Colorado Local Expert
Heidi Lim
“She's a blossoming plant nerd.”
See full bio
Relocating from Colorado to Virginia: Red State, Blue State — What Really Changes
Trading mountain peaks for rolling green hills sounds like a fair swap, but relocating from Colorado to Virginia brings more contrast than most people anticipate. Colorado's high altitude lifestyle, outdoor culture, and Western independence feel worlds apart from Virginia's mid-Atlantic pace, historic roots, and proximity to the nation's capital. Our Snappy Scout team (Heidi & Laura) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts you should expect before you start loading the moving truck.
Who's Behind This Guide
The Drive from Colorado to Virginia: What to Plan For
Average distance
1,750miles
Typical route
I-70 E and I-64 E
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Denver, CO → Richmond, VA
~1750 miles
Colorado Springs, CO → Virginia Beach, VA
~1800 miles
Aurora, CO → Norfolk, VA
~1800 miles
Fort Collins, CO → Arlington, VA
~1750 miles
Boulder, CO → Roanoke, VA
~1700 miles
What Does It Really Cost to Move to Virginia from Colorado?
Moving 1,750 miles from Colorado to Virginia 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
4–11days
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.
Will Your Vibe Work in Virginia?
Well, it depends. If you're a Tech Bro, Garden Club Lifetime Member, or Farmer's Market Regular, you'll thrive in your move to Virginia. But if you're more of a Minimalist, Yoga Instructor, or Gamer, 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 Colorado to Virginia.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from CO to VA
Tech Scene
Colorado
7
/10
Virginia
9
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Startup scene growing but lacks Silicon Valley's massive scale.
Virginia
Gaining
AWS in Herndon, Metro Silver Line commutes.
Recommended VA cities/areas for Tech Bros
ArlingtonRestonTysons
Colorado
7
/10
Virginia
9
/10
Gardener
Colorado
5.5
/10
Virginia
7
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Denver Botanic Gardens inspire but short season and altitude challenge.
Virginia
Gaining
Norfolk Botanical Garden blooms, Maymont roses, daffodil festival.
Recommended VA cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
Colorado
5.5
/10
Virginia
7
/10
Farmer's Markets
Colorado
7.5
/10
Virginia
8.5
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Boulder Farmers Market and Palisade peaches steal the show.
Virginia
Gaining
Torpedo Factory vibes and Charlottesville City Market peaches.
Recommended VA cities/areas for Farmer's Market Regulars
Colorado
7.5
/10
Virginia
8.5
/10
Minimalism
Colorado
8.5
/10
Virginia
5
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Tiny homes meet mountain living simplicity and purpose.
Virginia
Gaining
Urban convenience, but sprawl from Tysons to Short Pump.
Recommended VA cities/areas for Minimalists
Arlington condosRichmond lofts
Colorado
8.5
/10
Virginia
5
/10
Yoga
Colorado
9.5
/10
Virginia
8
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Mountain zen and Red Rocks Yoga sessions thrive.
Virginia
Gaining
Sunrise ocean flows and RVA rooftop classes.
Recommended VA cities/areas for Yoga Instructors
FairfaxRichmondVirginia Beach
Colorado
9.5
/10
Virginia
8
/10
Gaming
Colorado
7
/10
Virginia
6
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Growing esports scene and indie game dev community emerging.
Virginia
Gaining
MAGFest at National Harbor nearby and VT esports clubs.
Recommended VA cities/areas for Gamers
Colorado
7
/10
Virginia
6
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Virginia?
Smell: Pig slow-cooking in the cooker
Sound: Rolling waves at the beach, and even an occasional beach day in December or January
Event: Blue Angel and Thunderbird Air Show
– Laura Gray
Virginia Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Colorado and living in Virginia
ColoradoVirginia
How People Actually Eat in Colorado and Virginia
Eating 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 ExpertEating Like a Local in Virginia
What do locals actually order in the Hampton Roads area: White dip with their Mexican chips, She Crab Soup, and an Orange Crush, a one-of-a-kind kind of drink.
Laura GrayVirginia Local ExpertThe No-Nonsense Tax Picture of Moving from Colorado to Virginia
Colorado
Virginia
ColoradovsVirginia
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 4.4% on all income
Progressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
Colorado
Flat 4.4% on all income
VS
Virginia
Progressive 2% to 5.75%, top rate over $17k income
Property Taxes
Property TaxesBroomfield and Boulder areas higher, rural counties lower
Higher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
Colorado
Broomfield and Boulder areas higher, rural counties lower
VS
Virginia
Higher in Northern Virginia suburbs, lower in Shenandoah, Southside, Eastern Shore
The Political, Cultural, & Religious Truth of Colorado vs Virginia
Colorado
Virginia
ColoradovsVirginia
People
PeopleCasual and low-key, friendly but hands-off, and deeply appreciative of sunshine and flexible plans
Polite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
Colorado
Casual and low-key, friendly but hands-off, and deeply appreciative of sunshine and flexible plans
VS
Virginia
Polite, history obsessed, NOVA fast paced, coastal easygoing, mountain neighborly, military strong
Politics
Purple turned blue, Front Range liberal, Western Slope conservative
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
Colorado
Purple turned blue, Front Range liberal, Western Slope conservative
VS
Virginia
Purple statewide, NOVA, Richmond, Hampton Roads blue, Southwest, Shenandoah, Southside reliably red
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian with large unaffiliated population, growing secular
Mostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
Colorado
Mostly Christian with large unaffiliated population, growing secular
VS
Virginia
Mostly Christian, Baptist and Catholic strong, rising unaffiliated, notable Muslim and Hindu in NOVA
What Locals Know About the Weather in Colorado and Virginia
SUMMER
Colorado
crispy mornings, scorching afternoons (90s on the Front Range)
Virginia
sweet tea sauna (Chesapeake breathes on you, Roanoke bakes by noon)
WINTER
Colorado
bluebird perfection interrupted by arctic blasts (mountains stay frozen)
Virginia
coat roulette (Blue Ridge bites, Hampton Roads shrugs and rains)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Virginia
Spring: Burnside Farm's Tulip Festival (Holland in our own backyard)
Summer: Acres of sunflower fields and festivals
Fall: Fall foliage along the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway
Winter: A 1/4" of snow for a snow day off school
Laura GrayVirginia Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Virginia
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 Colorado, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Virginia. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Virginia local experts.
Moving toNorfolk
HRBT Jams, King Tides, And Mermaid Happy Hours
Moving toCharlottesville
Prep for Wine, Jeffersonian Guilt
Moving toHampton