with $100k coming in, swapping out of San Francisco

change
Denver, CO cityscape

from san francisco

Denver

co · metro 3.0M

photo: Noel Aph / pexels

a dispatch from

denver

CO

39.74°N

104.98°W

Denver is a mile above sea level, an hour from a dozen ski resorts, and surrounded by mountains that make every west-facing window feel like a vacation. The air is dry, the sun shows up roughly 300 days a year, and craft beer is taken seriously enough to have its own annual pilgrimage (the Great American Beer Festival). Green chile is a hill people will die on. The patio season is essentially eternal.

metro3.0M

in our guides

#4

of 10

Best cities for remote workers

read the guide
#7

of 10

Cheap cities with serious airports

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for food and nightlife

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable cities near national parks and wilderness

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for young professionals

read the guide
#9

of 10

Most walkable cities in America

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best affordable cities to live car-free

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for families who love the outdoors

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for couples

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for live music and arts

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

read the guide
#3

of 10

Most livable cities in America

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#3

of 10

Biggest cities you can actually afford

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best places to move in 2026

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for work-life balance

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best affordable cities in the Mountain West

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for digital nomads

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,692

less monthly outlay than San Francisco

Denver is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the denver entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,863/mo

41% cheaper than San Francisco(vs $3,146/mo)

02state income tax

4.4%

$408/mo less in state tax than San Francisco

vs 9.3% in San Francisco

03after rent

$6,104/mo

$1,692 more than San Francisco

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$599k

52% cheaper than San Francisco

vs $1239k in San Francisco

05metro size

3.0M

vs 4.6M in San Francisco

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

174

pleasant days a year, in denver.

San Francisco gets 312 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. Cold is the cost: 66 days drop below 20° vs San Francisco's 0.

76% more happening than in San Francisco.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

85/100

2% higher than San Francisco

vs 83/100 in San Francisco

Closest outdoor draw: Rocky Mountain National Park, 47.3 mi.

·walk score®

97/100

2% lower than San Francisco

vs 99/100 in San Francisco

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

169

52% more than San Francisco

vs 111 nonstops in San Francisco

04 · see also

same energy as denver, different zip code:

see also

boulder

better weather

turn the page

see also

las vegas

$498/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

washington

better weather

turn the page

compare denver with:

BoulderLas VegasWashington