If you want to discover a new part of the country, moving from New York City to Denver is an option. Here are some tips for your move.
They’re both beloved cities with booming economies and both cities attract a diverse mix of people.
These similarities may help you adjust faster and can really help to accelerate how fast you adapt to your new city.
So if you plan on trading in the Big Apple for the Mile-High City, this guide will explain the whole moving process and share some helpful tips to assist you with your relocation.
The Moving Process From New York City to Denver
How Far is Denver from New York City?
The distance between New York City and Denver is 1,777 miles. The driving time of this journey is approximately 26 hours by car depending on traffic.
So whether you’re planning on doing a DIY move and driving the journey yourself in a rented moving van or you’re planning to drive your car and hire a professional mover, it’s definitely worth noting that it’s an extremely lengthy drive.
The flight time is roughly 4 hours and 25 minutes long, so if the idea of sitting in a car for 26+ hours doesn’t sound like fun to you, you should definitely consider flying.
What is the Average Cost to Move From New York City to Denver?
The average cost to move from New York City to Denver is between $4,000-$7,000. That means on average it costs roughly $5478.
There are many variables that determine the exact cost of a move from New York City to Denver such as the number of items being moved, the dates of the move, whether you’ll want additional packing and unpacking services, and whether you plan to hire professional moving services or do it yourself.
Should I Move From New York City to Denver?
This move can be a massive change, but there are some definite benefits. Huge rental price decreases and a less hectic, more outdoorsy lifestyle are two of the biggest benefits. If this sounds good to you, then you should move from New York City to Denver.
How New York City Compares to Denver
Living Costs Compared
The first thing a New Yorker will notice when they arrive in Denver is how affordable it is comparatively.
It’s no secret that New York City is one of the most expensive places to live in the US, let alone the world, so the rental and real estate prices in Denver will be a pleasant surprise.
The median rent in New York City is around $2,850, while it’s only $1,678 in Denver. And in Denver, you can find plenty of modern condos with competitive pricing and amazing amenties.
If you’re planning to buy a house in Denver you will be happy to hear that buying an apartment in Denver is so much cheaper than in NYC. The median sale price of a house in NYC is $705,407. Whilst the median sale price is only $426,200 in Denver.
In general, the cost of living in Denver is around 37% cheaper than in NYC. So expect cheaper utilities, groceries, and healthcare costs in Denver too.
Public Transportation
The RTD (Regional Transportation District) system is Denver’s public transport system. There are buses and train cars that serve Denver and the surrounding areas.
Although Denver isn’t necessarily a city where you need to drive, most residents own their own vehicles.
The good thing is that there’s an abundance of parking available around the city and the majority of apartment buildings have parking garages. This is unlike NYC where most residents rely on public transportation.
In New York City an unlimited subway card costs $127 per month and $2.75 per ride. In Denver a monthly pass costs $114 and a MyRide One-Way Pass costs $2.80.
Weather
Winters in Denver can be a lot more enjoyable compared to New York, due to the sheer amount of winter sports and activities on offer. You can choose from skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice skating, and more!
As you know, NYC experiences hot, humid summers. Denver’s summers boast warm days and cool evenings, so if humidity is not your friend you’re in luck!
On average, Denver gets about 35 inches more snow each winter than New York. While the coldest average monthly temperature in New York bottoms out at 27℉, Denver’s average lows in the winter months are around 18℉.
Moving From New York City to Denver DMV
When moving from New York City to Denver, it must be noted that you will have to get a new driver’s license.
Within 30 days of becoming a resident of Colorado, you must transfer your driver’s license. And within 90 days, you must register your vehicle.
You can begin your application online but you must complete the transfer in person in your nearest driver’s license office. If you need more information about what you will need to complete the process it can be found here.
Buying a home in Denver
As we mentioned earlier, buying a home in Denver is significantly cheaper than buying a home in NYC. These are the neighborhoods to consider if looking to buy a home.
South Park Hill
South Park Hill has been consistently ranked as the best neighborhood in Denver, most recently in 2020. It is one of three neighborhoods that make up Park Hill. The additional areas are North Park Hill and Northeast Park Hill.
Are you looking for a residential district with a happening dining scene? That’s what you’ll find in South Park Hill. You’ll never run out of things to do as the neighborhood is beside City Park which is home to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Denver Zoo.
Five Points
This suburb was one of the first suburbs in Denver. Five Points is a neighborhood packed with breweries, coffee shops, tattoo parlors, and art galleries. So if you’re a millennial looking for a vibrant area to call home, Five Points could be the place for you.
Do you love the culturally rich area of Harlem in NYC? Well, Five Points has been previously dubbed as “Harlem of the West”. If you love living somewhere that has activity 24-7 this is a great neighborhood for that.
