Moving to Denver from NYC or Vice Versa: Everything you need to know

New York is a bustling metropolis that holds a magic like no other city in America for millions of people. It has a tremendous amount of energy that pulsates through its historic streets. You might also hear stories of dreams, broken hearts, beauty, and chaos if you listen closely. 

However, the endless queues, high rental prices, the need to work multiple jobs, and busy New York streets can become tiresome after a while. Not only are thousands of people moving to New York every year, just as many are leaving the city and looking for open spaces, nature, and a slower pace of life.

Before we look closely at the issue of moving to Denver from NYC or vice versa, let’s consider the pros and cons of living in Colorado vs. New York. 

Your moving to Colorado from NY guide

President Theodore Roosevelt dubbed Colorado the “Switzerland of America,” and this is because it’s known for its diverse landscape that includes picturesque views along with arid desert lands and river canyons. It is also home to the most extensive park system in the nation. The Centennial State, another name for Colorado, is a haven for anyone who longs for a more relaxed lifestyle that can include biking, hiking, and, let’s not forget, skiing. 

Denver is the populous municipality and the capital city of Colorado. It’s a beautiful and young metropolitan area ranked as the second-best city to live in the US. But before you start packing, find out as much as you can about moving from NJ to Colorado. Right here in this moving to colorado from NYC guide is where you’ll find all that information. 

Why people are moving from NYC to Denver

Over the last decade, Colorado has seen massive growth in population. Many people moving from New York to Colorado are doing so to experience the gorgeous mountain landscapes, bustling metro centers, and rural high plains. A variety of people from all walks of life have chosen to call Colorado their home. Many of those prefer living in Denver vs. NYC.  

Here are five reasons why you should consider moving to Denver from NYC:

1. Fantastic job opportunities

In Colorado, the economy is booming. Along the entire Front Range, massive corporations such as Google, Ball Corporation, Wells Fargo, Comcast, and the University of Colorado Systems employ large numbers of people in the metropolitan areas. As well as well-established companies, start-ups are also abundant and always on the lookout for new talent. 

2. Access to a fantastic mountain landscape

It takes just one hour to drive to the Rocky Mountains from Denver. If you choose to move from New York to Colorado Springs, Boulder, or Fort Collins, you’ll find yourself even closer to the mountains. Some of the world’s most famous vacation spots, such as Telluride, Vail, and Aspen, are all within a few hour’s drive. When you get there, you can go for afternoon hikes into the long summer evenings. 

3. The Purple Lifestyle

Colorado is always on the lookout for ways it can marry conservative ideals with progressive innovation. In 2017, for example, Denver was one of eight US cities that had more than 100,000 turn out for the Women’s March. Colorado was also the first to legalize recreational marijuana. 

4. The weather

Colorado has some crazy weather patterns. For example, you could experience sixty-degree heat in January, only to find it giving way to April blizzards. People have even been known to find themselves skiing through June.

5. The people 

Perhaps it’s the fresh mountain air or the abundance of luscious greenery that makes Coloradans so friendly, outgoing, and warm. Moving to a city can be very daunting, but that’s not the case in Colorado.

Great places to move to

If you dream of living in a place where you can enjoy hiking, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, and other outdoor activities, Colorado is the place for you. The state is a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts and those with a love of nature and adventure. It also attracts top students and professionals from across the country, not just those moving from NYC to Denver. 

If you’re considering making Colorado your home, here are some locations you might want to check out. Of course, Denver is on the list. 

Fort Collins

• Northernmost city along the Front Range mountains.
• A lot of the buildings are new due to the city’s recent expansion, and it gives it a young but clean vibe.
• Well known for all the outdoor activities it offers.
• Best neighborhoods include: Old Town/Downtown, University Park, North Fort Collins, Fossil Creek, Old Prospect, and Huntingdon Hills.
• There are two public golf courses and loads of beer breweries.

Boulder

• Most well-known as home to the University of Colorado at Boulder, which makes it a college town at its heart.
• The town is small but has heaps of culture, art, food, and overall character.
• One of the more expensive cities to live in.
• Easy to walk or ride a bike to just about anywhere you need to go.
• Gets more than 300 days of sunshine every year.

Denver

• Nicknamed “The Mile High City”.
• Centrally located in the middle of the state and the center of the country.
• Denver International Airport means you can jump on a plane and travel anywhere.
• Housing is relatively affordable, plus it has an adventurous outdoor lifestyle.
• The weather is good, and the city is growing rapidly, so there’s lots going on.

Castle Rock

• Castle Rock is a suburb of Denver but deserves a mention of its own.
• It has excellent proximity to two major cities, Denver and Colorado Springs, but enjoys easy access to the mountains located to the west.
• It enjoys more of a rolling hills kind of landscape rather than large mountains.
• The main attraction is the easy morning commute for those working in Denver and the less expensive housing options.
• Castle Rock has earned a reputation for being a family-friendly and affordable community.

Colorado Springs

• Colorado Springs is a favorite for all ages, particularly budget-conscious nature-lovers.
• It has a small-town feel with big-city amenities.
• Its higher elevation means milder summers and sometimes harsh winters.
• The housing market and cost of living are pretty affordable.
• Compared to other big cities, Colorado Springs residents enjoy a slower lifestyle. 

