Seattle vs Denver: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Comparing home values: Seattle sits at $879,900, 63% higher than Denver's $540,400.

Typical households bring in $116,068 a year in Seattle, versus $85,853 in Denver.

Median rent is $1,945 in Seattle, compared with $1,665 in Denver.

Denver carries FEMA's Relatively High hazard rating, compared with Very High for Seattle.

Metric	Seattle, WA	Denver, CO
Population	734,603	710,800
Median home value	$879,900	$540,400
Median household income	$116,068	$85,853
Median gross rent	$1,945	$1,665
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Relatively High

Denver, CO comes out ahead on housing affordability versus Seattle, WA, with both a lower median home value and lower rent. Housing only — not the full cost-of-living picture.

Moving between Seattle and Denver

Seattle and Denver are 1,024 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Seattle → Denver	Denver → Seattle
Median rent	−$280/mo (−14%)	+$280/mo (+17%)
Median home value	−$339,500 (−39%)	+$339,500 (+63%)
Median household income	−$30,215 (−26%)	+$30,215 (+35%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$1,439 – $2,284
2-3 bedroom	$3,369 – $5,289
4+ bedroom house	$5,684 – $8,883

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Seattle, WA Denver, CO

1,178 miles estimated driving distance · 19.6 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$1,553 – $1,979

Includes an estimated $412 in fuel (118 gal at ~10 mpg) over 3 driving days.

Professional Movers

$5,686 – $10,463

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.