Moving From Chicago to Colorado Springs:
2026 Relocation Guide Scott Coddington September 30, 2026
2026 Relocation Guide Scott Coddington September 30, 2026
Thinking about moving from Chicago to Colorado Springs?
You're not alone. Colorado Springs continues to attract people relocating from major metropolitan areas across the country, including Chicago and the surrounding Illinois communities.
For someone accustomed to Chicago, Colorado Springs can offer a dramatically different lifestyle. You'll still have access to restaurants, shopping, healthcare, entertainment, major employers, and an airport, but you'll also find mountains, trails, open spaces, and outdoor recreation woven into everyday life.
There are some significant differences you'll want to understand before making the move.
Housing, property taxes, weather, altitude, commuting, insurance, neighborhoods, and even winter itself can feel quite different in Colorado Springs.
This relocation guide covers some of the most important things to know before moving from Chicago to Colorado Springs.
There isn't one reason people leave Chicago or Illinois for Colorado.
For some, housing costs and property taxes play a role. Others want more sunshine, access to outdoor recreation, a different pace of life, employment opportunities, or simply a change of scenery.
Colorado Springs provides an interesting combination.
It's a substantial city with many of the conveniences you'd expect from a metropolitan area, but you can also be hiking, biking, exploring open space, or heading into the mountains within minutes.
Reasons people consider Colorado Springs include:
Whether Colorado Springs fits you will ultimately depend on what you're hoping to change—and what you want to keep—from your Chicago lifestyle.
One of the first questions people considering a move ask is:
Is Colorado Springs less expensive than Chicago?
There's no single answer.
The Chicago metropolitan area is enormous, and housing costs vary substantially between downtown Chicago, surrounding neighborhoods, and suburban Illinois communities.
Colorado Springs is similar in that housing costs can change considerably depending on location, home style, lot size, age, and neighborhood.
Instead of comparing only home prices, consider the complete cost of ownership:
The monthly cost of owning a home can sometimes tell you more than the purchase price alone.
Illinois homeowners are often very familiar with property taxes.
When comparing a Chicago-area home with a Colorado Springs property, however, don't assume the tax structures work the same way.
Colorado property taxes are calculated differently, and taxes can vary from one neighborhood to another.
This becomes especially important when comparing established Colorado Springs neighborhoods with newer developments.
Some newer communities are located within metropolitan districts that can increase the property's total tax obligation.
When considering a home, review the actual tax information for that specific property rather than estimating taxes based solely on the purchase price.
This is where relocation gets interesting.
Colorado Springs has an unusually diverse housing inventory.
Depending on your budget and preferred location, you'll find:
Someone moving from downtown Chicago may be looking for something completely different from someone moving from Naperville, Aurora, Schaumburg, Joliet, or another suburban community.
That's why the first step shouldn't necessarily be choosing a house.
It should be deciding what kind of Colorado lifestyle you want.
Colorado Springs isn't one uniform housing market.
Drive 20 or 30 minutes and the environment can change substantially.
Here are several areas relocating buyers commonly investigate.
Briargate is one of northern Colorado Springs' largest established residential areas.
It provides convenient access to shopping, restaurants, medical facilities, parks, schools, and Interstate 25.
For someone accustomed to suburban Chicago, portions of Briargate may provide a familiar suburban environment while still offering easy access to Colorado outdoor recreation.
Northgate is located near the U.S. Air Force Academy at the northern edge of Colorado Springs.
The area includes newer and established neighborhoods along with restaurants, shopping, and convenient access to I-25.
Its location can also make Monument and northern El Paso County easily accessible.
Continue north and you'll reach Monument and the Tri-Lakes area.
Buyers can find established neighborhoods, newer construction, larger lots, wooded properties, and communities with a somewhat smaller-town atmosphere.
For buyers who want to remain relatively close to Colorado Springs while having additional space, Monument deserves consideration.
Black Forest offers something that's difficult to compare directly with Chicago.
You'll find wooded properties, acreage, horse facilities, workshops, detached garages, and homes offering substantial privacy.
It can be particularly appealing to buyers who want more land without moving extremely far from Colorado Springs.
The eastern side of Colorado Springs has experienced substantial residential and commercial development.
The Powers corridor provides extensive shopping, restaurants, entertainment, newer housing, and relatively convenient access to Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases.
Travel farther east and northeast and the landscape becomes increasingly open.
Falcon and Peyton provide newer neighborhoods along with properties offering larger lots and acreage.
Buyers considering these areas should carefully evaluate commute times, water sources, property taxes, metro districts, and infrastructure.
South of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Widefield, and Security offer additional housing choices.
These communities can be particularly convenient for households connected to Fort Carson.
Someone leaving Chicago but not wanting to give up established neighborhoods, local restaurants, coffee shops, historic architecture, and a more urban atmosphere may want to explore Downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City.
These areas feel very different from newer suburban developments on the edges of the city.
There isn't one "best" neighborhood.
The right location depends on your budget, commute, lifestyle, home preferences, and how much space you want.
This is one of the more interesting comparisons.
Someone from Chicago isn't going to be intimidated by the idea of winter.
But Colorado winter is different.
Colorado Springs gets snow and cold temperatures, but it also receives substantial sunshine, and weather conditions can change rapidly.
A snowstorm can be followed by sunshine and warming temperatures.
Chicago residents accustomed to prolonged stretches of gray winter weather may find Colorado's intense sunshine noticeable.
