The average home in metro Denver costs $540,624. Here's what that gets you. (Lakewood: unemployment rate, buyers)

[oping00]

I have a question I have contemplated moving to Denver and from what I found salaries are lower than Phoenix and Chicago(Other places I have lived, I work in IT btw), but the cost of living keeps going higher.
So let me ask you guys does your salaries keep up with the cost of living for rent\mortgage or are wages in Colorado just lower for some reason.

For BI\SQL Developer salaries are 90k to 110k in Phoenix and Chicago, Jobs I applied in Denver are 75 to 85k.

[MN_Ski]

Originally Posted by oping00

I have a question I have contemplated moving to Denver and from what I found salaries are lower than Phoenix and Chicago(Other places I have lived, I work in IT btw), but the cost of living keeps going higher.
So let me ask you guys does your salaries keep up with the cost of living for rent\mortgage or are wages in Colorado just lower for some reason.

For BI\SQL Developer salaries are 90k to 110k in Phoenix and Chicago, Jobs I applied in Denver are 75 to 85k.

That's the mountain tax. People are willing to take huge pay cuts to be able to live here. With positions having hundreds of out of state applicants, companies are seeing no reason to raise wages. This is one of the reasons why there is some resentment of the growth by long time residents.

[N610DL]

Originally Posted by oping00

I have a question I have contemplated moving to Denver and from what I found salaries are lower than Phoenix and Chicago(Other places I have lived, I work in IT btw), but the cost of living keeps going higher.
So let me ask you guys does your salaries keep up with the cost of living for rent\mortgage or are wages in Colorado just lower for some reason.

For BI\SQL Developer salaries are 90k to 110k in Phoenix and Chicago, Jobs I applied in Denver are 75 to 85k.

If you compare Denver to L.A. or NYC, salaries keep up decent enough to afford property.

But compared to Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Austin etc - Denver would be a rip off by comparison.

[oping00]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

That's the mountain tax. People are willing to take huge pay cuts to be able to live here. With positions having hundreds of out of state applicants, companies are seeing no reason to raise wages. This is one of the reasons why there is some resentment of the growth by long time residents.

That's a bunch of BS, people wont want to come there anymore for expensive cost of living and lower salaries.
Southern California's job market is doing well and while its expensive salaries for IT are now comparable to SF\NY\Seattle.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by N610DL

If you compare Denver to L.A. or NYC, salaries keep up decent enough to afford property.

But compared to Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Austin etc - Denver would be a rip off by comparison.

I'm making 50% more than I was when I left Dallas 7 years ago. I guarantee you if I were to move back I'd have to take a 15-20% pay cut on top of having to live there again. I'd rather have a root canal without anesthesia and a rectal exam at the same time.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by oping00

I have a question I have contemplated moving to Denver and from what I found salaries are lower than Phoenix and Chicago(Other places I have lived, I work in IT btw), but the cost of living keeps going higher.
So let me ask you guys does your salaries keep up with the cost of living for rent\mortgage or are wages in Colorado just lower for some reason.

For BI\SQL Developer salaries are 90k to 110k in Phoenix and Chicago, Jobs I applied in Denver are 75 to 85k.

My salary has more than kept up with COL here and I work in IT as well. I have done some BI and work with SQL on a daily basis among other things. I also believe if I lose my job where I am currently at that I won't be able to make the same salary even with my experience and well rounded skill set. My company tends to pay a bit more for good reasons.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by oping00

.... people wont want to come there anymore for expensive cost of living and lower salaries.
Southern California's job market is doing well and while its expensive salaries for IT are now comparable to SF\NY\Seattle.

But people certainly ARE coming to Denver because they want the year-round mountain sports, youthful vibe, scenery and the legal MJ, and some make the move despite Denver's cost of living vs salary.

[blondmoray]

Originally Posted by headingtoDenver

500 more a month in property taxes? So, your tax bill went up $6,000?

Yep (or, I should say, almost. Some of that is escrow cushion). I should have disputed it when I had the chance, but I (stupidly) didn't realize what it meant in terms of monthly payments until I got our mortgage statement.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by blondmoray

Yep (or, I should say, almost. Some of that is escrow cushion). I should have disputed it when I had the chance, but I (stupidly) didn't realize what it meant in terms of monthly payments until I got our mortgage statement.

That still doesn't make much sense. Is your house a new $2million build in Greenwood Village? Even then, I can't imagine that your taxes jumped that much in one year, unless the assessor's office made a major miscalculation in the past.

So your total escrow from your mortgage company (taxes and insurance) jumped $6,000 in one year? I think you should have a serious talk with your lender and find out what's going on.

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by blondmoray

Yep (or, I should say, almost. Some of that is escrow cushion). I should have disputed it when I had the chance, but I (stupidly) didn't realize what it meant in terms of monthly payments until I got our mortgage statement.

I've got to raise the BS flag unless your house is some crazy multi-million dollar house and even then no way it increased by 6 grand in a single year.


Are you also factoring in your homeowners insurance and did your insurance go up? Keep in mind that this is also generally included into escrow.