Missouri to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 886 mile interstate move from Missouri to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like St. Louis-style pizza vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (traditional, craftsman vs modern, mountain), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style pizza and Kansas City barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 126% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Colorado is 51.84% more expensive than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to Colorado will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Missouri to Colorado movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Missouri to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Colorado
- Severe humidity
- Tornado threats
- Lack of ski resorts
- Limited hiking
- Dry climate
- Mountain scenery
- Winter sports
- Abundant trails
- Higher living costs
- Competitive job market
- Altitude adjustment
- Harsh winters
- Lower cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Rich history
- Four distinct seasons
Pros of moving from Missouri to Colorado
- Say goodbye to severe humidity and hello to a dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from tornado threats and moving to Colorado with mountain scenery
- Swap the lack of ski resorts in Missouri for winter sports in Colorado
- Get ready for abundant trails in Colorado
Cons of moving from Missouri to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Missouri to live with higher living costs in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of a competitive job market
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to the altitude adjustment in Colorado
- Swap four distinct seasons for harsh winters
Missouri vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style pizza | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Kansas City barbecue | Bison burgers |
Most popular street food item | Toasted Ravioli | Green Chile Cheese Fries |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich | Quinoa Salad |
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 Missouri to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Kansas City barbecue and sumptuous Toasted Ravioli, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison burgers and Green Chile Cheese Fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich 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 Missouri eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Pappy's Smokehouse, and Sidney Street Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like Frasca Food and Wine, Snooze an AM Eatery, and New Belgium Brewing Company.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado, compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Colorado
Comparison | Missouri | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Craftsman | Modern, Mountain |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, entertainment spaces | Views, eco-friendly features |
- The Traditional and Craftsman architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Mountain architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and entertainment spaces, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like views and eco-friendly attributes.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than Missouri.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Colorado housing costs are 126% more expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Colorado is 51.84% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Colorado
Comparison | Missouri | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Wildfires, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67Β°F | 85/56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/21Β°F | 45/18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 17 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Missouri to Colorado. Colorado gets 20% more sunshine days than Missouri.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and avalanches in Colorado.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 4 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 25 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Colorado
Comparison | Missouri | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 4.63% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 0.49% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.81% | 7.72% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Aerospace, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Medium | Low |
Homelessness | Average | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 38% more than in Missouri
- The COLI in Colorado will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Missouri
- The state income tax in CO is 4.63% compared to 4.95% in MO
- The affluence in Colorado is high compared to moderate in Missouri
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to medium in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is average in Missouri and noticeable in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Colorado
Comparison | Missouri | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately conservative | Moderately liberal |
Local Politics | Swings between parties depending on the area | Democratic leaning in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity dominates, with a high percentage of Evangelicals | Less religious overall, with a mix of beliefs including a higher percentage of unaffiliated or secular residents |
- Missouri tends to lean moderately conservative in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as moderately liberal
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as less religious overall, with a mix of beliefs including a higher percentage of unaffiliated or secular residents
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominating, with a high percentage of Evangelicals
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Colorado
Comparison | Missouri | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Washington University in St. Louis Missouri State University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mason Ridge Elementary St. Louis; John Thomas School of Discovery Nixa; Wilsonβs Creek 5-6 Intermediate School Springfield | Bromwell Elementary Denver; Cory Elementary Denver; Parker Core Knowledge Charter School Parker |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis | DSA (Denver School of the Arts) Denver; McAuliffe International School Denver; Stargate School Thornton |
Top 3 High Schools | Clayton High School Clayton; Ladue Horton Watkins High School St. Louis; John Burroughs School St. Louis | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village; Fairview High School Boulder; Denver School of the Arts Denver |
Top 3 private high schools | Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis; St. Louis University High School St. Louis | Colorado Academy Denver; Kent Denver School Englewood; Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; Christian Brothers College High School St. Louis; Thomas Jefferson School St. Louis | Colorado Academy Denver; Graland Country Day School Denver; St. Anne's Episcopal School Denver |
Top 3 School Districts | Clayton School District Clayton; Ladue School District St. Louis; Parkway School District Chesterfield | Cherry Creek School District Greenwood Village; Boulder Valley School District Boulder; Douglas County School District Castle Rock |
How Much Do Missouri to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 886 miles from Missouri to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,705 | 300 ft3 | $5.68 |
1 Bedroom | $2,535 | 450 ft3 | $5.63 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,187 | 750 ft3 | $5.58 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,086 | 1100 ft3 | $5.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,772 | 1600 ft3 | $5.48 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,779 | 1800 ft3 | $5.43 |
Top Missouri to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Missouri to Colorado