Colorado to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 24, 2025

Planning a 1,721 mile interstate move from Colorado to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Colorado vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high altitude vs sea level), food & health (like Rocky Mountain Oysters vs Half-Smoke), real estate & housing (mountain modern, ranch vs federal, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bison Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Half-Smoke & Mumbo Sauce Wings
- D.C. housing costs are 13% more expensive than they are in Colorado
- Rent in D.C. is 18.40% more expensive than in Colorado
- Moving from Colorado to DC will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Colorado to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
Colorado to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Colorado to DC
- High altitude
- Limited job market
- Snowy winters
- Rural areas
- Wildfire risks
- Sea level
- Diverse career opportunities
- Milder winters
- Urban amenities
- Less natural disaster risk
- Flat landscape
- Limited hiking spots
- High cost of living
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Congested traffic
- Scenic mountains
- Outdoor activities
- Low cost of living
- Laid-back lifestyle
- Less traffic
Pros of moving from Colorado to DC
- Say goodbye to high altitude and hello to sea level
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to DC with diverse career opportunities
- Swap the snowy winters of Colorado for milder winters in DC
- Get ready for urban amenities in DC
Cons of moving from Colorado to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the scenic mountains in Colorado to live with the flat landscape in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of outdoor activities and have to settle for the con of limited hiking spots
- Time to bid farewell to the low cost of living and get used to the high cost of living in DC
- Swap the laid-back lifestyle for the fast-paced lifestyle
Colorado vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Colorado | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Rocky Mountain Oysters | Half-Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burgers | Mumbo Sauce Wings |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burritos | Korean Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Chickpea Bowls |
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 Colorado to DC, you will be trading the iconic Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of DC. And while the locals in Colorado rave about their flavorful Bison Burgers and sumptuous Breakfast Burritos, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Wings and Korean Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Chickpea Bowls of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Colorado eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beau Joβs Pizza, and The Sink. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Zaytinya.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Colorado. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Colorado. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Colorado and DC
Comparison | Colorado | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mountain Modern, Ranch | Federal, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Open Floor Plan | Historic Details, Proximity to Metro |
- The Mountain Modern and Ranch architecture that Colorado is known for will be replaced with the Federal and Victorian architecture typical of D.C.
- Compared to Colorado's real estate listings that commonly reference views and open floor plans, D.C. real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and proximity to the metro.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. D.C. is more walkable than Colorado.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. D.C. is more bike-friendly than Colorado.
- D.C. has more of an urban feel than Colorado.
- D.C. housing costs are 13% more expensive than they are in Colorado, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Coloradoβs $549,126.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in D.C. have increased by 8% compared to a 40% increase in Colorado.
- Rent in D.C. is 18.40% more expensive than in Colorado.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Colorado and DC
Comparison | Colorado | DC |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Hail | Thunderstorms, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 55Β°F | 89Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 18Β°F | 47Β°F / 28Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15.6 | 40.74 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 53.8 | 15.4 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Colorado to DC. DC gets 17% fewer sunshine days than Colorado.
- DC has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Colorado.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and hail in Colorado, but be on the lookout for potential thunderstorms and hurricanes in DC.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 4 degrees warmer than in Colorado.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in Colorado.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in DC. DC receives 25.1 more inches of rain compared to Colorado.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Colorado and DC
Comparison | Colorado | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,302 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.3 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 4.55% | 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.54% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.65% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Agriculture, Technology | Government, Education, Professional Services |
Affluence | Prosperous | Affluent |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 13% more than those in Colorado
- The COLI in DC is 43% higher than what you are used to living in Colorado
- The state income tax in DC is 10.75% compared to 4.55% in CO
- The affluence in DC is affluent compared to prosperous in Colorado
- The poverty level is low in DC compared to moderate in Colorado
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Colorado and visible in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Colorado vs. DC
Comparison | Colorado | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Purple state with a mix of red and blue areas | Heavily Democratic |
Local Politics | Varies significantly from county to county | Local politics are heavily focused on federal government impacts |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant proportion of unaffiliated individuals | Diverse, but with a high number of unaffiliated individuals |
- Colorado tends to lean purple state with a mix of red and blue areas in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as heavily Democratic
- DC's religious environment can be described as diverse, but with a high number of unaffiliated individuals
- Colorado's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant proportion of unaffiliated individuals
Education Guide When Moving from Colorado to DC
Comparison | Colorado | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver | Georgetown University George Washington University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bromwell Elementary Denver; Cory Elementary Denver; Parker Core Knowledge Parker | Janney Elementary Washington; Mann Elementary Washington; Lafayette Elementary Washington |
Top 3 Middle Schools | KRUSE Elementary Pueblo; Denver School of the Arts Denver; CHALLENGER Middle School Colorado Springs | Deal Middle School Washington; Hardy Middle School Washington; Eliot-Hine Middle School Washington |
Top 3 High School Schools | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village; Fairview High School Boulder; Grandview High School Aurora | School Without Walls High School Washington; Banneker High School Washington; Wilson High School Washington |
Top 3 private high schools | Colorado Academy Denver; Kent Denver School Englewood; The Vanguard School Colorado Springs | Georgetown Preparatory School North Bethesda; Sidwell Friends School Washington; St. Albans School Washington |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs; Dawson School Lafayette; Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs | Georgetown Day School Washington; Maret School Washington; Sidwell Friends School Washington |
Top 3 School Districts | Cherry Creek School District Douglas County School District Boulder Valley School District | District of Columbia Public Schools |
How Much Do Colorado to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 1,721 miles from Colorado to DC will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,178 | 300 ft3 | $7.26 |
1 Bedroom | $3,245 | 450 ft3 | $7.21 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,370 | 750 ft3 | $7.16 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,822 | 1100 ft3 | $7.11 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,297 | 1600 ft3 | $7.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,619 | 1800 ft3 | $7.01 |
Top Colorado to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Colorado to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.