot of different places, but love living in Colorado. But, I grew up here and I think that part of why I love it is specifically because the majority of my personal history is from here. Likewise, it is highly likely that if I grew up elsewhere I would feel just as deeply for that place. That said, I’ve noticed that the following people always live in Colorado for a short amount of time-and then move home.
- People who grew up next to the ocean or in a rainy place. Eventually, Colorado’s arid climate and lack of water drives these people crazy.
- New Yorkers-If you need a ton of people around you…Colorado won’t be the place for you.
- Your family lives in another state and you’re super close to them. I have a friend who is moving back to the mid-West because they miss their family. I also have a number of friends who have moved their parents to Colorado. This is a big deal-especially once kids arrive.
- You aren’t into “the Colorado lifestyle” Like every place that you live in-there is a lifestyle. If you’re not excited about hiking, happy hours, beer, dogs, skiing, time in the mountains, training for a race, or some combination of these interests-Colorado will eventually get old real quick.
But, you may still enjoy it for a year or two.
This Advice Is Transferable
This advice is not just for Denver, it’s for moving to any new city that you’re unfamiliar with. Take the time to do your due diligence.
- Research your new town
- Look at the cost of living
- Figure out a budget
- Think about the time of year you would like to move
- What are you willing to do to make money? Legally. Jeez-people! How hard are you willing to work to get things up and running?
- Look at childcare
- The actual cost of the move
- Gas Prices
- Grocery costs-We have the following stores: Safeway, Albertsons, King Soopers, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage, and Sunflower Market
There are a ton of ways to save money living in Colorado and I will share that information in another post.
Are You Thinking of Moving To Colorado?
Click on the picture to buy the guide (it’s an Amazon ebook on Kindle)
Also, Check Out My Other Blog-it‘s all about Colorado!
www.squarestateco.com
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Well as you know at one point I was. And I think you know the reasons why I’m not moving now, but it will always be on my short list that’s for sure!
I know! I think you made the right choice. I am happy to be back though. I got really homesick towards the end of my trip.
I’m Colorado born and raised and have been living in Connecticut for the past four months. I have to say I find Colorado to be extremely cheap and spacious in comparison to Connecticut! You could argue that I find it cheap because I’m not that into Colorado sporting events nor skiing, etc., but I’m talking about just getting by, not entertainment or luxury expenses. (In fact, most of my friends in Colorado do not do the things you mentioned very often at all.) My husband and I could live well in Colorado on just one income; in Connecticut with just one income, we would struggle to pay basic rent and utility bills, and that’s in a house half the size we’d have out west. The good life is in Colorado!
Connecticut is tricky because the housing is much more expensive! There’s lots of different types of lifestyles in Colorado…once I start living in the mountains half the year I will update my list LOL! I grew up here though and it is much more expensive than it used to be and the costs are climbing. Maybe I find it expensive because of where I live and what I do…but, I think that a lot of people moving here who aren’t from the East Coast are surprised by the cost of living. I’ve heard it more than once. So, that’s why I thought it would be a good idea to write a post about it. And, yes, the Good Life is in Colorado.
What type of job do you and your spouse have?
I’m a nurse and he’s an engineer.
Those housing prices sound more like Australia, too.
I’m not likely to move to Colorado but I’d love to visit one day.
Good luck with the revival of your Colorado blog – don’t forget to give us a link!
The housing prices are getting out of control. My friend that I visited in Sydney still can’t believe how much the prices have gone up here (she used to live here). So, I find myself emailing articles to her about changes to the cost of living here. It’s a great place-if you visit contact me! Here’s the link: http://www.coloradoluvhub.info
Sydney prices are crazy and the rest of Aus is close behind. I’ll definitely let you know!
As you know, we just moved here and have been loving it so far. While some things are more expensive, the taxes (income, personal property, home, and sales) are significantly cheaper than in Missouri.
I didn’t realize how much more we were paying there! In Missouri, we were paying $2,000 a year in property taxes for our cheap house, whereas I found that in many of the towns we are interested in Colorado, the rate would be less than $600 a year for our same home value. Also, we pay over $2,000 a year in personal property taxes for both of our cars, and I am about to register them here in Colorado and our price will only be around $750.
You’re the second person to say this. Maybe it helps to be outside of the Denver/Boulder metro area…and not directly in the mountains! I’m super excited to hear that you’re paying less for these other expenses. Love it!
