Interstate Relocation: Washington → Colorado

Moving from Washington to Colorado: Cost & Tax Comparison

Compare state income tax savings, HUD rent differentials, and household purchasing power adjustments when relocating from Washington to Colorado.

Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Effective Tax Rate Change +3.7 pts CO vs WA, $100k single
Annual Tax Savings -$3,692 Federal + FICA + state, $100k
1BR Rent Change +3.4% Avg 1BR $1,399 vs $1,352/mo
Net Annual Difference -$4,251 Tax savings + 1BR rent savings

What changes when you move from Washington to Colorado

Washington has no state income tax on wages and Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax. On a $100,000 salary a single filer pays $0 in state income tax in Washington and $3,692 in state income tax in Colorado. With federal income tax and FICA unchanged, total tax rises by $3,692 a year after the move. HUD's one-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $1,352 a month across Washington's metro areas and $1,399 across Colorado's (+3.4%). Pay differs too: the BLS median wage across all occupations, weighted by employment in each state's metros, is $67,499 in Washington and $60,171 in Colorado. City and county income taxes, which some localities add, are not included in these state-level figures; the metro routes below include them.

Origin State: Washington

Washington Paycheck & Living Costs

Destination State: Colorado

Colorado Paycheck & Living Costs

Metropolitan Corridors Between Washington & Colorado

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA → Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
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Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA → Colorado Springs, CO On $100k: $3,692 more tax and $9,600 less 1BR rent a year
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Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA → Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $7,896 more 1BR rent a year
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Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA → Colorado Springs, CO On $100k: $3,692 more tax and $2,484 more 1BR rent a year
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Moving from Washington to Colorado: Cost & Tax Comparison Overview

Moving from Washington to Colorado on a $100,000 salary: pay $3,692 more in total taxes per year; average one-bedroom rent is $1,399 vs $1,352 a month (HUD.

Quick answers
How much money will I save moving from Washington to Colorado?

For a single filer earning $100,000 with no local income tax, total federal, FICA and state taxes are $3,692 higher in Colorado than in Washington (3.7 percentage points of gross pay). The average HUD one-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Colorado's metros is $1,399 a month, versus $1,352 in Washington (+3.4%). Taxes and one-bedroom rent combined change by -$4,251 a year.

What are the key tax differences between Washington and Colorado?

Washington: No State Income Tax, top rate 0%. Colorado: Flat Tax, top rate 4.4%. Federal income tax and FICA are the same in both states.