Rhode Island to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 2,000 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living costs), food & health (like Clam Cakes vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (colonial vs modern and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Rhode Island), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Clam Cakes and Stuffies (Stuffed Clams), but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 22% more expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Colorado is 2.64% more affordable than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Colorado will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Rhode Island to Colorado Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Colorado
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Small state, fewer landscapes
- Humid winters
- Lower living costs
- Expanding job opportunities
- Diverse natural scenery
- Dry, sunny winters
- Inland state
- Fewer historical sites
- Higher city living pace
- Potential for traffic jams
- Beach access
- Rich colonial history
- Cozy small towns
- Less traffic congestion
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Colorado
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living costs
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Colorado with expanding job opportunities
- Swap the small state and fewer landscapes of Rhode Island for diverse natural scenery in Colorado
- Get ready for dry, sunny winters in Colorado
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Colorado
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beach access in Rhode Island to live with an inland state in Colorado
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich colonial history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical sites
- Time to bid farewell to cozy small towns and get used to a higher city living pace in Colorado
- Swap less traffic congestion for the potential for traffic jams
Rhode Island vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Clam Cakes | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Green Chili |
Most popular vegan food | Del's Lemonade | Jackfruit 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 Rhode Island to Colorado, you will be trading the iconic Clam Cakes of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) and sumptuous Hot Wieners, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chili to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Del's Lemonade 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 Rhode Island eateries like The White Horse Tavern, Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House, and Al Forno Restaurant. 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 A.M. Eatery, and The Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Colorado
Comparison | Rhode Island | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Modern and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to ocean, Historic charm | Mountain views, Outdoor accessibility |
- The Colonial architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Ranch architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to the ocean and historic charm, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor accessibility.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than Rhode Island.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than Rhode Island.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Colorado housing costs are 22% more expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased 40% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Colorado is 2.64% more affordable than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Colorado
Comparison | Rhode Island | 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 | Hurricanes, Blizzards | Wildfires, Snowstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/63Β°F | 86Β°F/56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F/20Β°F | 45Β°F/17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 15.6" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 35" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to Colorado. Colorado gets 21% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and blizzards in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and snowstorms in Colorado.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 4 degrees warmer than Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 34.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Colorado
Comparison | Rhode Island | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% | 4.63% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.43% | 0.50% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 2.9% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing | Aerospace, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 9% more than those in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Colorado is 20% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in CO is 4.63% compared to 3.75% in RI
- The affluence in Colorado is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is low in Colorado compared to moderate poverty in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Rhode Island and moderate in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Colorado
Comparison | Rhode Island | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Mixed, with a slight Democratic lean |
Local Politics | High community involvement, with a focus on local governance | Strong local governance with an emphasis on environmental and social issues |
Religion | Primarily Catholic | Diverse, with no single dominance |
- Rhode Island tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a slight Democratic lean
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as diverse with no single dominance
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Colorado
Comparison | Rhode Island | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Brown University (Providence) University of Rhode Island (Kingston) Rhode Island School of Design (Providence) | University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder) Colorado State University (Fort Collins) University of Denver (Denver) |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary (Bristol) Nayatt School (Barrington) Community School (Cumberland) | Slavens K-8 School (Denver) Cory Elementary School (Denver) Bromwell Elementary (Denver) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle (Barrington) Wickford Middle (North Kingstown) Gallagher Middle (Smithfield) | DSA (Denver School of the Arts) (Denver) Summit Middle Charter School (Boulder) Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School (Fort Collins) |
Top 3 High Schools | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High (Barrington) East Greenwich High (East Greenwich) | Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village) Fairview High School (Boulder) D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School (Denver) |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School (Providence) Wheeler School (Providence) St. George's School (Middletown) | Kent Denver School (Englewood) Colorado Academy (Denver) The Vanguard School (Colorado Springs) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Lincoln School (Providence) Rocky Hill Country Day School (East Greenwich) The Wheeler School (Providence) | Valor Christian High School (Highlands Ranch) Aspen Academy (Greenwood Village) Dawson School (Lafayette) |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Cumberland School District | Boulder Valley School District Cherry Creek School District Littleton Public Schools |
How Much Do Rhode Island to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 2,000 miles from Rhode Island to Colorado will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: The Move Caddies
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,336 | 300 ft3 | $7.79 |
1 Bedroom | $3,482 | 450 ft3 | $7.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,766 | 750 ft3 | $7.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,402 | 1100 ft3 | $7.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,140 | 1600 ft3 | $7.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,568 | 1800 ft3 | $7.54 |
Top Rhode Island to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Movemasters, Inc.
Best moving company overall for Rhode Island to Colorado