I’ve compared the property taxes to many different towns, including Boulder, Denver, and more, and it’s still pretty similar to the cheap town that we live in now. Missouri is actually one of the highest taxed states, which I didn’t realize until I recently did some research.
We did notice that our health insurance costs will go up. Colorado is one of the highest health insurance states!
I had no idea! You wouldn’t believe how many people talk about how expensive it is in Colorado.
Oh it’s definitely more expensive in Colorado than in many other places. The lower taxes here just makes it sting a little less 🙂
Thanks for clearing that up! I was beginning to get confused LOL!
Colorado seems very inexpensive compared to New Jersey. We have been doing research and seems there’s more opportunity in Colorado. Try $10,000 a year for taxes, and paying $1500 a month for medical insurance that doesn’t cover much.
All I know is that over time people still complain about the rising prices. Just have a job before you get here and good luck!
We are from NJ looking to move to CO. My husband is trying to get transferred within his company. In our research, we’ve found that the actual housing is about the same but the property taxes are way less. We pay about $7300 a year in property taxes. I’d much rather pay more for my actual house than in taxes. I’ve also heard utilities are less there as well and you don’t have the humidity in the summer that we have whic makes it easier not to run the AC. Not to mention just quality of life in general.
I’ve never thought about air conditioning because I didn’t grow up with it LOL! A lot of people who really grew up here didn’t have air conditioning so that’s a cost I never even thought about. I just open the windows or use a fan-that works perfectly in the summer. It will be colder longer than in NJ btw-we actually have fairly long winters but thy aren’t that bad and we enjoy winter activities. Just come with a job. That’s my number one tip. I’ve just noticed a lot of people in a world of hurt who come here without a job. Good luck!!
Colorado is nice, but since I live close by (western KS) I can visit whenever I want (for the most part) and I can avoid some of the pains of living there.
And-you have good bbq!!
I have actually had a group of my friends just move to Colorado. They did it on a whim, but so far so good.
It’s a great place to live but I think people think it’s cheaper than it really is. Also, they just moved during the snowiest month of the year LOL! But, the snow melts pretty fast in March.
Great tips about moving to Colorado! These are definitely things to consider before making the move. Thanks for sharing!
There are a ton of people moving here..but, I think that some people don’t have the entire picture of what to expect. I hope this helps if you’re considering a move 🙂
Wouldn’t you say that rating a city based on how expensive it is has to do with what you’re comparing it to? We live in Chicago and I assure you that Colorado is cheaper!
Denver is probably more expensive than you think-but, you’re completely right that if it depends on where you’re coming from. My mother works with the homeless and a large number of the people that she works with have said they were shocked by how expensive it is here. People are moving here for jobs and not totally prepared for the reality. The property upstairs from min just sold for $40,000 over the asking price-so things are amping up here.
My husband and I want to move to Colorado from VA, but we’re not interested in the Denver area. We just really want a fresh start and we both feel this would be the perfect place to do it. We don’t have any kids, just our pets. I’m lucky enough to have a job that lets me work from home, so my husband would be the one needing a new job. Not really sure where to even start…sigh.
There are a lot of wonderful towns. Just take a road trip around the state. Check out: Gunnison/Crested Butte, Frisco/Breckenridge, Fruita, Telluride, Lafayette, Fort Collins, Estes Park. There are a lot of smaller sized towns in gorgeous locales with nice people and plenty to do.
Great post! Although it was like a smack in the face! 🙂
So I am shocked at the cost of living! I live in AZ….Where is rent under $750 for a one bedroom?!?! lol I’m a personal trainer, and I could use a lead on location in the surrounding areas of Denver, and a local reference! Thanks!!
Ha! Um, there is no rent for under $750 🙂 It doesn’t exist anymore in Denver. You could pay that if you had a roommate (which isn’t so bad). If the rent is that cheap it’s probably in an area you don’t want to live in. Ahem.
My girlfriend and I plus my other roommate all live together here in Missouri and have been wanting to move to Colorado for a fresh start. I know it will be a little more expensive but the jobs pay more in Colorado. we are think of moving to boulder, I read your tips above and was wondering if you have anymore for a fist time person moving outta state? just want to prepare myself as much as possible and have a plan of action.