That doesn't mean Colorado Springs winters are mild.
Homeowners still need to understand:
One other difference is the dry climate.
People arriving from Chicago often notice Colorado's lower humidity relatively quickly.
Chicago sits relatively close to sea level.
Colorado Springs sits approximately 6,000 feet above sea level, and surrounding communities can be considerably higher.
That difference is noticeable.
Exercise, hiking, climbing stairs, and other physical activities may initially feel more strenuous.
Most newcomers simply need time to acclimate.
Staying hydrated and taking things easier during your first several days can help while your body adjusts.
The elevation can even affect cooking and baking.
It's one of those differences that's difficult to appreciate until you're actually here.
Insurance deserves attention when relocating.
Colorado homes can be exposed to:
Hail in particular can surprise people relocating from other states.
When evaluating a property, pay attention to:
I recommend obtaining an insurance quote for the specific property you're considering rather than assuming one Colorado Springs home will cost approximately the same to insure as another.
Buyers coming from Chicago who prefer newer homes will find considerable new-construction activity around Colorado Springs.
Growth has been particularly noticeable toward the north, northeast, and east.
New construction may offer:
However, look beyond the advertised incentive.
Some newer developments are located within metropolitan districts that can result in higher property taxes.
Builder financing incentives can also be tied to using an affiliated lender.
Compare the complete financial picture—including purchase price, financing, taxes, insurance, HOA expenses, and monthly payment.
One major difference between Colorado Springs and a dense metropolitan environment is how quickly you can reach areas offering significantly more land.
Depending on budget and location, properties around Colorado Springs may offer:
Black Forest, Falcon, Peyton, Calhan, Ellicott, Monument, Palmer Lake, Fountain, and communities farther east or south provide alternatives to traditional suburban neighborhoods.
Acreage does require additional investigation.
Buyers should understand:
Having more land can be fantastic, but rural property ownership comes with different responsibilities.
Someone accustomed to Chicago traffic may find Colorado Springs relatively manageable.
But traffic still matters.
Interstate 25 is the city's primary north-south corridor, while Powers Boulevard is one of the major routes along the eastern side.
Congestion can increase during commuting hours, construction, accidents, weather events, and major events.
One mistake relocating buyers sometimes make is looking only at mileage.
A home that's 12 miles from work doesn't necessarily mean you'll have the commute you expect.
Test the actual route during approximately the same hours you'll be traveling.
This is an important difference for anyone accustomed to Chicago's transportation network.
Colorado Springs is considerably more automobile-oriented.
Public transportation exists, but many households find having a vehicle much more important for everyday life than they might in parts of Chicago.
Where you live relative to work, shopping, schools, healthcare, and recreation can therefore have a significant effect on your daily routine.
Someone accustomed to walking to restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment, or transit should pay particularly close attention to neighborhood selection.
Downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City provide a different experience from more suburban areas such as Briargate, Northgate, or Falcon.
One thing that can surprise relocating buyers is the geographic size of the Colorado Springs area.
The greater region extends well beyond the city itself.
Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, Fountain, Woodland Park, and other surrounding communities can all be part of a Colorado Springs home search while providing very different lifestyles.
This makes location especially important when purchasing from out of state.
A property can look perfect online but be much farther from work, shopping, restaurants, or activities than you anticipated.
Understanding the area before choosing the house can save a lot of frustration later.
Some people relocating from Chicago wonder whether they should rent for six months or a year before purchasing.
There isn't one correct answer.
Renting first may make sense if:
Buying may make sense if:
Your decision should be based on your circumstances rather than assuming everyone relocating should immediately buy.
After helping buyers throughout the Colorado Springs area, there are several things I'd encourage Chicago-area buyers to understand.
Property taxes work differently. Review the actual taxes on each property rather than assuming they're comparable to Illinois.
Altitude is real. Give yourself some time to acclimate.
Colorado winters are sunny—but still winter. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are part of living here.
Hail matters. Roof condition and homeowners insurance deserve careful attention.
A north-facing driveway matters more than you might expect. Snow and ice can remain longer without direct winter sunlight.
Water matters when buying acreage. Determine whether a property has municipal water, a community system, or a private well.
Public transportation is different. Colorado Springs is much more vehicle-oriented than Chicago.
Commutes can be deceptive. Don't judge your commute by mileage alone.
Metro districts can affect taxes. Pay particular attention when comparing newer developments.
Colorado Springs isn't one housing market. Downtown, Briargate, Black Forest, Monument, Falcon, and Fountain provide very different experiences.
Understanding these differences before purchasing can make your relocation considerably easier.
A successful interstate move should begin before you arrive in Colorado.
Start by identifying:
Once those priorities are established, we can begin narrowing down communities and properties before you ever get on a plane or start the drive west.
I've lived in the Colorado Springs area for decades and have worked in real estate here since 1997. My team and I work throughout Colorado Springs, Monument and the Tri-Lakes area, Black Forest, Falcon, Peyton, Fountain, Widefield, Security, Woodland Park, Pueblo, and many surrounding communities.
If you're considering moving from Chicago to Colorado Springs, I'm happy to help you understand the area before making the trip.
We can compare neighborhoods, review available homes and new construction, examine taxes and other ownership costs, and build a property search around what you're actually looking for.
Thinking about moving from Chicago to Colorado Springs? Contact Pulse Real Estate Group to start planning your Colorado Springs relocation.
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