Alaska to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 2,575 mile interstate move from Alaska to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alaska vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs milder winter climate), food & health (like King Crab vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (log cabins, modern vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to King Crab and Reindeer Sausage, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 55% more expensive than they are in Alaska
- Rent in Colorado is 16.34% more expensive than in Alaska
- Our top recommended Alaska to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Alaska to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alaska to Colorado
- Long, harsh winters
- Limited connectivity
- High cost of living
- Remote location
- Milder winter climate
- Better internet access
- More affordable housing
- Centralized in mainland
- Less untouched nature
- Fewer wildlife sightings
- Less indigenous history
- More urbanized lifestyle
- Stunning wilderness
- Unique wildlife
- Cultural heritage
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Alaska to Colorado
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to a milder winter climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited connectivity and moving to Colorado with better internet access
- Swap the high cost of living in Alaska for more affordable housing in Colorado
- Get ready for being centralized in the mainland in Colorado
Cons of moving from Alaska to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning wilderness in Alaska to live with less untouched nature in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of unique wildlife and have to settle for the con of fewer wildlife sightings
- Time to bid farewell to cultural heritage and get used to less indigenous history in Colorado
- Swap close-knit communities for a more urbanized lifestyle
Alaska vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alaska | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | King Crab | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Reindeer Sausage | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Smoked Salmon | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Seaweed Salad | Quinoa Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alaska to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic King Crab of Alaska for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Alaska rave about their flavorful Reindeer Sausage and sumptuous Smoked Salmon, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Breakfast Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seaweed Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alaska eateries like Simon & Seafort's, Glacier Brewhouse, and Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Frasca Food and Wine, Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, and Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alaska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in Alaska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alaska and Colorado
Comparison | Alaska | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Log cabins, Modern | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic views, Privacy | Mountain views, Outdoor living |
- The Log cabins and Modern architecture that Alaska is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Alaska's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and privacy, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor living.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Colorado is more walkable than Alaska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than Alaska.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Alaska.
- Colorado housing costs are 55% more expensive than they are in Alaska with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Alaskaβs $354,563.
- Over the prior 9 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 97% compared to a 34% increase in Alaska.
- Rent in Colorado is 16.34% more expensive than in Alaska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alaska and Colorado
Comparison | Alaska | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Avalanches | Wildfires, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 60-80Β°F/40-50Β°F | 85-95Β°F/55-60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 0-30Β°F/-20--10Β°F | 45-60Β°F/15-25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22" | 17" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alaska to Colorado. Colorado gets 63% more sunshine days than Alaska.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Alaska.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and avalanches in Alaska, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and tornadoes in Colorado.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 25 degrees warmer than in Alaska.
- The average winter lows are 35 degrees warmer than they are in Alaska.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to Alaska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alaska and Colorado
Comparison | Alaska | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,121 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 132.6 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.19% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 1.76% | 2.9% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil, Fishing, Tourism | Aerospace, Agriculture, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Medium | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 1% more than those in Alaska
- The COLI in Colorado will be 26% lower than what you are used to living in Alaska
- Bummer... By moving from AK to CO, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.55%
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate affluence in Alaska
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to a medium level in Alaska
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alaska and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Alaska vs. Colorado
Comparison | Alaska | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative | Moderately liberal |
Local Politics | Resource-driven policies | Eco-friendly and progressive policies |
Religion | Christianity predominant with diverse religious practices | Christianity predominant, but with a growing number of non-religious residents |
- Alaska tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as moderately liberal
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, but with a growing number of non-religious residents
- Alaska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with diverse religious practices
Education Guide When Moving from Alaska to Colorado
Comparison | Alaska | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Denali Elementary School Fairbanks; O'Malley Elementary School Anchorage; North Star Elementary School Anchorage | Bromwell Elementary School Denver; Cory Elementary School Denver; Bear Creek Elementary School Boulder |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mears Middle School Anchorage; Romig Middle School Anchorage; Mirror Lake Middle School Chugiak | Kruse Elementary School Parker; Summit Charter Middle School Boulder; Challenge School Denver |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School Anchorage; South Anchorage High School Anchorage; Dimond High School Anchorage | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village; Fairview High School Boulder; East High School Denver |
Top 3 private high schools | Holy Rosary Academy Anchorage; Lumen Christi High School Anchorage; Grace Christian School Anchorage | Valor Christian High School Highlands Ranch; Kent Denver School Englewood; The Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Pacific Northern Academy Anchorage; Anchorage Waldorf School Anchorage; Grace Christian School Anchorage | Colorado Academy Denver; The Denver Waldorf School Denver; Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 School Districts | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Douglas County School District |
Top Alaska to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alaska to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.