Did you subscribe to receive the free Moving Guide that I created? Just fill out the subscriber info in the box at the bottom of the post. Please note: Boulder’s rentals are basically rented out for the Fall because CU Boulder (University of Colorado Boulder) students have already leased their housing for the Fall 2015 semester. I used to work for the university and grew up in Boulder so I am very familiar with rental practices in Boulder. Check out the guide I think it will answer some of your questions.
yup just got the guide! Thanks for the info! I plan on starting college again to go back for a nursing degree. I read that the university hospital in Denver is one of the highest paid hospitals in the U.S.
That’s fantastic!! It IS a good hospital. Sending you good vibes. Keep me posted.
Thanks I will!
Subscribing now…. We are saving up our dollars for a move out west. I am in the process of getting my Colorado teaching license and once that completes and hubby gets a job, we can get the heck out of South Florida!
Hopefully it’s helpful! Wishing you good luck-let me know how it goes!
My fiancé and I are thinking about to move up there. How often it snows up there and is it cool during the summer days?
Snow depends on the year-but if you’re from a warm weather state please note: Colorado is known for skiing-we will have winter 🙂 It’s pretty nice though because it’s sunny. As for summer-it’s usually pretty nice this summer has been a little cooler than usual but we have a normal summer. The temperature range for summer is between 70’s-100+ usually falling in the high 80’s up to the mid 90’s.
We were from east coast and we moved to nm so we decide to move to Colorado to bring our Home climate back in us with four full seasons and snow too. We miss them all! Do you know any of good midtown in north Colorado that we are trying to find. 🙂 thanks!
Maybe Fort Collins? I think you should just visit for 2 weeks and explore.
My wife and I are thinking about moving to Colorado. I was wondering how is Aurora, Colorado?
I am not a fan of Aurora…but a lot of people like it. It does have good food! I would spend two weeks traveling to the different cities to see what’s a good fit 🙂
Hi I’m a truck driver originally from Arkansas. I’ve traveled almost all of the United States and I really love Colorado I was thinking the Aurora or commerce city area right outside Denver. If I decided to move up their. I wanted to know a few pointers. I’m big on research I’ve visited a couple of times looked at prices not to bad for me higher then Arkansas but it’s not much here 😕😕😕😕
I’m 23 no kids
Job security isn’t a problem I can have a great paying job
Just want to know your opinion on the Aurora Area??
You been their your whole life so I know your opinions are great for me 🤔🤔🤔
Hi Travaris, I know a ton of people who absolutely love Aurora! There’s a ton of cool stuff being developed there, Amazon is opening a huge distribution center, the university has a huge campus there and the Stanley Marketplace is cool. The light rail has expanded through Aurora and connects with the Train to the Plane (train to DIA). Tons of great, inexpensive international food, and nice people. Now, you do have to understand that people have regional prejudices based on where they grew up-so, I will own up and say that Aurora is not for me. BUT, I’m not the one who is moving there. If you’re able to, I would encourage you to get an AirBnB and stay in Aurora for a couple of weeks and check it out.
Please shut down website Colorado is full
LoL!
Hello. My girlfriend, my mother in law, and myself are going to be looking for an apartment/house in or around the Denver or Colorado Springs area. Currently live in a less than 800 sq foot home. I was wondering if for the high price, would you normally get a spacious, well made home? In Missouri some of our houses aren’t built very well, so I was wondering if that was something you knew about.
I would just recommend that you come and visit before settling on a place. That way you won’t be taking on a place that you haven’t seen before. It’s worth the money to visit. Check out Frontier Airlines for inexpensive tickets (I’ve seen some good deals recently).
Great advice!! My husband and I moved to Colorado earlier this year, and I have to say, it was the best decision we have ever made! It’s true that there are a lot of aspects that make Colorado expensive, but…. hiking and exploring the mountains are relatively free (and amazing exercise)! I also have to say, as a Realtor in the Denver metro who talks to a lot of people, I have seriously met some of the nicest people in this state 🙂 I will definitely be following Colorado Luv Hub!
