SLC Vs. Denver (Salt Lake City, Aurora, Virgin: motel, living, cost of living)

[Katiana]

I don't know what you want to know about Denver culture, but I can try to answer your questions. I have only visted SLC, don't know anything about living there. I do know it is even more isolated than Denver. SLC has a large LDS population. There are many threads on this forum on that issue; I would refer to them.

[ginger44]

I've lived in both areas and found Denver to be more isolated. Las Vegas is about a 5 hour drive from SLC.

[Jolimont]

Originally Posted by ginger44

I've lived in both areas and found Denver to be more isolated. Las Vegas is about a 5 hour drive from SLC.

You are correct about that, proximity to Vegas is a nice thing, but you must fly down I-15 to make it that fast! Used to take me 5hrs between Springville and the Strip, and that's speeding the whole way!

[RockyMtnr]

If you have moved to SLC from the East or if you are originally from anywhere "back East" - and if you miss the East, Denver may be your answer - it is the "edge of the frontier" to many Easterners, the end-all to living in the Rockies and as far as they were willing to go on such a risky move across the plains.
Denver is full of Easterners of the general sort. Salt Lake traditionally has attracted those from the more rugged Eastern States such as Virginia and Maine - people who might be in it for the skiing.
Denver is like a real city. Salt Lake is a little more like a huge, open-air mall.
From Denver, you can shoot down to Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico with relative ease and also up to Cheyenne and beyond. From Salt Lake ... it's a tedious drive no matter where you're going.
From Denver, it's a day and a half to reach the Mississippi River and thereby, "The East". From Salt Lake, it's a full day to reach Denver!
Denver has a typical "wild side". Salt Lake has "The Zion Curtain".
Utah - especially Salt Lake - has beefed-up it's numbers and stats for decades. The first thing I learned about Utah after moving there was that they will publish total falsehoods in order to get federal funding on certain fronts. That was before they started a major PR campaign to attract relocaters ... and they use the same method there. I see one poster found a report of SLC avg income to be in excess of 51K. Not so - perhaps possible if it is a family of six adults and all are working full-time. Cost of living is also higher than almost anywhere on the mainland.
Now, I'm not a big fan of Salt Lake - lived there a long time and near there for longer. It offers something different but not much else.
I'm also not a huge fan of Denver - it's stinky and dirty and has all the downsides of a major metro area - plus it's 500+miles to anywhere almost ... but it offers a more "regular" way of life.
But if you're into being a bit isolated - of having civilization about equi-distant in two directions (500 mi. to Denver, 700+ to the west coast) then, Salt Lake might be your answer.
I personally think you should take a much closer look at where you already are before making a big move to either because, once you're there, there's almost nowhere else to go except back home! (and you can do that from much closer)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by ginger44

I've lived in both areas and found Denver to be more isolated. Las Vegas is about a 5 hour drive from SLC.

Denver more isolated? As someone else said, Denver is a day and a half to the Mississippi River. I would add: a day to Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City. Utah is another day's drive to any place east, and a day and a half or so to California. Denver is also a much larger city than SLC. You may find that good or bad, but it needs to be considered.

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Utah is another day's drive to any place east, and a day and a half or so to California.

I can easily drive to the Bay Area or LA in California in 12 hours. I don't speed too much either.

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Denver more isolated? As someone else said, Denver is a day and a half to the Mississippi River. I would add: a day to Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City. Utah is another day's drive to any place east, and a day and a half or so to California. Denver is also a much larger city than SLC. You may find that good or bad, but it needs to be considered.

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

If you have moved to SLC from the East or if you are originally from anywhere "back East" - and if you miss the East, Denver may be your answer...
Denver is like a real city. Salt Lake is a little more like a huge, open-air mall.
From Denver, you can shoot down to Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico with relative ease and also up to Cheyenne and beyond.
From Denver, it's a day and a half to reach the Mississippi River and thereby, "The East".

To Easterners, these places are not exactly considered "East"! lol They are considered midwest, which is not particularly desirable to many Eastern seaboarders. And while they are "cities", they are in pretty rural, isolated areas. Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico and Cheyenne??? Proximity to any of these places means absolutely nothing to me, a typical Easterner (no offense intended!) When I leave the east, I will miss the proximity to NYC, Philly, and Boston. I couldn't care less if Denver is a few inches closer to them than SLC is. Either way, it's a long flight, and is not really drivable. The only thing that would be a consideration would be proximity the west coast, and for that, SLC is closer.

However, you both have a good point about Denver being a larger metro area, and more of a "real city". My biggest loss will be living somewhere where major bands usually don't tour..., as well as other cultural and entertainment opportunities. I love going to concerts, etc. - I see 10+ per year. Denver would be much better than SLC in this regard, but overall, SLC has many more advantages to me over Denver...

[sorryville]

There's some really good information in the below link. Use the links on the side for the different aspects (housing, climate, cost of living etc). It compares the cities side by side. The only part I felt was skewed was the utility rate for Denver. I know that its significantly lower than my location but on here it shows that it's higher. I hope this helps.

Moderator cut: link

[kristenfromdenver]

Don't forget Denver has one of the best outdoor natural amphitheater's in the country - Red Rocks is the such a great place to see a show!

[josetjo]

Please give those people that don't know what the abbreviation SLC stands for a break! I just stumbled on to your message and wondered what the heck SLC was. I found out as I replied but how would anyone know otherwise what this abbreviation stands for? At least type the whole name or word out initially then proceed to use abbreviations. Thanks.