Cost of living and weather in Colorado... etc! (Colorado Springs, Woodland Park: rental, houses)

[BabyKong1608]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to re-locate to Colorado Springs sometime next spring with my husband from Northern Michigan. I work in rehab right now at a nursing home and will be looking to do some travel work there and possibly permanently settle there. We are in our early twenties and are looking for something new and exciting (we've been in Michigan our whole life).

How is colorado springs comparable to northern michigan? We average 250+inches of snow each winter... is that anywhere near that there? I read somewhere that the weather changes often there which is pretty much how it is in Michigan.

It seems like overall it is pretty safe. We used to live just a mile north of Detroit so I am sure most cities are an improvement from that.

Also, how do the cost of groceries and such compare to other areas? It seems like the cost of living is about the same or a little less than here, but a lot of the rental houses I have been looking at are pretty expensive compared to northern Michigan.

Any information or suggestions are greatly appreciated. We are excited to move and discover a new place.

[Mike from back east]

Look in the index under WILDLIFE for info on Hummingbirds and birds in general.

A lot less snow here, and it goes away within a day. Snowmobiles are only used up in the mountains, which we aren't.

Cost of Living comparison websites can be found all over the web, and in the data side of this website.

We pay $2.11 for reg gas, $2.87 for a gallon of milk, etc. Nothing outrageous here. Rents here seem reasonable.

[otowi]

Much less snow. More sun.

Yes, it is pretty safe.

I don't have a basis for comparison, personally.

[treedonkey]

Food seems a bit more expensive here to me. Fresh produce seems especially expensive and hard to come by, compared to CA anyways, but I doubt you'll be in the poorhouse after paying more for Bell peppers and lemons.

[Mike from back east]

Posters, I've split this thread up, moving/copying all of the "bird" info to the "bird" thread so we can keep all bird and birding info in one spot for best reference. Several posts were edited to align with their respective topics.

[Cliftons]

Cost of living here is about the same as it is in Northn MI BUT you would make more money doing the same thing here as you do there.

Look into the new hospital here in Woodland Park, they may be hiring just for what you do.

The snowfall in COS is a LOT less than here in the Woodland Park area.

Only thing that we have noticed that was odd is the tax on groceries. Other than that prices are about the same on food, we also have a farmers market every friday morning in Woodland Park that my wife LOVES.

Gas is a LOT cheaper here than there as well. BUT the low octane here is like 83 I think compared to the 87 being the lowest in MI.

[ryanek9freak]

Yeah, gas is alot cheaper here. I'm currently visting in Ohio right now, and I can tell you, after only 2 days, I'm already wanting to com back to Colorado. Oh, and sorry for my absence latley.

[Mike from back east]

I haven't seen 83 octane gas here, lowest I've seen is 85 octane, which works fine in cars designed for 87 octane. There is an old thread in here on the topic of octane and cars, just search on OCTANE.

My last gas purchase here was $2.219 at King Soopers (grocery store) after my 10-cent/gallon discount, so it's up a dime/gallon.

[BabyKong1608]

Here in Gaylord we are currently at 2.69 per gallon... a lot of times we are 30 cents+ more expensive than Traverse City or even downstate Detroit.

[nwc07]

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

This is a good website to do comparisons. I am looking at this area coming from Fairfax County, VA . Has anyone done this move (DC to CO) and how did it work out for you?