Thanks Annie! I hope you’re having a great time here. I’m very glad that you’ve had a great transition. I also enjoy hiking and exploring…and exploring Breckenridge LOL! Wishing you lots of success and a continued reasonably warm real estate market. And, yes, we’re pretty nice here 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful blog, Michelle! My girlfriend and I are 99% sure the Denver metro will be in our 2016 future, coming from Tennessee where the quality of life is decreasing. My company will allow me a transfer to our Denver office so I will be OK financially but the cost of my next home will be twice as expensive as what I pay now. From the research and traveling I have done with/to Denver, there isn’t a huge increase in cost of living outside of real estate. As someone mentioned before, taxes are less (half of what I pay now), gas prices are the same and groceries weren’t any different. State tax will be new to me (TN is tax free) as well as vehicle registration taxes but I’m confident the rest of the costs won’t be much different. I do fear the attitude of some locals who don’t like the influx and increased rent/real estate but I believe they would do the same thing in my situation. Not everyone is a free loader who wants legal weed and has no respect for nature. Some of us in neighboring states have weak employment opportunities, crappy nature and are surrounded by low IQs, I absolutely love hiking the Rockies and will bring nothing but love and respect to CO from TN!
Thanks for your encouragement and kind words Kevin! I’m glad that you’ll be coming here with a job. I think you would be amazed at how many searches land on my blog that say the following “move to Colorado without a job.” I am sick of the pot heads moving here-I don’t think that they don’t understand why the law was passed here. We are a live and let live state. But, with great freedom comes great responsibility. I hope you have an amazing experience if you get a chance to move here-it’s pretty great 🙂
Would love to live in Colorado! A piece of my heart is there. Except for the mountain expenses the rest doesn’t seem very different than the lifestyle in my hometown, Chicago.
The lifestyle is definitely different LOL! I just got back from an extended trip to Chicago in November (have relatives in Central Illinois) and I can comfortably say that we do thing differently here. Chicago is a lovely city! I had forgotten how beautiful the architecture is!! It was a little too cold for me to go to the lake and hang out but I will be there again in July so I can’t wait to ride a bike along the lake.
I meant the things you mentioned. As far as expenses..Sporting events, we got plenty of those, happy hour, great restaurants, theater.. Just meant we spent a lot of $$$ on these things too! 🙂 And thanks our architecture is lovely. I love my city. Haha just wish I could have a home in Colorado, too! 😉
Thanks Josselly! Sometimes things get lost in translations when communicating via computer. I really loved Infinity Park! Denver needs to step up its cool park “game.”
Hi, I’ve lived in CO for 8 years and have never been skiing or gone to a sports event. So you can save money there if you are not into those things. Plus many people (like me)in CO like me are totally into fashion! Many in CO are a very creative and expressive people and we also express that through what we wear.
I grew up in Colorado too! It’s nice to hear from other Natives 🙂 I love how the fashion scene is growing. I’m hoping to get to the Spring fashion shows in 2016. Thank you for sharing that-I hadn’t even thought about sharing that information. You rock!
We moved to Colorado Springs almost a year ago and I absolutely love living in Colorado! Only an hour away from Denver! So close to the mountains, it’s great!
I’m happy you’ve had a good experience so far! I love going to Garden of the Gods btw. If you haven’t been to the Royal Gorge or taken the Cog Rail on Pike’s Peak make sure you add that to your list.
My husband and I are seriously considering moving to Colorado, so I am trying to research as much as I can. I love the state and when we visit I just feel at home! When I talk to locals… whether they moved there recently or have lived their whole lives there… it amazes me how everyone is so passionate about how much they love it! I live in Nebraska right now and I love this state, it will always be my home. But I can’t say that when someone asks me about living here, I am THAT excited about it. lol! Based on all the research I’ve done, I get that there is a higher cost of living, but I feel like salaries are also a lot higher compared to where we live (at least in the job fields we are looking into…) so I think there is some balance there when it comes to cost of living for basic necessities. I am sure that the vast amount of activities and a certain lifestyle can really add on $$ though. And completely agree… we will not move out there until we have secured jobs. Which is challenging since a lot of people we talk to tell us to contact them AFTER we move. Um ok! lol! We just feel that this is our time to try it though. We don’t have kids, we aren’t glued to careers here, and we are just ready for a new adventure. Wish us luck!
It’s so funny because I get teased about how much I love Colorado! But, I’ve also visited 44 of the United States so I feel pretty good about having a broad experience of the United States and knowing where I would like to live permanently. I also run a website about Colorado that has languished because I’ve been so busy with The Shop My Closet Project. You may want to emphasize that you only live in Nebraska which is just one state over. Jeez people! That’s a super easy move. It’s a great place to live and I feel very fortunate. I’m absolutely wishing you good luck and keep me posted!