Pride’s Crossing
If location doesn’t matter too much to you, Pride’s Crossing can be a great option for purchasing a house in the general Denver area. It’s around 20 miles from downtown Denver, in Arapahoe County, and has been listed as one of the best places to live in Colorado.
This neighborhood is ideal for families and the public schools here are highly rated. If you’re looking for a neighborhood with a sense of community and a high percentage of homeownership, Pride’s Crossing is for you. 83% of people living in Pride’s Crossing own their homes.
Selling Your Property in New York City
The first step when planning to sell your property in New York City is finding the right realtor. You also have to consider when to sell your home.
Housing prices can fluctuate by thousands of dollars depending on what time of year you sell your home. June is the best month to sell in New York for speed, and July is the best month to sell for a better price in New York. Selling in either of these months is a great idea.
Figuring out what your house is worth is a vital task to ensure a financially favorable and speedy sale. Gauging your home’s value compared to the area’s market value is the best way to confidently price your home. An experienced real estate agent can provide a market analysis.
A good, reliable realtor will guide you through the whole process and can really help you alleviate the stresses that come with selling your home.
Finding a Job in Denver Before You Move There
Before you move to Denver, it’s advised to try and find a job so that your move can be as stress-free as possible. Some ideas of where to start the job search would be
City and County of Denver: Job Center
This is a great resource to find jobs in the City and County of Denver. This informative page contains information on where residents can find job opportunities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Indeed
Indeed is always a great place to find job listings no matter where you are based. You can use the tools to filter your search to certain areas in Denver and there are always new job listings posted daily.
To see the jobs currently available in Denver, check them out here.
Word of Mouth
Do you know anyone living in the area? Ask them if they know anyone looking to hire! It’s such a simple concept but yet we forget to use it.
Moving From New York City to Denver Checklist
The following checklist will allow you to assess what needs to be done before trading the Big Apple for the Mile-High City.
At Least 4 to 6 Weeks Before the Move
– Organize a professional moving company.
– Let your health care physician, dentist, and other service providers know that you are moving.
– Order moving supplies or ask your moving company to provide them as an additional service
– It is a great idea to sell or donate your unwanted items. You can sell on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Or you can donate them to the Salvation Army and they will pick items up at no charge.
– Begin packing; clearly mark boxes with a marker indicating which room they will be going into at delivery.
– You will need to make your change of address known to several different places, such as wherever you do your banking, the DMV, your workplace, any other financial institutions (such as credit card providers), the post office, your utility provider, and, saving the most important for last, your friends and family.
– Sort plane tickets if you’re planning to fly.
2 Weeks Prior to the Move
– It is imperative to clean and/or make needed repairs on your old home before moving out, since leaving your place an absolute mess may leave your security deposit in jeopardy.
– Because of the abundance of fragile items in your kitchen, you’ll want to pack these items away long in advance, with protective bubble wrap to ensure nothing gets broken in transit.
– You will also want to begin packing your things from bedrooms and bathrooms, except for your essential items that you will be using until you move.
– If necessary, you will want to arrange a babysitter for your kids and/or pets for parts of the move that you need to be able to focus and get things done.
A Couple of Days Before Your Move
– Clean up your home completely, double checking any cracks and crevices that may have your stuff hidden away.
– Unless your movers will do it for you, dissassemble your furniture to make your move a smoother process, and ensure to keep any screws, brackets, or other small items that are needed for reassembly. Pro tip: tape these smaller items in a bag to the bottom of the furniture.
– Print out the floor plan of your new home and have enough for the movers as well.
– You may want to hit the ATM before moving day, as you’ll need to have enough cash to tip your movers. Generally speaking, you’ll want to tip $20-$30 per mover.
– Make sure that you confirm with your movers the details of your move. The last thing that you want is to have moving day come around, and you and your movers aren’t on the same page.
– Get in touch with the landlord or current homeowner of your new place, and ensure that you’ll be able to get the keys to your new place when you arrive.
– Document the condition of your old place through pictures and videos, to ensure that you have proof of its state. This will come in handy if your landlord tries to keep your deposit, based on incorrect facts.
Moving Day
– Hand over your old home’s keys to the necessary people, such as landlord or building management.
– Do a quick run-through of your home to ensure that nothing gets left behind, whether it’s just a smaller item, or an entire box of stuff.
– Ensure that everything you packed up is in your new home before unpacking everything.
– If the moving company you are working with is going to assemble your furniture, make sure that they reassemble it in the correct room to avoid unnecessary work.
– Be sure to thank everyone helping you move, and leave them a tip!
You did it! Congrats and enjoy your new home!
Recent Comments