California to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 1,123 mile interstate move from California to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Fish tacos vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (spanish, modern vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fish tacos and Tri-tip steak, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in California
- Rent in Colorado is 25.67% more affordable than in California
- Moving from California to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended California to Colorado movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
Top California to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best California to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for California to Colorado

Pure Moving

Murdock's Moving & Hauling Inc.
California to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from California to Colorado
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Hot summers
- High state taxes
- Wildfire risks
- More affordable housing
- Less crowded cities
- Cooler climate
- Lower state taxes
- Less wildfire threat
- No ocean nearby
- Fewer dining options
- Less diversity
- Snowy winters
- Fewer job opportunities
- Ocean access
- Varied cuisine
- Diverse culture
- Mild winters
- Thriving industries
Pros of moving from California to Colorado
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Colorado with less crowded cities
- Swap the hot summers of California for a cooler climate in Colorado
- Get ready for lower state taxes in Colorado
Cons of moving from California to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from ocean access in California to live with no ocean nearby in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of varied cuisine and have to settle for the con of fewer dining options
- Time to bid farewell to diverse culture and get used to less diversity in Colorado
- Swap mild winters for snowy winters
California vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | California | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fish tacos | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Tri-tip steak | Bison burgers |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Green Chili |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado toast | Quinoa salads |
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 California to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Fish Tacos of California for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in California rave about their flavorful Tri-Tip Steak and sumptuous Tacos, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chili to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salads of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic California eateries like Chez Panisse, The French Laundry, and n/naka. 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, Beast + Bottle, and Panzano.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than California. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in California. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between California and Colorado
Comparison | California | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Spanish, Modern | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Sustainable features | Mountain view, Outdoor living space |
- The Spanish and Modern architecture that California is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to California's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and sustainable features, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor living spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Colorado is more walkable than California.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than California.
- Colorado has less of an urban feel than California.
- Colorado housing costs are 30% less expensive than they are in California, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Californiaβs $783,666.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 42% increase in California.
- Rent in Colorado is 25.67% more affordable than in California.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between California and Colorado
Comparison | California | 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, Wildfires | Snowstorms, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Variable | Generally Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 58Β°F | 86Β°F / 56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 68Β°F / 48Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22 | 17 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0-5 (Varies widely) | 60 (Varies by location) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from California to Colorado. Colorado gets 14% fewer sunshine days than California.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to California.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in California, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and wildfires in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 1 degree warmer than in California.
- The average winter lows are 30 degrees colder than they are in California.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to California.
Financial & Community Snapshot: California and Colorado
Comparison | California | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,551 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 136.4 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 13.3% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.77% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.68% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 2% less than in California
- The COLI in Colorado is 28% lower than what you are used to living in California
- The state income tax in CO is 4.55% compared to 13.3% in CA
- The affluence in Colorado is moderate compared to high in California
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to moderate in California
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in California and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in California vs. Colorado
Comparison | California | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Moderately Democratic |
Local Politics | Liberal urban centers | Mixed; liberal cities & conservative rural areas |
Religion | More varied; larger non-religious population | Christianity dominant, but diverse religious presence |
- California tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as Christianity dominant but diverse in its religious presence
- California's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as more varied with a larger non-religious population
Education Guide When Moving from California to Colorado
Comparison | California | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of California Stanford University California State University | University of Colorado Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Orion Academy (Redwood City) Hawthorne Elementary (Beverly Hills) Point Vicente Elementary (Rancho Palos Verdes) | Bromwell Elementary (Denver) Cory Elementary (Denver) Cherry Hills Village Elementary (Cherry Hills Village) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mill Valley Middle School (Mill Valley) Canyon Charter School (Los Angeles) Rancho San Joaquin Middle (Irvine) | Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) The Connect Charter School (Pueblo) Denver School of the Arts (Denver) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) Troy High School (Fullerton) Whitney High School (Cerritos) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Denver School of the Arts (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles) The Thacher School (Ojai) Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) | The Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Kent Denver School (Englewood) Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Stanford Online High School (Stanford) Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (Santa Monica) The Archer School for Girls (Los Angeles) | Colorado Academy (Denver) Vail Mountain School (Vail) Dawson School (Lafayette) |
Top 3 School Districts | San Marino Unified School District Palo Alto Unified School District La CaΓ±ada Unified School District | Boulder Valley School District Cherry Creek School District Littleton Public Schools |
How Much Do California to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,123 miles from California to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,839 | 300 ft3 | $6.13 |
1 Bedroom | $2,736 | 450 ft3 | $6.08 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,523 | 750 ft3 | $6.03 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,579 | 1100 ft3 | $5.98 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,489 | 1600 ft3 | $5.93 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,585 | 1800 ft3 | $5.88 |