Also living in NE and wanting to move to colorado in maybe 9-12 months with my partner…next summer or early fall. I have a lot of options for jobs and ideas of what I can do, but just deciding on WHAT to do…as well as looking at areas to live. I grew up outside of Omaha, and Omaha’s not a big city anyway, so moving to the Denver metro may be a bit of a change, but you gotta start somewhere. After a while living in CO I’d want to start up back in grad school, so that could change where I live.
What are your thoughts on living in West Denver or NW Denver area? There’s so many places to check out – and like your advice, I’ve driven thru Denver this past spring and will visit again next spring to look at more places. I’m more of an outdoorsy, environmental person, so any job that takes me outdoors and teaching or working with the environment would work great. Again, just figuring out WHAT and WHERE are the big questions for me. Not worried about much else, as I’ll have enough money saved up and a source of income from a business here in Omaha.
BTW – great article and great blogs! Thanks for all the great information Michelle.
I’m excited to switch gears and places, start working hard again to get lots of experience and practice, knowledge and meet people, and see more of those beautiful mountains!
I really love living here and the first thing I tell everyone that asks me the “Where should I live?” Question is that they should visit for a week and really explore the area. I’m thinking you may want to check out: Golden, Evergreen, Boulder, and Lyons. Thanks for the support and keep me posted on what you decide. Sometimes I’m a bit shocked by how much Denver has grown. Sometimes I feel like I’ve moved to a new city. I’ve had a lot of fun exploring and discovering all of the cool new things that are happening all the time.
I am currently a sophomore in high school and my main goal after I graduate is to move to Colorado. I don’t care what it takes, I will definitely get there. Do you have any tips? Best places to live? Colleges?
I would look at the following colleges: University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University (in Fort Collins), and University of Colorado Denver. Good luck and maybe you and your parents will get a chance to visit on a college tour!
Hi Michelle,
My girlfriend and I currently live in LA and are considering moving to Colorado in the next few months. It is a place we absolutely love and could really envision being our new home. We too have heard it can be expensive in Denver/Boulder, but are there any adjacent towns that you would recommend looking into as an alternative? We are planning to come out at the end of the month to do some apt/house hunting to see where we want to live. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
Hi Jeff!
I must admit that I laughed a little bit when you said that you were coming in March to check out Colorado. I think that will be a true test of your desire to live here because that’s one of our snowiest (and most beautiful) months. Recently Denver’s housing vacancies has increased a bit so that has been something nice to see. You may want to look at the comprehensive light rail map to see the different communities that are connected to Downtown Denver via light rail and the Flatiron Flyer bus. I know you have a car. But, if you want to go to an event and drink this is good information to have. As for towns: Louisville/Lafayette/Goldent/Westminster/Aurora (not my favorite but I’m adding it). Good luck it will be less expensive than LA by any measure!
Thanks so much MIchelle, really appreciate all the great advice!!
Good luck with everything Jeff!
Michelle would you consider being a tour guide if I take a vacation.
It depends on the time of year as I travel. I would definitely share tips, places to go, etc.
My wife and I are moving in two weeks from Miami to Denver. We love it there and can’t wait to make it our new home. Housing is about the same as Miami in terms of rent. I went to college in Oklahoma and used to drive out to Colorado on my breaks. That was 25 years ago and I promised myself that some day I would live here. It took a while, but better late than never!!!
Welcome to Colorado Stephen! It’s a great place to live and I’m excited to have you join us. I love Miami but I can’t live there-I would always be at the beach staring at the water. Instead, I stare at the mountains LOL!
Is Lakewood to Golden fairly comparable for housing costs?
I’m not sure…but, I will say that prices are going up everywhere. Golden might be a little more expensive though. Good luck!
Hi, we are in planning stages of our move from Washington DC. What area’s would be good for families we have two kids 2 and 6 yrs old. My husband is all Boulder crazy and I am looking for schools and family friendly neighboorhood.
