Moving to Denver from NYC

New York holds magic like no other city in America. Its energy pulsates throughout the historic streets, and stories burst from each borough, telling tales of dreams made, hearts broken, chaos, and beauty. In New York, the juice is worth the squeeze. 

But for many of us, a few years in New York can become tiring. Fighting the crowds, working multiple jobs, standing in line, and paying outstanding rent prices only stays exciting for so long. As time goes by, many of us crave space, nature, and a slower pace.

What if another, less costly, less crowded city contained world-renowned restaurants, late night bars, and a vibrant culture, but also displayed mountains at its backdoor? Moving to Denver from NYC is a big change, but a satisfying one for many.

If you’re comparing NYC vs. Denver, there’s no time like the present. Denver’s booming economy and gorgeous geography continue to attract a diverse group of people from all over the country.

AptAmigo can make your move easier by providing 1-on-1 support from a local Denver expert. Don’t have time to visit before you move? We’re experts at out-of-state relocations. We offer virtual tours, where we send someone in your place to take photos, videos, and ask all the right questions. It’s the best way to guarantee a smooth move.

Related: Best Sports Bars in Denver

Key Reasons To Consider Moving to Denver From NYC

Quality of Life

Coloradans work hard and play harder. As a state full of weekend warriors, we know that work-life balance is key. Denverites don’t live to work, but rather work to live, and they make every minute of free time count.

Residents of harsher winter climates often experience S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or other mood disorders caused by a lack of sunshine and vitamin D in the winter. Luckily, Colorado averages 300 days of sunshine⁠, so winters aren’t that tough and summers are always well worth the wait.

Even when Coloradans aren’t tearing down the ski slopes in the winter, they soak up plenty of sun at Denver’s myriad parks and open spaces. No one hibernates in this state — instead, we suit up in puffy jackets, gloves, wool socks, and buffs in order to get outside and enjoy the sun. 

Lifestyle

Coloradans are famously outdoorsy people, but this lifestyle also seeps over into other areas of their culture. Environmentally conscious companies proliferate, and consumers tend to make community-oriented choices. Denverites prefer to spend their dollars at farmers’ markets, art shows, and locally-based businesses in an effort to bolster the community and decrease their carbon footprint.

The down-to-earth Denver vibe means that you won’t find black-tie clad partygoers waiting in long lines here. While Denver offers plenty of upscale bars, restaurants, and clubs, the atmosphere is still relaxed. Breweries tend to function as the local watering holes. Food truck parks, dining halls, and concert venues provide the backdrop for social engagements.

Recreational marijuana has been legal here since 2012, if that clues you into this state’s vibe.

Housing Situation When Moving from Denver to NYC

When moving to Denver from NYC, you will experience a stark contrast between the two housing markets. As more people move to Denver, the call for modern, affordable housing grows. Consequently, so do the number of apartment buildings answering that call. As a result, Denver renters benefit from more and more buildings competing for the same number of renters, which means amazing amenities, competitive pricing, and convenient locations to choose from.

In New York, you pretty much have to show up with a security deposit as well as the first and last month’s rent in hand and prepare to hand it over on the spot. In Denver, apartment buildings rarely require this much money up-front. Usually, to incentivize renters, buildings waive application fees or offer concessions, and move-in costs are kept low.

Proximity to Outdoors Recreation

Denver is about 45 minutes from the closest set of mountains and only a few hours from some of the best skiing in the country. Just up the road, Boulder and Golden offer hundreds of miles of hiking, running, and biking trails, so city dwellers can get their mountain fix all year long. 

Within the city boundaries, locals go to the ample parks, green spaces, and trails to hang out, workout, or walk the dog. Wash Park, a resident favorite, hosts volleyball, kickball, and ultimate frisbee leagues all summer long. Cheesman Park sits only a few miles from downtown and provides the perfect spot for picnics and casual strolls. On the coldest of winter days, warm up in the greenhouse at the Denver Botanic Gardens and pretend you’re in the tropics. 

Denverites

Denver natives and transplants are friendly and approachable. If you plan to move here alone, rest assured, plenty of transplants come here not knowing a soul and manage to find a large, varied friend group.

Low-key, no frills meetups aplenty and welcoming singles groups occur every day. People who come to Denver arrive from all over— Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, California— you get the idea. Everyone’s looking to make friends and subscribe to a healthier lifestyle. As long as you also adore dogs, you’ll fit right in. 

Temperature

Denver’s more than 300 days of sunshine make winters less harsh and much easier to get through. Plus, with so many winter activities, you may even look forward to the snowier months. Skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice skating await in this winter wonderland. For the really tough outdoors people, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, and winter camping also happen here.

If you get bored easily, don’t worry. The weather in Denver constantly changes, and no two years ever look alike. One year, it may snow in May while January sees days that only require a light jacket. Summers boast warm days and crisp evenings, with humidity consistently low throughout even the warmest of months. So, you can kiss those East Coast bad hair days goodbye.

Love Life

We won’t sugar coat this one; in 2019, Denver was voted as America’s worst city to find love. Its culture is often stereotyped as containing ski bums, techies, and “Instagram yogis.” But for every self-interested person in Denver, two more actively look to improve their life, give back to the community, and foster a positive, healthy relationship.

20-49 year olds make up over half of Denver’s population, and its median age is 35 years old. While locals used to refer to it as MENver, now, the number of men and women is practically even. Additionally, the number of married people roughly equals the number of single people, meaning you can maintain a diverse group of friends and a social circle that encompasses many experiences.

Job Market When Moving from Denver to NYC

Denver and the surrounding metro area, including Boulder, Broomfield, and DTC (Denver Tech Center), are frequently cited as the next Silicon Valley. Tech companies move their headquarters here from places like San Francisco and New York almost daily.

For anyone looking for an industry change, desiring to move up professionally, or wanting to start their own business, Denver provides a great place to do so. Businesses pay well and most promote a healthy work-life balance. Many companies offer public transportation compensation, moving stipends, ski passes, and awesome team building activities. Rocky Mountain retreats anyone?  

Driving

Few people own cars in New York, and for good reason. It takes effort, gas costs too much, and parking doesn’t exist. This situation makes getting out of the city a real hassle, which means many New Yorkers spend their free time without a change of scenery. 

Denver isn’t necessarily a driving city — you can live downtown without a vehicle and still easily get to other neighborhoods, nearby towns, and even the mountains. However, for vehicle owners, you can find plenty of parking and most apartment buildings offer covered parking for tenants. 

Additionally, The Mile-High City heavily funds public transportation, and the RTD system now gives access to a large portion of the areas surrounding Denver. The public buses and light rail train cars are clean, safe, and efficient. Commuting by bike and foot is super common, and the city even contains numerous commuter bike paths linking downtown to its surrounding neighborhoods. Ubers, ride shares, and car rentals are also common and affordable.

Make Denver Your New Home

If you’re jonesing for a change of scenery, Denver makes a great choice. Trade the city that never sleeps for a Rocky Mountain sunset, and get ready to explore all that Denver has to offer. Denver is a happy, healthy, friendly city that many East Coast transplants love to call home. If you want to talk to a helpful Denver local, call AptAmigo. We’d love to help you find your dream apartment and make moving to Denver from NYC a total breeze. Go ahead and give us a ring; then, hop on a plane from NYC to Denver and see what awaits!

* The original version of this article was first published on January 21, 2020.