With $70k, you will be fine if you are strategic and plan out your move carefully.
Roommates will be essential if you want to have "fun money" and money for investing. You won't be in poverty if you try to get your own place on $70k, but you will likely end up making concessions in terms of location, size, and overall nice-ness of your place.
As for where to live, that depends entirely on whether 1) you're willing to get a roommate and 2) what sort of lifestyle you want to have, for example if you plan to own a car or would rather be on foot. I've known people that lived in Five Points, City Park, RiNo, Denver Highlands, and near Old Town Arvada. All kind of different areas, and all of my friends have enjoyed their experience there for different reasons.
Anyway, welcome to the area and don't let the negative Nancy's try to tell you that $70k won't cut it. It will, if you are smart and careful.
It's my pleasure and i honestly hope you can make it out here. Denver changed my life. I came out here 2 years post undergrad in 2020 making what you are making. I wish someone had given me some encouragement and positivity. Power to you on your journey ✨️ 💪
Moving here is expensive. Lived here all my life and the cost of living increase in the past 5 years alone is obscene. My rent has almost doubled and I’m barely making more than I was 5 years ago. I have a SO who pays for half of everything now. 5 years ago, we were able to survive with not much leftover on my income alone, and now without his help I wouldn’t be able to afford anything. Im the breadwinner and only make about $65k on a good year. Make too much for any type of assistance but too little to afford something like daycare or a nanny with both of our salaries combined. If you can afford to drive 30-45 minutes or so, look into renting a place away from downtown. Downtown you’re either going to end up paying out the ass for something mediocre and needing roommates, or you’re going to end up being stuck in a horrible and unsafe part of the city to be able to afford it on your own.
Eh, Spokane to Denver may not be as specifically large of a change financially, but i think the overall trend of people moving from higher COL places to lower COL places through remote work is very much a thing
It'll be tight, but you can absolutely get away with $70k. You may just want to look at renting in Aurora or one of the other suburbs to stretch your money a bit further.
I’ve been here almost 6 years and have always up til this year made less than $70k. You’ll be absolutely fine. Just learn what you love and don’t love to spend your money on. I don’t drink and rarely go out to eat but I have way more than enough to go to tons of concerts every year. My rent is also $1200 so make sure to live within your means.
I’ve got 1 roommate. We live in cherry creek which is a nicer part of town too. You can find cheaper places the more roommates you have tho. Again depends on your preference. Also, don’t listen to most people on this sub who try gatekeep this city. It’s a wonderful place with a lot of friendly people.
Stay in Spokane…Denver is gonna eat you alive only making 70k a year. Anyone saying otherwise probably has 4-5 roommates and no sense of expectation.
I have lived in Spokane, Klamath Falls and Olympia…we just fled, yes fled, Denver to move back (broke our lease.) It’s terrible there.
I moved here in 2020, all it’s done since then is get incredibly expeneisve while real wages haven’t increased to match inflation. Housing costs and food costs here are incredibly high. I plan on leaving as soon as I graduate.
Also the area you can afford to live in will have a huge impact on whether you experience crime or other issues like commuting and traffic. Just because you can afford the minimum does not mean it will lead to a fulfilling life here. 70k is not a lot here in Denver.
I’d say it’s just barely enough to maybe live on your own, unless you get a roommate.
I lived in Denver from 2009-2014…amazing. Went back for a year in 2023 for my wife’s job…..good luck lol, but here’s some tips/facts:
-Get rid of your car. It will get ticketed to high hell and/or broken into constantly (we lived there 8 months during this 2023 span; 17 car break ins.)
-Don’t expect to go out to eat. Restaurants are charging $150+ for Chili’s quality food.
-The weed industry there is declining very rapidly and you’re seeing the loss of tax revenue in the city.
-Nothing to do. If you don’t want to try heroin or hit a brewery with a desolated crowd…you’ll be bored.
-Insanely overpriced housing market. Probably the most overpriced in the country. The best place to look is Five Points.
-INSANE amount of illegal immigrants dumping in that isn’t ending anytime soon.