Well, most of Colorado is pretty good for kids. Seriously. It’s hard for me to imagine you picking the 4 areas that I can think of on the top of my head that are kind of crappy. I grew up in Boulder and even though I don’t want to live there again if you’re completely focused on your kids’ experience/well-being there is nothing better than growing up in Boulder. Gorgeous town, nature is a stone’s throw away, super safe. Negatives-A bit stuck up (I say this as a kid who was stuck up LOL!) prices are going WAY up-you’re from D.C. you won’t be as surprised by the prices but with Google opening their second campus there the prices have nowhere else to go but UP. It can get a little boring. BUT, you can get to Denver super easily. The FF bus is super frequent so that you can drink and enjoy Denver when you visit without worrying about drinking and driving. The bus is very nice and safe btw.
Thanks so much Michelle, really appreciate all the great advice.
I’m updating this information soon!
I would like hiking in the mountains and cooler weather.
Hiking in the mountains is great! The summer is still a normal hot summer. But, the cool temperatures last longer.
Hello Michelle: I am almost a senior citizen. Will be 60 in six mos. How is Ft. Collins area for a single sexy senior citizen? I would probably have to live with my daughtyer and son in law that moved into the ft. collins area. I was out visiting them earlier this year in June. I was wondering if housing for seniors is good and other amenities for grandmas? I am an active adult and will be taking my widows survivorship benefits when I turn 60. Are senior citizens cared for there. I am from the suburbs of Chicago area.
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Hi Dana, first things first, I don’t consider you a senior citizen. You’re a sassy 60. My grandma-who is 80 is just barely allowed to call herself a senior citizen. You will find that people in their 60s live unapologetically vibrant, full lives. They are: kicking butt skiing, passing me on the hiking trail, running races, and having fun with their kids or grandkids if they have some. Ft Collins is lovely and I think you would enjoy it. I am not familiar with the housing market in Fort Collins other than it’s probably dealing with competitive pricing like the rest of Colorado. I would recommend spending some time (like a month) in Fort Collins so that you can get a better feel for the town, where you would like to live, and the community in general. Let me know how it goes and welcome to Colorado!
Hi Michelle, my husband and I are planning on moving our family to Colorado this next spring/summer when the kids get out of school for the summer. After running cross this feed it seems as if everybody is moving to Colorado, lol. It must be absolutely AMAZING. I currently live in Missouri and have lived here all my life but have wanted to move to Colorado since I was very young. I hate the weather and humidity here, lol. Anyway looking at the Loveland area.
There are moments when I wonder if that’s the case (that everyone is moving here LOL!) How exciting for you and your family! I’m thinking that you’ve visited Colorado already? Fortunately, Minnesota has a lot of similarities to Colorado but I do think it’s a lot colder.
Really appreciate the advice!
It seems most of the housing in Denver and Colorado Springs are part of an HOA. I despise HOA. Aren’t there any old fashioned neighborhoods without HOA Covenants?
I’m not sure about that…even though I’m in an HOA LOL! You may need to search for awhile but I’m sure you’ll be able to find a home outside of an HOA.
Thanks for your post. i am moving to Colorado for work, but i want to really take in colorado and what it has to offer. so thanks so much.
Colorado is getting overpopulated. Please move somewhere else.
LOL!
Do you know of a good excel sheet template for a moving budget as far as inputting prices for EVERYTHING such as rent, utilities, deposits, etc. so that we know how much to save to move to Colorado from Florida? And how do you feel about Aurora?
I don’t! I think I may create one though. Thanks for the idea. Ok, before I answer your Aurora question please understand that like everywhere we have regional and city to city prejudices. Aurora is not for me BUT, a lot of people love it (and there is a lot of great ethnic food to be enjoyed). I always say visit before you commit.
Michelle, How much do you think they pay nursing assistant (CNA) in your state? . I will be moving from Delaware state with my 6 year old. We are moving for more opportunitie, for him and myself because am a nursing student which I should continue as soon as we settle down. Do you think am making right move? Already, I have find him school in Westminster charter school. Also which area do you think will be cheap for us to live? Thanks
Hi Sarah,
I’m sorry about the delay. I’m out of state at a conference. I’m not sure about the CNA pay rates. Here is a link to an article about that. I should mention that the recommended average salary to live comfortably in Denver is around $35 an hour. Housing is around $1200 for a one bedroom. I can’t tell if you you’re making the right move. What I can say is the following: DO NOT MOVE HERE WITHOUT A JOB. Period. Most areas aren’t cheap in Denver and the surrounding suburbs.
