Moving to Denver can be an exciting adventure, and Moving APT is here to help make the process easy. We’ve already helped over 5,000 families make the move to the Mile High City, and it’s no surprise why so many people are drawn to the area each year.
With nearly 300 days of sunshine, you can always look forward to the sun peeking out even after a snowstorm. Plus, Colorado’s beauty and exciting city life have made it a destination for over 100,000 people in the past seven years. It’s no wonder why nearly 2,897,000 people now call Denver home!
Some quickly found after their relocation to Denver that there were key things they needed to add to their moving checklist before they showed up in the city. But don’t worry, we’ve broken it down for you so you can show up prepared to take on Denver, a city that is brimming with adventure.
Why Move to Denver?
If you ask someone why they live there, most people will mention the proximity to the mountains in one form or another:
One day they can explore some of the city’s best restaurants and coveted speakeasies and the next day they can wake up to the most picturesque views—fresh pine forests, colorful, fall aspens, and towering mountains.
Denver boasts the best of both a bustling city life and the natural peace of the outdoors—so there’s something in the city for everyone.
How Much Does it Cost to Move to Denver?
Generally, local moves within Denver will cost $100-$500, while long distance moves to or from Denver will cost $2,000-$5,000. Moving costs can always add up, no matter when or where you are moving. A couple of factors that will come into play is how many miles you need to move.
For example, the cost of moving from Florida to Denver will be much more than it would cost to move from Telluride, CO to Denver, CO, simply due to proximity.
The other factor you have to take into account is how much stuff you are moving. If you are moving a house, you will have more items to move than someone who lives in an apartment studio. Check out our moving cost guide; we break it all down.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Moving to Denver?
Denver boasts wonderful, sunny weather year around and adventures that you have access to as soon as you leave your front door. Its wide variety of outdoor adventure and speakeasies are unique to Denver. You won’t find these views and eccentric night scene anywhere else.
With all of that, there is a flip side to the coin. The amazing mountain views put you at a mile-high of elevation that can be hard to adjust to, forcing new comers to drink more water just to keep up with how dry the state is.
And because Denver is picturesque with a lot to offer people, the housing prices are steep. But that doesn’t keep people from arriving in the mile high state, nor should it keep you from moving to Denver.
What's the Cost of Living in Denver?
While Denver is no New York City or Los Angeles, the cost of living still ranks 12% higher than the national average and 8% higher than other cities in Colorado, even housing is about 37% higher than the national average in the mile high city.
As a single person, you can expect to spend about $1,000 per month on living costs, not including rent, while a family of four will spend $4,000 per month on living expenses, not including rent.
Denver Real-Estate: A Quick Overview
The average house price in Denver ranges from $488,000 to $540,000, and while on average, you can rent a single bedroom apartment for $1,800 or a studio apartment for $1,000, the housing prices are no joke.
The housing prices reflect the fast influx of people moving to the state without enough housing infrastructure prepared for their arrival. And even to this day, the city is still trying to catch up with housing, though.
If you’re willing to give up some amenities like in-house washer and dryer and air-conditioning and heating, you can find cheaper spots to rent around town. But be wary of the location of some of those listings.
A lot of times, the listings that are too good to be true, locks you in an unsafe part of town or an apartment complex riddled with mice. Yep, mice are a thing in Colorado, and quite common as well.
Living in such a beautiful city isn’t quite a cakewalk when it comes to everyday expenses. Things can add up. But if you quickly find the mountain views are more than worth it.
What are the Best Neighborhoods to Live in Denver?
There are a variety of vibrant neighborhoods in Denver, each fostering their own personality.
Some popular Denver Metro neighborhoods that are great places to live include:
- RiNo
- Capitol Hill
- Highlands
- Sloan’s Lake
Each neighborhood has something to offer. There are some cities just outside of Denver too that are great options to call home, including:
- Globeville
- Sunnyside
- Berkeley
- Aurora
- Arvada
- Wheat Ridge
- Golden
- Boulder
Globeville, Sunnyside, and Sloan’s are all up-and-coming neighborhoods, and they offer great value to renters and buyers alike.
How is the Job Market in Denver?
The job market in Denver is diverse. As a big city, you can find most jobs here from nurses and doctors to Data Analytics and research, but the Tech, Aerospace, and Adventure industries have a huge presence in Denver.
There’s a lot of solid opportunities to find a great company to work for whether you want to be a seasonal climb or ski instructor, or want to become a part of the growing tech scene with companies like Google or HP.
What is Denver Most Known For?
Denver is known for many of its natural and not-so-natural attractions.