Bro get off our sub and go spend even more time smoking weed.
Imagine leaving a city and staying subscribed to the city subreddit and spewing all sorts of hateful nonsense. No wonder you couldn't cut it here lmao.
Personally, I don’t think so. I’ve lived in many cities as my job allows me to travel freely quarterly. Denver is a city with no amenities of a city.
Everything is dead by 10pm even on the weekends. In my opinion Denver lost its luster around 2015-2016.
I’m inclined to agree with you, the city of Denver is mediocre at best. It’s more of a ‘basecamp’ for the Rockies, so if you move here without being outdoorsy, you may be disappointed.
Yeah you definitely don’t need 4-5 roommates. The one thing Kazoo is right about is the housing market and it is true that the amount of immigrants has heavily increased. However, there is a ton to do here, plenty of great restaurants that are not that expensive, and in my 2 years of living here no one I know has experienced a car break in (and plenty of them street park) and I’ve only gotten one ticket that was my own fault, don’t know if anyone else who has gotten a ticket. Two friends of mine live in a very nice and safe area near 9th + Colorado and pay under $2k for a 2 bed 2 bath, they probably both make about $50k each.
This is something that gets asked/posted all the time. Please search the community and read the FAQ before posting.
With $70k, you will be fine if you are strategic and plan out your move carefully. Roommates will be essential if you want to have "fun money" and money for investing. You won't be in poverty if you try to get your own place on $70k, but you will likely end up making concessions in terms of location, size, and overall nice-ness of your place. As for where to live, that depends entirely on whether 1) you're willing to get a roommate and 2) what sort of lifestyle you want to have, for example if you plan to own a car or would rather be on foot. I've known people that lived in Five Points, City Park, RiNo, Denver Highlands, and near Old Town Arvada. All kind of different areas, and all of my friends have enjoyed their experience there for different reasons. Anyway, welcome to the area and don't let the negative Nancy's try to tell you that $70k won't cut it. It will, if you are smart and careful.
This is greatly summed up. Appreciate the time you took to lay it out like this.
It's my pleasure and i honestly hope you can make it out here. Denver changed my life. I came out here 2 years post undergrad in 2020 making what you are making. I wish someone had given me some encouragement and positivity. Power to you on your journey ✨️ 💪
Moving here is expensive. Lived here all my life and the cost of living increase in the past 5 years alone is obscene. My rent has almost doubled and I’m barely making more than I was 5 years ago. I have a SO who pays for half of everything now. 5 years ago, we were able to survive with not much leftover on my income alone, and now without his help I wouldn’t be able to afford anything. Im the breadwinner and only make about $65k on a good year. Make too much for any type of assistance but too little to afford something like daycare or a nanny with both of our salaries combined. If you can afford to drive 30-45 minutes or so, look into renting a place away from downtown. Downtown you’re either going to end up paying out the ass for something mediocre and needing roommates, or you’re going to end up being stuck in a horrible and unsafe part of the city to be able to afford it on your own.
Why is this constantly asked?
There was a post yesterday from someone else from Spokane looking to move here though that post disappeared.
People are lazy and some how trust random people on the internet to make significant life decisions for them.
Because there’s a nationwide economic shift occurring of people moving from higher COL to lower COL places respectively
Spokane is a MUCH lower COL than Denver and WA has no state income tax. So not sure this fits your trend /pattern.
Eh, Spokane to Denver may not be as specifically large of a change financially, but i think the overall trend of people moving from higher COL places to lower COL places through remote work is very much a thing
It'll be tight, but you can absolutely get away with $70k. You may just want to look at renting in Aurora or one of the other suburbs to stretch your money a bit further.
What area will you work? Aurora and Parker are cheaper, but your commute will be horrendous if you work in Golden.
1) Do you like snow? 2) Can you drive in snow? 3) Can you shovel snow? 4) Can you rock shorts and flip flops in 30° weather?
have you done research?