Please quit moving to Colorado, its way over populated, traffic is horrendous, average one bedroom not in Denver or boulder but surrounding suburban cities is a minimum of $1450 a month MINIMUM!!! Average 3 bedroom home MINIMUM is starting at $350,000 not including Denver or boulder but surrounding cities, job wages are still paying what they were before the market skyrocketed so income to cost of living doesn’t even out. Groceries are expensive and gas prices are increasing, if you bought a house 3-4 years ago you better sell it asap before the economy crashes and you get screwed. I am a Colorado native and all the pollution has ruined this state, the mountains are hazy and the sky looks like crap, everyone was nice before the loads of people migrated here, now everyone is rude, doesn’t know how to drive in any kind of weather and all the transplants must be looney from the altitude because they are losing their minds and the crime rate here is through the roof! I’ve always loved Colorado and this will always be my home but what people have done to such a beautiful state is sad and disturbing, we are now making the move to The east coast so we can get away from the madness, cost of living here and the east coast is pretty much the exact same by the way, boulder is said to be same prices as Silicon Valley!!! my beautiful home state is now a waste land and i want to cry 🙁
I don’t agree with all of your points. BUT, I do understand! I still think people are really nice, it IS expensive, I don’t believe housing will crash. In fact, I believe that real estate will soften but continue on a San Francisco/Seattle trajectory (sucks). I do think that we need to focus on managing the crowds and how they interact with nature. I don’t believe CO is a wasteland but it is at a crossroads. That said, other states have no growth, no jobs, no energy. I would rather have growth and jobs then the opposite.
I really want to move to colorado. It has been a dream of mine since I was little. I live in Illinois currently. I have done a lot of research and when I came across your blog I just had to ask you for some advice if you are okay with helping me. If Boulder and Denver are the most expensive places to live are there cheaper towns that you would suggest? I would very much like to stay out of the bad crime areas. Thank you so much in advance. This is a great blog and I plan on reading more of them.
I hate to say it like this but…Colorado, in general, is not cheap. I would recommend doing your research and then visiting to do your “due diligence.” I would say that each city has crime but the smaller the town the safer they are. Again, do your due diligence. Good luck!
Hello, I currently live in SAN DIEGO, CA which im sure you have heard is extremely expensive place and looking for a cheaper way of life. I understand you said its expensive in CO. but i believe compared to CA. it looks to be a drastic difference and you get more for less. or more for the same amount. I was looking into Colorado springs. What would you recommend for a couple in their early 20’s? This move wont happen till at least next year and we are going out to visit in a few months.
It’s not a drastic difference in terms of cost. You also need to factor in: lifestyle. I will say that we aren’t taxed in the same way, so you may see a difference there. Colorado Springs may be a bit more affordable than the Denver/Boulder metro area. I would recommend that you visit and really spend some time speaking with other couples your age (who have move to CO from other places) about expenses and things that may have caught them off guard in terms of cost.
Hi Michelle,
I am looking to make a move to Denver. Right now, I don’t have a job out there but I have 3-6 mo of expenses I was hoping to cover me for the interim. I’m 32 and have experience in medical and financial sales. Do you think it will be tough for me to find a gig in 6 months? It doesn’t have to be full time I’m definitely open to teaching yoga or spin (certified in both) or even serving/bar at a restaurant to get me by for the meantime. I am really into all the entertainment and sport stuff listed above so I know those expneses will be high when I am there. Looking to make this move in the next 30 days. Also, I found a room for rent in Sunnyside (near highlands) for 750 a month. Is this area nice? Thanks for your help!
Expect your expenses to last 3 months. You’ll probably find some side-hustles fairly easily. But, you will have to consider how much money you need to live comfortably. Also, while it’s good that you have those fitness certifications-it’s competitive here to get those types of gigs. You’ll be fine in Sunnyside…but, you may want to have a car if you’re in that area. Or, plan on getting a bike.
Thanks for the info. We are looking at relocating to Colorado from Upstate NY (near the Adirondacks). I found the info helpful!
