DC to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 1,729 mile interstate move from DC to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high traffic congestion vs scenic mountain views), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Green Chili), real estate & housing (row houses, federal vs mountain modern, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo sauce with Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chili & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Colorado is 15.54% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Colorado will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended DC to Colorado movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Colorado
- High traffic congestion
- Expensive housing
- Humid summers
- High population density
- Scenic mountain views
- Lower housing costs
- Cooler climate
- Spacious living areas
- Less cultural diversity
- Less historical landmarks
- Fewer world-class museums
- Quieter evening scene
- Cultural diversity
- Rich history
- Access to museums
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from DC to Colorado
- Say goodbye to high traffic congestion and hello to scenic mountain views
- Look forward to moving away from expensive housing and moving to Colorado with lower housing costs
- Swap the humid summers of DC for a cooler climate in Colorado
- Get ready for spacious living areas in Colorado
Cons of moving from DC to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in DC to live with less cultural diversity in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to access to museums and get used to fewer world-class museums in Colorado
- Swap vibrant nightlife for a quieter evening scene
DC vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Green Chili |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce with Chicken | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo Slice Pizza | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Jackfruit Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Foodie Scene | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ |
Vegan Friendly | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± |
If you're moving from DC to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Green Chili of Colorado. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce with Chicken & sumptuous Jumbo Slice Pizza, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and 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 Jackfruit Tacos of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Snooze an A.M. Eatery, and Frasca Food and Wine.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Colorado
Comparison | DC | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Row Houses, Federal | Mountain Modern, Ranch |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to metro, Historic charm | Mountain views, Outdoor space |
- The Row Houses and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Modern and Ranch architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to the metro and historic charm, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor space.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Colorado is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike because Colorado is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Colorado has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Colorado housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Colorado is 15.54% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Colorado
Comparison | DC | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø |
Avg. Annual Humidity | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ |
Avg. UV Index | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Flooding | Wildfires, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 89/71 | 86/56 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47/29 | 45/18 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.8 | 15.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.5 | 60.2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to Colorado. Colorado gets 21% more sunshine days than DC.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in DC, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and blizzards in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 3 degrees colder than DC.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 25.2 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Colorado
Comparison | DC | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 8.5% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0% | 7.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Professional Services | Aerospace, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Notable | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 12% less than in DC
- The COLI in Colorado is 30% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in CO is 4.55% compared to 8.5% in DC
- The affluence in Colorado is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in DC and noticeable in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Colorado
Comparison | DC | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Moderately Democratic |
Local Politics | DC Council | Colorado General Assembly |
Religion | Varied, with a significant Christian population | Varied, with a notable presence of unaffiliated individuals |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as varied with a notable presence of unaffiliated individuals
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as varied with a significant Christian population
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Colorado
Comparison | DC | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland Georgetown University Virginia Tech | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary School (Washington) Mann Elementary School (Washington) Eaton Elementary School (Washington) | High Peaks Elementary School (Boulder) Bear Creek Elementary School (Boulder) Cory Elementary School (Denver) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) McKinley Middle School (Washington) | Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) Mountain Ridge Middle School (Highlands Ranch) Lesher Middle School (Fort Collins) |
Top 3 High School Schools | School Without Walls High School (Washington) Banneker High School (Washington) Wilson High School (Washington) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Grandview High School (Aurora) |
Top 3 private high schools | Georgetown Preparatory School (North Bethesda) Sidwell Friends School (Washington) St. Albans School (Washington) | Kent Denver School (Englewood) Colorado Academy (Denver) The Fountain Valley School of Colorado (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) Maret School (Washington) | Denver Christian Schools (Denver) Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Vail Mountain School (Vail) |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Douglas County School District |
How Much Do DC to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 1,729 miles from DC to Colorado will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $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 | $2,183 | 300 ft3 | $7.28 |
1 Bedroom | $3,252 | 450 ft3 | $7.23 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,382 | 750 ft3 | $7.18 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,838 | 1100 ft3 | $7.13 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,321 | 1600 ft3 | $7.08 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,646 | 1800 ft3 | $7.03 |
Top DC to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.