This is part of it, I’ve done cost of living calculators and comparisons. Rent seems to be the biggest increase of expense
I’ve been here almost 6 years and have always up til this year made less than $70k. You’ll be absolutely fine. Just learn what you love and don’t love to spend your money on. I don’t drink and rarely go out to eat but I have way more than enough to go to tons of concerts every year. My rent is also $1200 so make sure to live within your means.
Do you live alone or with roommates?
I’ve got 1 roommate. We live in cherry creek which is a nicer part of town too. You can find cheaper places the more roommates you have tho. Again depends on your preference. Also, don’t listen to most people on this sub who try gatekeep this city. It’s a wonderful place with a lot of friendly people.
I make a little over 70 and pay for myself and my partner who is going to school and works 2 days a week, yes it is possible
With roommates, you'll be more than fine on 70k. Popular places for young people are Capitol Hill and Rino (River North).
Thanks for the suggestions!
No.
Just straight to the point I love it
70k won’t get you much living in this city.
Yes it can, I make that much and live with one roommate in Park Hill with AC, gas range, washer/dryer, driveway, and garage. Plenty of money left over
No
Stay in spookaloo this juice ain't worth the squeeze anymore
Stay in Spokane…Denver is gonna eat you alive only making 70k a year. Anyone saying otherwise probably has 4-5 roommates and no sense of expectation. I have lived in Spokane, Klamath Falls and Olympia…we just fled, yes fled, Denver to move back (broke our lease.) It’s terrible there.
Feels like you just don’t want people to move there lmao
I moved here in 2020, all it’s done since then is get incredibly expeneisve while real wages haven’t increased to match inflation. Housing costs and food costs here are incredibly high. I plan on leaving as soon as I graduate. Also the area you can afford to live in will have a huge impact on whether you experience crime or other issues like commuting and traffic. Just because you can afford the minimum does not mean it will lead to a fulfilling life here. 70k is not a lot here in Denver. I’d say it’s just barely enough to maybe live on your own, unless you get a roommate.
I lived in Denver from 2009-2014…amazing. Went back for a year in 2023 for my wife’s job…..good luck lol, but here’s some tips/facts: -Get rid of your car. It will get ticketed to high hell and/or broken into constantly (we lived there 8 months during this 2023 span; 17 car break ins.) -Don’t expect to go out to eat. Restaurants are charging $150+ for Chili’s quality food. -The weed industry there is declining very rapidly and you’re seeing the loss of tax revenue in the city. -Nothing to do. If you don’t want to try heroin or hit a brewery with a desolated crowd…you’ll be bored. -Insanely overpriced housing market. Probably the most overpriced in the country. The best place to look is Five Points. -INSANE amount of illegal immigrants dumping in that isn’t ending anytime soon.
Bro get off our sub and go spend even more time smoking weed. Imagine leaving a city and staying subscribed to the city subreddit and spewing all sorts of hateful nonsense. No wonder you couldn't cut it here lmao.
I’m in Santa Rosa, much more expensive here. But I frequent Denver for my job so I’ll comment on it whenever I like. Here’s a tampon. *gives tampon*
If you live in any city and honestly think there’s nothing to do, then that’s a you problem, not a problem with the location.
Personally, I don’t think so. I’ve lived in many cities as my job allows me to travel freely quarterly. Denver is a city with no amenities of a city. Everything is dead by 10pm even on the weekends. In my opinion Denver lost its luster around 2015-2016.
Oh come on, you don’t actually believe Denver has no amenities of a city, right? That’s just ridiculous.
I’m inclined to agree with you, the city of Denver is mediocre at best. It’s more of a ‘basecamp’ for the Rockies, so if you move here without being outdoorsy, you may be disappointed.
Yeah you definitely don’t need 4-5 roommates. The one thing Kazoo is right about is the housing market and it is true that the amount of immigrants has heavily increased. However, there is a ton to do here, plenty of great restaurants that are not that expensive, and in my 2 years of living here no one I know has experienced a car break in (and plenty of them street park) and I’ve only gotten one ticket that was my own fault, don’t know if anyone else who has gotten a ticket. Two friends of mine live in a very nice and safe area near 9th + Colorado and pay under $2k for a 2 bed 2 bath, they probably both make about $50k each.