- Red Rocks Amphitheater, for one, is Colorado’s iconic outdoor music venue. But you don’t have to wait for a concert to visit the towering red rock stage. People go to Red Rocks to work out or hike. But be sure to check out the venue whether you’re seeing your favorite band or just going on a day trip.
- Meow Wolf is recently new to Denver. It’s a colorful, mind-bending experience. Easy for anyone to walk around its layout is similar to a museum, but its features are going to have you thinking and rethinking your perception. It’s the perfect attraction for a state that allows its natives to buy and consume marijuana at home.
- The Great American Beer Festival happens every year in the fall and has a lineup of several breweries within the town, giving you somewhere new to go each night with something new to do. It’s the perfect event if you don’t necessarily want to set an itinerary. You will always have something new to do and a new beer to sip.
- 16th street mall is popular for its outdoor strip mall feel. The street is bustling with lots of shops and restaurants and is in walking distance from the Capital. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to hit some shops and grab a bite to eat.
- Pike’s Peak is located an hour south of Denver in Colorado Springs, but be sure not to miss this one. Named “America’s Mountain” you can either hike or drive to the top peak.
- The Manitou Incline located in Colorado Springs is your best stair workout yet. With 2,744 stairs from top to bottom, this hike is known for its relatively straight stairway up to the top. It is a vigorous and intense 4.5 mile hike that can be completed in 2+ hours.
- Denver is known for featuring all of its local businesses, and the Cherry Creek Fresh Market is every Saturday morning from May to November is the best way to see it all in action. Shop local foods and find something for everyone in the family.
- The summer has a lot of community events. If you make your way out to Boulder, you will find the Thursday Summer Cruiser ride. Everyone brings, or rents a bike, and cycles around Boulder at a leisurely pace. This is such a good way to get a tour of the city.
- Want to get out of the city and take in all of Colorado’s natural beauty, without standing up? The Royal Gorge train has routes through some of Colorado’s most beautiful terrain. And unlike other trains, it moves at a slow 35 mph allowing you to take in all of the scenic views.
- The summer is the best time to check out a lot of the outdoors in Colorado, however there’s something to do in every season. Floating Boulder creek or Clear Creek Canyon should be high on your list. Put your suit on, rent and tube, prepare a picnic, and spend the day lounging outside some of the most beautiful areas of Colorado.
- Garden of the Gods, also located south of Denver in Colorado Springs, is a picturesque getaway. Its home to a lot of geological and ecological rarities that make the park a great place for nature lovers. It’s famous for being a natural landmark nestled at the foot of Pike’s Peak.
There is so much to do in Denver, but if you want to hike during the day and hit the city at night, you have a lot of options.
Denver is varied, and each part of town has something different to offer. With that, each night you have a lot to choose from whether you just want to grab a bite to eat or get some delicious drinks.
From salsa dancing to throwing back beers at a local brewery, there is something for everyone. The most popular areas to go out and hit the night scene include RiNo, Highlands, and Broadway.
Denver is known to have a lot of American food, but that’s not all it offers. Its diversity in the food scene is often overlooked and underrated. Denver boasts some delicious places to eat and coveted speakeasies where you can get your drink on. Some, but not all the places you should check out the range from Mexican to Mediterranean to sushi.
Some of Denver’s best restaurants:
- Bellota
- Safta
- Crema
- Boxcar
- La Loma
- Greenwich
- Just Be
- Beckon
- Work and Class
- Super Mega Bien
- Sushi Den
And for the cherry on top, head to Run for the Roses. It is a speakeasy you don’t want to miss, but it can be hard to find as it’s tucked away in a back alley. You have to keep your eyes peeled for its entrance, but once you find it, you won’t be disappointed.
What are the Best Schools & Universities in Denver?
Colorado has a lot of STEM schools with Colorado School of Mines and University of Colorado Boulder making the top of a lot of college lists.
Denver University is also super close rounding out the offerings with a solid social work program. There’s a lot to love about the college scene in Colorado, and it has a lot to offer prospective students. The universities set you up for the Denver economy, which is filled with a lot of Tech and Aerospace companies.
A City Worth The Move
Denver is a city that offers people a variety of different adventures. From its natural landscapes to its bustling city life, there is something here for everyone. Its cost of living isn’t the worst in the nation but it also isn’t the cheapest place to live if you are trying to save money.
With the influx of people moving to the Rocky Mountain city, housing prices are steep and finding a place that fits all of your criterion can be hard, but if you’re willing to sacrifice a few of your must-haves, you could find yourself living in one of the most beautiful cities in the nation, waking up to mountains on the horizon and hiking trails ready for you to explore.
Adventure is knocking, are you ready to take it on?
