Colorado to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 410 mile interstate move from Colorado to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Colorado vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher cost of living vs lower living expenses), food & health (like Rocky Mountain Oysters vs Fry Sauce), real estate & housing (mountain and modern vs prairie and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bison Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Fry Sauce & Utah Scones with Honey Butter
- Utah housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Colorado
- Rent in Utah is 16.90% more affordable than in Colorado
- Moving from Colorado to Utah will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Colorado to Utah movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Colorado to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Colorado to Utah
- Higher cost of living
- Harsh winter storms
- Traffic congestion
- Limited desert landscapes
- Lower living expenses
- Milder winters
- Less crowded roads
- Stunning red rock scenery
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Smaller art community
- Limited restaurant variety
- Farther from major peaks
- Adventure activities
- Vibrant arts scene
- Culinary diversity
- Proximity to mountains
Pros of moving from Colorado to Utah
- Say goodbye to the higher cost of living and hello to lower living expenses
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winter storms and moving to Utah with milder winters
- Swap the traffic congestion of Colorado for less crowded roads in Utah
- Get ready for stunning red rock scenery in Utah
Cons of moving from Colorado to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from adventure activities in Colorado to live with fewer outdoor activities in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a vibrant arts scene and have to settle with the con of a smaller art community
- Time to bid farewell to culinary diversity and get used to limited restaurant variety in Utah
- Swap proximity to the mountains for being farther from major peaks
Colorado vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Colorado | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Rocky Mountain Oysters | Fry Sauce |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burgers | Utah Scones with Honey Butter |
Most popular street food item | Green Chile Burritos | Pastrami Burgers |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salads | Vegan Tacos |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado for the equally delicious Fry Sauce of Utah. And while the locals in Colorado rave about their flavorful Bison Burgers and sumptuous Green Chile Burritos, Utah residents know they have tasty Utah Scones with Honey Butter and Pastrami Burgers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salads they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tacos of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Colorado eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beau Jo's Pizza, and Rodizio Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Red Iguana, Bambara, and Log Haven.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Colorado. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Colorado. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Colorado and Utah
Comparison | Colorado | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mountain and Modern | Prairie and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain Views, Open Floor Plans | Family-friendly, Renewable energy features |
- The Mountain and Modern architecture that Colorado is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Craftsman architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Colorado's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open floor plans, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly spaces and renewable energy features.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Utah is less walkable than Colorado.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Utah is less bike-friendly than Colorado.
- Utah has less of an urban feel than Colorado.
- Utah housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Colorado, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Coloradoβs $549,126.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased 56% compared to a 40% increase in Colorado.
- Rent in Utah is 16.90% more affordable than in Colorado.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Colorado and Utah
Comparison | Colorado | Utah |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Wildfires | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 55Β°F | 90Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 18Β°F | 37Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15.6 | 12.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.3 | 56.2 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Colorado to Utah. Utah gets 7% fewer sunshine days than Colorado.
- Utah has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Colorado.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and wildfires in Colorado, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 5 degrees warmer than in Colorado.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Colorado.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 3.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Colorado.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Colorado and Utah
Comparison | Colorado | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,302 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.3 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 4.63% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 0.67% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.65% | 6.77% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Tourism, Agriculture | Trade, Transportation, Utilities |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 0% less than in Colorado
- The COLI in Utah will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Colorado
- The state income tax in UT is 4.95% compared to 4.63% in CO
- The affluence in Utah is moderate compared to moderate in Colorado
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to low in Colorado
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Colorado and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Colorado vs. Utah
Comparison | Colorado | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderate to liberal leanings | Conservative leanings |
Local Politics | Diverse representation | <a href="https://www.utah.gov/index.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">More uniform conservative representation</a> |
Religion | Mixed religious background | Predominantly Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
- Colorado tends to lean moderate to liberal in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as conservative
- Utah's religious environment can be described as predominantly Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
- Colorado's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a mixed religious background
Education Guide When Moving from Colorado to Utah
Comparison | Colorado | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Belleview Elementary (Greenwood Village) Cory Elementary (Denver) Parker Core Knowledge (Parker) | Edgemont Elementary (Provo) Northridge Elementary (Highland) Canyon View Elementary (Cottonwood Heights) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Summit Middle School (Boulder) Mountain Ridge Middle School (Highlands Ranch) Lesher Middle School (Fort Collins) | Centennial Middle School (Provo) Canyon View Middle School (Cedar City) Indian Hills Middle School (Sandy) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Grandview High School (Aurora) | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Beehive Science & Technology Academy (Sandy) Itineris Early College High (West Jordan) |
Top 3 private high schools | Colorado Academy (Denver) Kent Denver School (Englewood) The Vanguard School (Colorado Springs) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Waterford School (Sandy) Juan Diego Catholic High School (Draper) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Dawson School (Lafayette) Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Vail Mountain School (Vail) | Waterford School (Sandy) Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Douglas County School District | Park City School District Davis School District Canyons School District |
How Much Do Colorado to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 410 miles from Colorado to Utah will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: 801 Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,435 | 300 ft3 | $4.78 |
1 Bedroom | $2,130 | 450 ft3 | $4.73 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,512 | 750 ft3 | $4.68 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,096 | 1100 ft3 | $4.63 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,333 | 1600 ft3 | $4.58 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,160 | 1800 ft3 | $4.53 |
Top Colorado to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Colorado to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.