California Local Expert
Jessica Montes
“A born-and-raised Angeleno attempting quadrilingualism, one alphabet at a time.”
See full bio
Moving to Colorado from CA: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Trading Pacific coastlines for Rocky Mountain peaks sounds like an upgrade on paper, but the reality of relocating from California to Colorado catches plenty of movers off guard. California spoils residents with year-round mild weather and a vast network of cities and suburbs, while Colorado answers back with dramatic seasons, thinner air, and a pace of life that feels equal parts rugged and refined. Our Snappy Scout team (Jessica & Heidi) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle changes you should expect before packing the first box.
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Who's Behind This Guide
How to Get from CA to CO with a Moving Truck
Average distance
1,150miles
Typical route
I-70 E and I-15 N are the major highways you'd drive to get from California to Colorado
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Los Angeles, CA → Denver, CO
~1050 miles
San Francisco, CA → Denver, CO
~1250 miles
San Diego, CA → Denver, CO
~1100 miles
Sacramento, CA → Colorado Springs, CO
~1200 miles
San Jose, CA → Aurora, CO
~1300 miles
Should You Move From California to Colorado Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Colorado from California is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
How Much Are Movers from CA to CO?
Moving 1,150 miles from California to Colorado will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
3–10days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
That's the average.
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Is CO the Right Choice for You?
Well, it depends. If you're a Homesteader, CrossFit Regular, or Wall Street Exec, you'll thrive in your move to Colorado. But if you're more of a Beach Bum, Retired Snowbird, or Tech Bro, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from California to Colorado.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from CA to CO
Homesteading
California
3.5
/10
Colorado
7
/10
California
Giving up
NorCal acreage exists, but regulations and wildfire season complicate plans.
Colorado
Gaining
Land available but high prices and altitude challenge newcomers.
Recommended CO cities/areas for Homesteaders
San Luis Valleyrural Western Slopes
California
3.5
/10
Colorado
7
/10
Fitness
California
8
/10
Colorado
9
/10
California
Giving up
Games regionals, Miramar boxes, OC Throwdown vibes
Colorado
Gaining
High altitude training and Olympic Training Center fuel gains.
Recommended CO cities/areas for CrossFit Regulars
DenverColorado Springs
California
8
/10
Colorado
9
/10
Wall Street Life
California
4
/10
Colorado
5
/10
California
Giving up
SF finance exists, but no Midtown power lunches or NYSE buzz
Colorado
Gaining
Finance jobs exist downtown but lack New York's intensity.
Recommended CO cities/areas for Wall Street Execs
Denver
California
4
/10
Colorado
5
/10
Beach Culture
California
9
/10
Colorado
2.5
/10
California
Giving up
Santa Monica Pier sunsets, PCH cruising, sleepy Santa Barbara shoreline hideaways
Colorado
Gaining
Lakes offer swimming but landlocked mountains aren't coastal paradise.
Recommended CO cities/areas for Beach Bums
Boulder Reservoir
California
9
/10
Colorado
2.5
/10
Snowbirds
California
7.5
/10
Colorado
3
/10
California
Giving up
Palm Springs pools, Torrey Pines walks, SoCal’s gentle winters
Colorado
Gaining
Winters too harsh and snowy for those seeking sunshine.
Recommended CO cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
Grand Junction
California
7.5
/10
Colorado
3
/10
Tech Scene
California
9.5
/10
Colorado
7
/10
California
Giving up
Stanford spillover, SoMa meetups, Apple Park glow
Colorado
Gaining
Startup scene growing but lacks Silicon Valley's massive scale.
Recommended CO cities/areas for Tech Bros
BoulderDenver
California
9.5
/10
Colorado
7
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Colorado?
It’s the first breath when I get back from traveling. Colorado air is thin and dry, but it somehow feels lighter and cleaner. Everywhere else feels heavier, and coming home makes it feel easier to breathe again.
– Heidi Lim
Colorado Local
Lifestyle differences between living in California and living in Colorado
CaliforniaColorado
The Eating Scene Between CA and CO
Eating Like a Local in California
You can start the morning with an iced oat latte, grab an double-double with animal style fries (cheese, onions, and special sauce) from In-and-Out for lunch, and end with street dogs after a show. Also know as danger dogs, these bun-wrapped meals are topped with grilled onions and bell peppers. You can find the vendors outside of clubs/ bars on the weekends or by the dozens in concert parking lots. Why waste time driving when dinner is right in front of you?
Jessica MontesCalifornia Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Colorado
Order cautiously: Rocky Mountain Oysters are NOT oysters. They’re bull testicles. But they’re deep-fried, and let’s be honest, anything deep-fried has a fighting chance.
Heidi LimColorado Local ExpertColorado looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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The Honest Tax Effect of Moving to CO from CA
California
Colorado
CaliforniavsColorado
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% mental health surcharge over $1M
Flat 4.4% on all income
California
Progressive 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% mental health surcharge over $1M
VS
Colorado
Flat 4.4% on all income
Property Taxes
Property TaxesProp 13 around 1% base, bigger add ons in LA and SF, lower inland
Broomfield and Boulder areas higher, rural counties lower
California
Prop 13 around 1% base, bigger add ons in LA and SF, lower inland
VS
Colorado
Broomfield and Boulder areas higher, rural counties lower
Moving to CO from CA: The People, Politics, & Religion Reality
California
Colorado
CaliforniavsColorado
People
PeopleLaid back yet hustling, diverse, outdoorsy, friendly, occasionally impatient behind the wheel
Casual and low-key, friendly but hands-off, and deeply appreciative of sunshine and flexible plans
California
Laid back yet hustling, diverse, outdoorsy, friendly, occasionally impatient behind the wheel
VS
Colorado
Casual and low-key, friendly but hands-off, and deeply appreciative of sunshine and flexible plans
Politics
Solidly blue statewide, coastal cities are progressive, inland valleys and Sierras lean conservative
Purple turned blue, Front Range liberal, Western Slope conservative
California
Solidly blue statewide, coastal cities are progressive, inland valleys and Sierras lean conservative
VS
Colorado
Purple turned blue, Front Range liberal, Western Slope conservative
Religion
ReligionNo majority, many unaffiliated, big Catholic share, notable Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh
Mostly Christian with large unaffiliated population, growing secular
California
No majority, many unaffiliated, big Catholic share, notable Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh
VS
Colorado
Mostly Christian with large unaffiliated population, growing secular
The No-Nonsense Seasonal Breakdown: CA vs CO
SUMMER
California
microclimate roulette wheel (June gloom hugs the coast, blast furnace rules the Central Valley)
Colorado
crispy mornings, scorching afternoons (90s on the Front Range)
WINTER
California
dress in layers, call it winter (Bay gets nippy, Sierras turns icebox, desert nights bite)
Colorado
bluebird perfection interrupted by arctic blasts (mountains stay frozen)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Colorado
The transition from summer to fall is one of my favorite times of year. The leaves turn, the air cools just enough, and driving through the mountains for leaf peeping feels like a warm, cozy hug before winter settles in.
Heidi LimColorado Local Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
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Next Steps
Learn More About Moving to Colorado
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind California, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Colorado. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Colorado local experts.
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