Hawaii to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Poke vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs ranch, mountain modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Steak
- Colorado housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Colorado is 30.89% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Hawaii to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Colorado
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Isolation from mainland
- Vulnerable to hurricanes
- Affordable housing
- More job opportunities
- Proximity to major U.S. cities
- Four distinct seasons
- Cold winters
- No beaches
- Less cultural diversity
- Faster-paced living
- Tropical climate
- Beautiful beaches
- Rich island culture
- Laid-back lifestyle
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Colorado
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from the limited job market and moving to Colorado with more job opportunities
- Swap the isolation from the mainland of Hawaii for proximity to major U.S. cities in Colorado
- Get ready for four distinct seasons in Colorado
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the tropical climate in Hawaii to live with the cold winters in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful beaches and have to settle for the con of no beaches
- Time to bid farewell to the rich island culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Colorado
- Swap the laid-back lifestyle for faster-paced living
Hawaii vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Bison Steak |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | Breakfast Burrito |
Most popular vegan food | Laulau (Vegan Version) | Quinoa Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Spam Musubi, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Steak and Breakfast Burrito to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Laulau (Vegan Version) they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Colorado. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Highway Inn. 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, Beau Jo's Pizza, and Snooze an A.M. Eatery.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Colorado
Comparison | Hawaii | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Ranch, Mountain Modern |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Lanai | Views, Garage |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Mountain Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference views and lanai, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like views and garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Colorado is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Colorado is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Colorado has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Colorado housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Colorado is 30.89% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Colorado
Comparison | Hawaii | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tsunamis | Wildfires, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 86°F / 54°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 45°F / 17°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63 | 17 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Hawaii to Colorado. Colorado gets 8% more sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and blizzards in Colorado.
- The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 1 degree warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 46 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 46 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Colorado
Comparison | Hawaii | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 1.4% - 11% | 4.55% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.49% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.44% | 7.65% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Real Estate, Defense | Aerospace, Tech, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 3% less than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in Colorado is 41% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in CO is 4.55% compared to 1.4% to 11% in HI
- The affluence in Colorado is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Hawaii
- The poverty level is moderate in Colorado compared to significant poverty in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Colorado
Comparison | Hawaii | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Mixed, with Liberal Urban Centers |
Local Politics | Strong emphasis on environmental and indigenous rights | Strong focus on environmental issues, with an increasing emphasis on social rights |
Religion | Diverse, including Christianity, Buddhism, and indigenous spirituality | Primarily Christian, with a growing number of non-religious residents |
- Hawaii tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with Liberal Urban Centers
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a growing number of non-religious residents
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, including Christianity, Buddhism, and indigenous spirituality
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Colorado
Comparison | Hawaii | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University University of Hawaii at Hilo | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Momilani Elementary (Pearl City) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) | Paddington Station (Denver) Cory Elementary (Denver) Slavens K-8 School (Denver) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Denver School of the Arts (Denver) Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) DSST: Stapleton Middle School (Denver) |
Top 3 High Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) Denver School of the Arts (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu) | Colorado Academy (Denver) Kent Denver School (Englewood) Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) Parker School (Kamuela) | Colorado Academy (Denver) St. Mary's Academy (Englewood) Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (Statewide) | Cherry Creek School District (Greenwood Village) Boulder Valley School District (Boulder) Denver Public Schools (Denver) |
Top Hawaii to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.