Leaving LA for Denver or Salt Lake City: the numbers
Two Mountain West metros, similar price per square foot, and a big gap from LA. Here is how Denver and Salt Lake City compare, using recent Redfin data.
Denver and Salt Lake City come up often when LA owners start running the numbers. Both sit at the foot of big mountain ranges, and both cost meaningfully less than most of LA County. Here is what Redfin's recent data shows.
Side by side
| Denver | Salt Lake City | LA County zips | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price, single-family | $715,000 | $694,000 | $989,000 |
| Median price per sq ft, single-family | $375 | $375 | $641 |
| Median days on market | 14 | 18 | 38.5 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 99.4% | 100.3% | 100.6% |
| Single-family sales in period | 634 | 144 | n/a |
Sources: Redfin Data Center, May 2026 (Denver and Salt Lake City city-level single-family data); Redfin Data Center, March to May 2026 (LA County: median of the zip-level median sale prices, prices per square foot and days on market across 193 zip codes with 15 or more single-family sales; sale-to-list is the median of zip averages). Periods and geographies differ, so treat the comparison as a guide.
What the gap looks like
The median single-family price in the typical LA County zip code was $989,000. Against Denver's $715,000, that is a $274,000 difference. Against Salt Lake City's $694,000, it is $295,000. For an owner with substantial equity, that difference can be a down payment, a smaller mortgage or more cushion.
If an LA home sold for $989,000 and a comparable Denver home cost $715,000, the price difference alone is $274,000, before selling costs, loan payoffs, taxes and moving expenses. Your numbers will differ.
Condos and townhomes
If you own an LA condo, note that attached homes are priced differently. In May 2026, Redfin shows a median condo price of $334,750 in Denver and $387,000 in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City had 54 condo sales that month and Denver had 180, so the Salt Lake City figure rests on a smaller sample.
Source: Redfin Data Center, May 2026.
Pace of the market
Denver's median single-family home went under contract in 14 days in May 2026, and Salt Lake City's in 18. That is quick, but it also means a buyer needs to be ready: pre-approved, with a plan for how the purchase and your LA sale line up. Our guide on keeping or selling your LA home and our post on selling first or buying first cover the timing options.
Other things to price in
- Climate. Both are four-season markets with real winters, so heating, snow removal and different home maintenance are part of the budget.
- Housing stock. Both offer a mix of older close-in homes and newer suburban construction. Compare property tax, insurance and utility costs for the specific address, not just the list price.
- Logistics. Both have major airports with direct flights to LA, which matters if you plan to visit often.
For the full picture on each city, see the Denver guide and the Salt Lake City guide, plus our state pages on moving from California to Colorado and Utah.
If a smaller market appeals to you, compare with Boise, where single-family homes had a $560,000 median price and a 7-day median in May 2026 (Redfin).
Use the calculator below to see what your LA equity could buy.
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Market figures are estimates from public data and may be out of date.