Pros and cons of living in Colorado

As you’d expect with all locations across the USA, each will have its own set of good and bad things about living there. Here’s a quick list of the upsides and downsides of moving to Colorado from NY. If you’re thinking about moving to Denver from NYC, these pros and cons also apply. 

Pros

• Colorado is a four-season outdoor sports haven for everyone.
• There are few places as good as Colorado for skiing.
• Colorado has better weather than most other states.
• The quality of medical care in Colorado is generally higher than in other states.
• You’ll find some pretty iconic views waiting for you.
• Colorado puts you on a day trip to almost anywhere. 
• Marijuana is legalized.
• There are both liberal and conservative elements.
• The food is incredible.
• There are craft breweries everywhere.

Cons

• The cost of living is higher than most of the rest of the country.
• Traffic in Colorado can be as bad as it is in Chicago during rush hour – all the time.
• New residents are not always treated with respect by the locals.
• There’s not much in the way of swimming. 
• The housing market is a nightmare.
• Discrimination is, unfortunately, a common problem.
• Drivers seem to set their own rules, so be careful on the road.

Your moving to New York Guide

Anyone who’s ever lived in New York City will agree it’s an incredible place to live. It’s also a city of extremes with more billionaires living in New York than any other city in the world. There are any number of pizza joints all over Manhattan where you can grab a slice for a buck, but you might also find yourself paying upwards of $3,000/month for an apartment. 

Geographically, New York isn’t huge, but more people live there than in any other city in America. If you’re moving from somewhere much smaller, you might find New York City a trifle overwhelming. So, what is it about this city of contrasts? 

Why people are moving to New York City

At the beginning of 2020, the numbers of people leaving the city were unusually high. On close examination, it appeared to be the rich who were deserting the ship. However, there’s another interesting side to this story as some parts of the city saw more people moving in than the year before.

Here are five reasons why you might want to consider New York City as your new home.

1. Lifestyle

New York City is a place you can get around without a car. Public transportation all over the city is reasonably priced and fast, whether you use the subway or taxi to get about. So unless you need to leave the city for something, you could get by without ever buying a car.

Relocate to New York City, and you’ll never have to worry about gas prices. You’ll also find almost everything you need within a few blocks of your New York home or place of work. 

Order things online, and you can have them delivered to your doorstep any time of the night or day. You’ll struggle to find such an efficient food and online delivery service in any other city around the world. 

2. Cultural attractions and entertainment

New York City is bursting with countless museums, exhibitions, and more than 2,000 arts and cultural organizations. You’ll also find more than 500 art galleries and a wealth of other attractions relating to American culture and history. 

When it comes to public green spaces and beaches, New York City has around 133 square kilometers of them. These are just some things that draw in visitors and new residents from off the moving truck.

If you happen to be a celebrity watcher, you won’t be disappointed in New York City because they’re everywhere. Walk down any one of New York City’s many busy streets, and you’re highly likely to bump into someone famous. 

 New York City also has an excellent reputation for serving up some pretty fantastic food. The wide range of cuisines, cultures, and flavors is hard for any other city to rival. 

3. Housing

Move to New York City, and you’ll become accustomed to living in full-service buildings, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Most of the services you would expect to handle yourself elsewhere in the US are taken care of for you in New York City. It’s also possible to request specific services, and the building management will complete them.

If you can cover the high living expenses, you don’t need to worry about clearing snow from the driveway or mowing your lawn.  

4. Community

New York City is a bustling metropolis where every day there are millions of people going about their daily business with no apparent interaction with those around them. However, there are tens of thousands of friendly communities located across the city that will willingly gather around for some of the most common situations.

There’s a strong sense of community in this city. Whether you’re a stamp collector, hockey fan, single mom, or retiree, you’ll have no problems finding like-minded individuals with the same interests and hobbies. 

5. Career opportunities

Whatever your career path, you’ll find more high-profile employment opportunities than in any other city in the world. The competition is intense, but don’t consider that a reason not to aim high. 

Great places to move to in New York City

You’ll find it very difficult to find a New York neighborhood that checks all your boxes. There are, however, five that are great places to look.

Lower East Side

• A hip neighborhood with lots of transit options and a 24/7 vibe.
• Several subways make your commute much easier.
• A wave of new development means there are lots of apartments to choose from.
• Known for its nightlife, there are tons of clubs, restaurants, and bars.
• It can be an expensive place to live. 

Downtown Brooklyn

• Lots of new buildings have sprung up in this area, both rentals and condos.
• New developments have attracted new amenities.
• Subway and bus lines can get you to Manhattan in around 15 minutes.
• Close to trendy neighborhoods such as Fort Greene.
• Plenty of options for restaurants, culture, and shopping.  

Jackson Heights

• Its main draws are its diversity, convenience, and affordability.
• One of New York’s most diverse, vibrant communities.
• Known for its affordable apartments, many of which are stately co-op buildings.
• Home to a good number of parks and playgrounds.
• Vey family-friendly neighborhood with a welcoming vibe and easy access to Manhattan. 

