City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Colorado Springs is significant: $123,860 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Colorado Springs is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Seattle and Colorado Springs are 1,066 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $382 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $39,042 (32%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 52 points (21%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Seattle are 1,066 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $382 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $123,860 in Seattle, up $39,042 (46%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 252 in Seattle, up 52 points (26%).
Seattle, WA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Seattle and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 19% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Colorado Springs is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,584, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Colorado Springs still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Seattle.
Planning to buy in Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
46% higher
Seattle's median income is 46% higher than Colorado Springs
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Seattle (about $39,042 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 21% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Colorado Springs. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Colorado Springs is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 13% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Seattle averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Seattle averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 13% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Seattle if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 46% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Colorado Springs if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 13%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Colorado Springs is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Seattle (200 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Colorado Springs is cheaper on rent ($1,648/month vs $2,030), but Seattle's $123,860 median income beats Colorado Springs's $84,818 by 32%. Remote workers paid on Seattle scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Seattle still pays more locally ($123,860 median income vs $84,818), which can offset the lease if your field pays Seattle rates.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 39/100 in Colorado Springs.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Seattle; Colorado Springs only makes sense when $1,648/month housing savings outweigh $123,860 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in WA and CO.