I’m glad I could help! Good luck 🙂
My boyfriend and I were all set to move out to Colorado Springs – we lined up good jobs and everything! But then we visited this past weekend and hated it. We are from NY/NJ/PA and we felt like we didn’t fit in. Hated the look of the place, the trucks, the dry air, intense sun, and the people seemed…. weird. Maybe that was just a bad first impression. We really need to leave our current jobs but don’t know what to do! I already committed to the Springs job and am thinking of pulling out. So confused!! Any thoughts?
I’m a HUGE fan of visiting before committing. Colorado Springs is a bit more conservative than the Denver/Boulder metro. But, there is a surprisingly high number of Millennials moving there and I suspect that it’s because it’s cheaper than Denver/Boulder. Here’s some truth: Colorado is: sunny, dry, and deserty. Period. If you don’t like sun, blue skies, dry heat-this is NOT the place for you. It’s my theory that New Yorkers/East Coast people will either love it or hate it-no in-between. Especially with the more conservative parts of the state. Maybe Colorado just isn’t for you? Did you visit Denver/Boulder?
I love this post. We moved to Colorado from a Florida in January but luckily the hubby did all his homework beforehand. It truly is more expensive to live here. I was a little surprised by how much it was for everyday items- especially things like beer and wine.
The housing market is also INSANE!
But we love everything about this new state so far and can’t wait to graduate so we can spend even more time doing fun things outdoors!
Welcome to Colorado!! I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself here 🙂
Old thread I know, but my boyfriend and I were looking to move to Colorado within the next 2 years. I lived in Crested Butte, CO, for a sliver of my childhood and miss it so much! As we are about to have our daughter, I want nothing more than to raise her with the great outdoors right outside her window. And with the marijuana sales taxes boosting public schools, I feel confident her education would be better than most public schools we live around now. Have you noticed an increase in quality of public schools in the CO area?
The marijuana sales don’t necessarily translate into a ton of funding for education. Colorado still is dealing with the “Colorado Paradox” which is extreme underfunding for schools in comparison to the rest of the U.S. The paradox is the fact that there is an extremely high percentage of people here with college/masters degrees. There are great school districts in the state, but you’ll have to consider the life you want, do you want to be in a bigger city/smaller town/etc.? I went to school in Boulder and Denver and so I had a great education (especially in Boulder) but, Boulder might make you crazy LOL!
Hi Michelle, I’ve enjoyed reading this thread even though it’s a couple years old. I grew up and currently live in the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and am planning on an early retirement (I’m 53). I love having seasons, dry climate, and plentiful outdoor recreational activities that are easily accessible, but I am sick of the lack of sun/grey cloudy days that we experience for about 6 months out of the year here so I am considering a move to Western Colorado. I’m not really interested in the Denver/Boulder metro area (too many people!) or Colorado Springs for that matter. I’m considering the Grand Junction/Fruita area although I haven’t actually been there to visit yet. (planning a trip soon!) My understanding is that this area is growing, especially in retiree population. I was just wondering what your opinion was as a native of Colorado on this area of your state? I don’t want to live anywhere too small because I do enjoy “city” amenities like a good variety of restaurants, shopping, and fashion and would like to be reasonably close to a decent sized airport. Any thoughts?
Hi Michele! I think you would LOVE that area. Especially if you enjoy exploring, good wine (that’s our wine region) and access to nice road trips to Utah/New Mexico/Texas/Arizona. There are a lot of cultural events and fun stuff to do without all the people. I have a friend who moved to Fruita a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Salida might be a place to check out too. Of course, do your “Due Diligence” keep me posted.
What are anyone’s thoughts on what is the best area to live if you are single, active, golf, ski, no children, dogs, female, work at home and late 50’s? Thank you in advance for your feedback.
Nicole, this is a super broad question. My questions would be the following: would you prefer closer access to the mountains? More nightlife? Smaller towns? More liberal/more conservative areas? More immediate access to DIA or do you fly infrequently?
I love how candid this article is. Its important for people considering moving to Colorado be aware of the pros and true cons of moving here. One thing I think is important for those considering moving here is that over the years, Colorado has experienced its fair share of nature’s fury. This state has faced it all, from devastating floods to relentless blizzards, hailstorms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and even wildfires. One event that remains etched in our memories is the historic flood of 2013, wreaking havoc in cities like Boulder, Longmont, and Aurora. It’s a harsh reality that deserves our attention. So, it’s important to protect ourselves with property insurance, a public adjuster, and find a reliable shelter amidst the storms of life. Stay safe!