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Moving from San Diego to Denver
Relocation from San Diego to Denver is one of the most popular California exits for a reason. You trade the beach for the mountains, but keep the outdoor lifestyle that brought you west in the first place. Homes cost significantly less, and income tax drops from among the highest in the country to Colorado’s flat rate. The savings add up quickly without the culture shock of a long distance move. The trade-off may come down to income and real mountain winters. Here’s our full comparison, and what makes Poseidon Moving the right San Diego to Denver moving company for this route.
San Diego to Denver Moving Services
Moving from San Diego to Denver is a major long-distance relocation that crosses desert, mountain passes, and high plains. Whether you’re leaving a condo near the coast, a single-family home in the suburbs, or a townhome inland, the Poseidon Moving team helps you move with a clear schedule, careful handling, and support from packing to delivery.
We handle both residential and commercial moves, offering packing and unpacking services along with short- and long-term storage options when your timeline needs flexibility. Our fleet of equipped moving trucks carries everything needed for a safe move — dollies, moving pads, and the right tools for the job. Every move is staffed by expert movers who know how to protect your belongings, from tight stairwells to long-haul transit. Poseidon Moving is BBB A+ rated and has been for over a decade.
Our interstate carriers are fully FMCSA licensed and insured. The primary route follows I-15 North through Barstow and Las Vegas, then picks up I-70 East across Utah and through the Rockies before descending into the Denver metro. Drivers select routing based on weather and seasonal conditions across this varied corridor. Once the truck arrives in Colorado, crews are prepared for whatever comes next — whether that’s a bungalow in the Highlands, a family home in Littleton or Highlands Ranch, or a new build in Aurora or Commerce City. A dedicated coordinator tracks your shipment start to finish — from America’s Finest City to the Mile High City.
San Diego vs. Denver: Cost of Living Comparison
The financial case for moving from California to Colorado runs on two tracks: a massive housing markdown and a steep income-tax reduction. Both hit at the same time, and the combined effect is one of the largest financial resets in this series.
| Category | San Diego | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Cost of Living | ~45% above national avg. | ~11% above national avg. |
| Median Home Price | ~$900,000 | ~$590,000 |
| Average Rent (1BR) | ~$2,400/month | ~$1,900/month |
| State Income Tax | 1%–13.3% progressive | 4.40% flat |
| Property Tax Rate | ~0.68% (San Diego Co.) | ~0.50% (Denver Co.) |
| Sales Tax | ~7.75% (state + local) | ~8.81% (state + local) |
| Social Security Taxation | Not taxed | Not taxed |
| Median Household Income | ~$100,000 | ~$85,000 |
Two lines dominate this table. Housing is the biggest single-item savings: San Diego’s median home price of ~$900,000 versus Denver’s ~$590,000 represents a gap of roughly $310,000 — enough to eliminate a mortgage entirely for some households or dramatically reduce monthly payments for others. Rent also favors Denver: a one-bedroom averaging ~$1,900 versus ~$2,400 in San Diego saves renters about $6,000 a year.
Income tax is the second major win. California’s progressive rate tops out at 13.3%, while Colorado charges a flat 4.4%. On a household income of $150,000, that difference translates to roughly $5,000–$8,000 per year in tax savings, depending on your filing status and deductions. Property tax is a rare line where both cities are winners — San Diego’s ~0.68% and Denver’s ~0.50% are both well below national averages, so homeowners on either side aren’t facing the kind of bills you’d see in Texas or New Jersey. Sales tax slightly favors San Diego at ~7.75% versus Denver’s ~8.81%. Neither state taxes Social Security benefits, which matters for retirees considering this move. The honest trade-off is income: San Diego’s median household income of ~$100,000 outpaces Denver’s ~$85,000 by roughly $15,000, reflecting the concentration of biotech, defense, and tech salaries in the San Diego metro. But the combined housing and tax savings far exceed that gap for most earners.
Denver’s economy is growing steadily, anchored by aerospace, tech, healthcare, and energy. The city sits at the foot of the Rockies with world-class skiing within 90 minutes, a vibrant downtown, and one of the country’s best craft-beer and restaurant scenes along corridors like RiNo and Tennyson Street.
Cost to Move San Diego to Denver
The average moving cost San Diego to Denver ranges from roughly $2,000 to $6,500, depending on the size of your home, the services you select, and when you move. A studio or one-bedroom with minimal furniture typically falls on the lower end, while a full four-bedroom household with packing, crating, and specialty items can push toward the upper range or beyond.
At roughly 1,078 miles, this is a mid-to-long-range interstate move with unique terrain that can affect scheduling and routing decisions. Seasonal timing also affects pricing — summer months carry higher demand industry-wide, so spring or fall moves often come in lower.
Poseidon Moving & Storage offers flexible service tiers for this corridor. Our all-inclusive packages cover packing, disassembly, loading, transport, delivery, reassembly, and basic liability protection under a single flat-rate quote — no surprise fees at the door. For smaller loads or tighter budgets, ask about our truck share options, which consolidate eastbound shipments to reduce per-household cost. And if your timeline is tight, our expedited service prioritizes your shipment for faster delivery.
Every quote is based on your actual inventory, not an industry average. Get your personalized quote today and lock in a number before you move.
Why Us for Your San Diego to Denver Move
Poseidon Moving & Storage brings corridor-specific experience that generalist carriers can’t match. We’ve handled hundreds of California-to-Colorado relocations and understand the logistics challenges unique to both ends of this route.
Every relocation begins with a thorough virtual or in-home walkthrough — whether you’re in a beachside condo in Pacific Beach, a family home in Scripps Ranch, a townhome in Carlsbad, or a hillside property in La Mesa — and produces a binding flat-rate quote covering labor, packing materials, fuel, mileage, and basic door-to-door liability coverage. What’s quoted is what you pay — no exceptions.
What separates Poseidon on this corridor is how we handle the altitude and climate transition. Your shipment climbs from sea level to 5,280 feet, crossing desert and mountain terrain along the way — we account for that with scheduling that avoids extreme desert heat, packing protocols that protect wood furniture and instruments through sharp humidity and elevation shifts, and routing decisions that prioritize safe mountain-pass conditions. Your coordinator provides live updates from departure through final placement, so you’re never guessing where your shipment is. Request your free consultation today, and let Poseidon handle the details from pickup to delivery.