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

• Quintessentially Brooklyn, but at a fraction of the cost.
• Luxury rentals are popping up, indicating it’s about to experience a transformation.
• Close to train lines that will get you to Manhattan in around 30 minutes.
• Streets are lined with lovely 19th and early 20th-century row houses.
• Very park-centric life.
• Named as one of the neighborhoods to watch in 2020.

Jamaica

• You’ll get plenty of bang for your buck in Jamaica.
• Both rental and sales prices are affordable.
• A little bit sleepy with lots of space.
• Close proximity to the subway, LIRR, and JFK Airport.
• Lots of development planned. 

Pros and cons of living in New York

The pros of living in New York are hard to resist, which is why it manages to tempt people in their millions, all of whom are willing to overlook the cons of New York City life. 

Pros

• New York City is the land of opportunity, or as the song goes, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
• It is a safe place to live, even though you might have heard the opposite.
• It is often described as the cultural capital of the world.
• It’s a diverse city where more than 200+ languages are spoken daily.
• Networking and the social scene are at its heart.
• You’ll never find yourself short of something to do.
• The food scene is incredible.
• There are some great public parks.
• Public transportation is efficient and affordable.
• It’s a city that never sleeps. 

Cons

• Rents are exorbitant.
• Summers are humid and winters chilly.
• Living in New York City is expensive.
• You can expect crowds and long lines anywhere you go.
• New Yorkers are very direct, which is something you’ll need to get used to.
• Competition for apartments is intense.
• You’ll be expected to put in long hours.
• The city is really quite dirty.
• Homelessness is a real problem in the city. 

Making the move from NYC – How to move to Colorado?

When you move from NYC to Denver, Colorado, or vice versa, you have two options, moving yourself or hiring movers. 

Move yourself

One of the biggest attractions of a self-move is that it tends to be low-cost. However, it’s not as cheap as you think, plus there are several other factors to consider. So let’s look at the pros and cons of moving yourself. 

Pros

• Total control over your move.
• You can pack your belongings however you want.
• A DIY move could save you money.

Cons

• There will be lots of heavy lifting.
• It requires a lot of planning.
• Packing, loading, and unpacking will take a long time.
• Unexpected problems might be hard to overcome.
• The risk of injuring yourself is high. 

The cost of moving from NYC to Denver

Most people opt for a DIY move because they want to save money. It is a cheaper option, but the savings are not as big as you think. You’ve also got other expenses to factor into the overall cost, such as gas, mileage charge, accommodation, food, and refreshments along the way. 

Timeframe

Move yourself, and you can expect it to take much longer than hiring movers. Professional movers have the experience that allows them to work efficiently and quickly. They’re also more adept at lifting, minimizing damage, and negotiating narrow spaces quickly and safely. Not only that, but they’ll also be experts at arranging and organizing items in the moving truck. 

Hire movers

Full-service NYC movers such as Roadway Moving will help remove much of the stress of moving. They’ll take care of the entire move, from disassembling your furniture and packing your belongings right through to unpacking it at the other end after transporting it across the country.  

Pros

• You can leave everything to the professionals.
• Movers work very efficiently.
• It’s a much less stressful moving experience.

Cons

• Not so flexible.
• More expensive.

The cost of moving to Denver from NYC

A full-service move won’t be the cheapest option. However, rates do vary from company to company. Professional moving rates are also affected by several things, such as distance, location, and how much you want to move.

You have to remember that you get a lot for your money when you hire moving companies from NYC to Denver. This will include the peace of mind of knowing your possessions are being handled and transported by professionals. There’s also the convenience factor to bear in mind. 

Timeframe

Professional movers are very efficient at what they do. They’ll arrive on time, be well-prepared, and have the experience to deal with unexpected events. All this combines to provide you with a timely moving service.  

Valuable resources for anyone considering living in Colorado vs. New York

Let’s share some helpful sites where you’ll find lots of moving to Colorado advice. 

• Colorado Department of Education
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
• Colorado Department of Health and Environment
• Colorado Department of Revenue
• Colorado Department of Transportation

Valuable resources for anyone moving to NYC

• New York City Department of Education
• New York City Department of Labor
• New York City Department of Transportation
• New York City Department of Health
• New York City Department of Finance

Finding the best movers

Choosing the right moving company is key if you want to enjoy a stress-free, smooth, and safe moving day experience. If you take a little time and vet potential moving companies, you’ll save a bunch of hassle when you’re moving to Denver from NYC. 

1. Get referrals.
2. Follow the Rule of Threes: Ask at least three different moving companies to give you a personal quote.
3. Watch out for red flags: Asking for a cash deposit, showing up late, seeming unsure of their abilities, unable to answer questions.
4. Make sure the mover is licensed and insured.
5. Check with the Better Business Bureau.
6. Ask about Professional Accreditation.

Final thoughts

Now you know what to look for when deciding whether to relocate to Colorado from New York or vice versa. Both locations have a lot going for them and which you choose depends on your personal preferences.  

When the time comes to move, don’t forget to give Roadway Moving a call because we offer full-service moving that will make your relocation a piece of cake.