Colorado to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 1,305 mile interstate move from Colorado to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Colorado vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high altitude vs sea level elevation), food & health (like Rocky Mountain Oysters vs Salmon), real estate & housing (mountain modern vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bison Burger, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Seafood Chowder
- Washington housing costs are 8% more expensive than they are in Colorado
- Rent in Washington is 2.71% more affordable than in Colorado
- Moving from Colorado to Washington will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Colorado to Washington movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Colorado to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Colorado to Washington
- High altitude
- Dry climate
- Limited coastline
- Costly housing in Denver
- Sea level elevation
- Lush greenery
- Expansive coastlines
- Diverse housing options
- Frequent rain
- High humidity
- Few ski options
- Limited winter sports
- 300 days of sun
- Dry weather
- Famous ski resorts
- Outdoor recreation
Pros of moving from Colorado to Washington
- Say goodbye to high altitude and hello to sea level elevation
- Look forward to moving away from a dry climate and moving to Washington with lush greenery
- Swap the limited coastline of Colorado for expansive coastlines in Washington
- Get ready for diverse housing options in Washington
Cons of moving from Colorado to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from 300 days of sun in Colorado to live with frequent rain in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of dry weather and have to settle for the con of high humidity
- Time to bid farewell to famous ski resorts and get used to few ski options in Washington
- Swap outdoor recreation for limited winter sports
Colorado vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Colorado | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Rocky Mountain Oysters | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burger | Seafood Chowder |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Teriyaki |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Pho |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Colorado rave about their flavorful Bison Burger and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Washington residents know they have tasty Seafood Chowder and Teriyaki 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 Pho of Washington. 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 Frasca Food and Wine. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Pike Place Chowder, Canlis, and The Dining Room at Salish Lodge and Spa.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Colorado. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Colorado. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Colorado and Washington
Comparison | Colorado | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mountain Modern | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain Views, Outdoor Spaces | Energy Efficiency, Green Spaces |
- The Mountain Modern architecture that Colorado is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Colorado's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and outdoor spaces, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and green spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Colorado.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Colorado.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Colorado.
- Washington housing costs are 8% more expensive than they are in Colorado, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Coloradoβs $549,126.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 40% increase in Colorado.
- Rent in Washington is 2.71% more affordable than in Colorado.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Colorado and Washington
Comparison | Colorado | Washington |
---|---|---|
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, Hailstorms | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 56Β°F | 76Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 17Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15.6 | 38.4 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.2 | 11.4 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Colorado to Washington. Washington gets 38% fewer sunshine days than Colorado.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Colorado.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and hailstorms in Colorado, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 9 degrees colder than in Colorado.
- The average winter lows are 19 degrees warmer than they are in Colorado.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 22.8 more inches of rain compared to Colorado.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Colorado and Washington
Comparison | Colorado | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,302 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.3 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 4.55% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.51% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 2.9% | 6.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Tourism, Agriculture | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Growing | Significant |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 2% more than those in Colorado
- The COLI in Washington is 6% higher than what you are used to living in Colorado
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Colorado
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to low in Colorado
- In terms of homelessness, it is growing in Colorado and significant in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Colorado vs. Washington
Comparison | Colorado | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Purple, slightly leaning Democratic | Democratic |
Local Politics | Blend of conservative rural areas and liberal cities | Liberal in urban areas, conservative in rural |
Religion | Christianity predominant, growing unaffiliated population | Christianity predominant, significant unaffiliated population |
- Colorado tends to lean purple, slightly leaning Democratic in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity with a significant unaffiliated population
- Colorado's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a growing unaffiliated population
Education Guide When Moving from Colorado to Washington
Comparison | Colorado | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Parker Core Knowledge Charter School Parker; Slavens K-8 School Denver; Cory Elementary School Denver | Cascade K-8 Community School Shoreline; Bertschi School Seattle; Challenge Elementary School Everett |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School Fort Collins; Summit Middle Charter School Boulder; Denver School of the Arts Denver | International Community School Kirkland; Environmental & Adventure School Kirkland; Washington Middle School Seattle |
Top 3 High Schools | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village; Fairview High School Boulder; Denver School of the Arts Denver | Lakeside School Seattle; Newport High School Bellevue; International School Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | Colorado Academy Denver; The Kent Denver School Englewood; Fountain Valley School of Colorado Colorado Springs | Lakeside School Seattle; The Overlake School Redmond; Bellevue Christian School Bellevue |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs; Dawson School Lafayette; Vail Mountain School Vail | The Bush School Seattle; The Bear Creek School Redmond; Annie Wright Schools Tacoma |
Top 3 School Districts | Cherry Creek School District Denver School District Boulder Valley School District | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do Colorado to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,305 miles from Colorado to Washington will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,942 | 300 ft3 | $6.47 |
1 Bedroom | $2,891 | 450 ft3 | $6.42 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,781 | 750 ft3 | $6.37 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,957 | 1100 ft3 | $6.32 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,039 | 1600 ft3 | $6.27 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,204 | 1800 ft3 | $6.22 |
Top Colorado to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Colorado to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Colorado to Washington