Move-In Cost Calculator for Colorado Springs Apartments

---
title: "Move-In Cost Calculator for Colorado Springs Apartments"
description: "The full list of upfront costs for a Colorado Springs apartment move, with Colorado legal norms and Avian Apartments' published fee schedule side by side, plus an interactive calculator on the page itself."
source: "https://www.avian-coloradosprings.com/move-in-cost-calculator"
markdown: "https://www.avian-coloradosprings.com/markdown/move-in-cost-calculator"
lastModified: "2026-07-22"
---

# Move-In Cost Calculator for Colorado Springs Apartments

The full list of upfront costs for a Colorado Springs apartment move, with Colorado legal norms and Avian Apartments' published fee schedule side by side, plus an interactive calculator on the page itself.

## The seven upfront costs

- Application fee and holding deposit: Colorado limits application fees to actual screening cost (typically $25 to $75) and waives the fee with a portable tenant screening report. Avian charges a $29 application fee and a $200 one-time holding deposit.
- Administration fee: one-time lease-preparation charge, typically $50 to $300 at professionally managed Colorado communities. Avian's published administration fee is $250.
- Security deposit: usually one month's rent, capped at two months by Colorado law. Avian's deposit runs $500 to $2,250 depending on screening. All deposits in Colorado are refundable, including pet deposits.
- First month's rent: due before keys change hands; usually prorated for mid-month moves.
- Pet costs: Colorado caps pet deposits at $300 refundable and pet rent at the greater of $35 per month or 1.5% of rent. Avian charges exactly that.
- Parking: downtown buildings typically bill garage parking monthly. Avian's garage is $125 per month.
- Movers: $100 to $150 per hour for a two-mover crew and truck in Colorado Springs; a local one-bedroom move typically lands between $600 and $800.
## Avian's published move-in charges

| Charge | Amount | When due |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Application fee | $29 | One-time, with application |
| Holding deposit | $200 | One-time, with application |
| Administration fee | $250 | One-time, at lease signing |
| Security deposit | $500 to $2,250 | One-time, screening-based |
| Pet deposit | $300 | One-time, refundable under Colorado law |
| Pet rent | $35/mo | Monthly, first month due at move-in |
| Garage parking | $125/mo | Monthly, first month due at move-in |
| Utility account setup | $18 | One-time |

Source: [Avian fee transparency table](https://www.liveatavian.com/floor-plans), accessed July 2026.
## A worked example

A renter with a cat moving into the Amy — currently the lowest-priced available plan at $1,535 a month — hiring movers, and setting up insurance and internet:

| Line item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Application fee | $29 |
| Holding deposit | $200 |
| Administration fee | $250 |
| Security deposit | $500 to $2,250 |
| First month's rent | $1,535 |
| Pet deposit + first month of pet rent | $335 |
| Local movers | $600 to $800 |
| Utility account setup | $18 |
| Renter's insurance, first month | $15 to $25 |
| Internet setup + first month | $40 to $160 |

Totals: low end $3,522, likely $3,555, high end $5,602.
## What Colorado law says about move-in costs

- [Security deposits capped at two months' rent (CRS 38-12-102.5, SB23-184)](https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-38/tenants-and-landlords/article-12/part-1/section-38-12-102-5/)
- [Deposits returned within 30 days, or 60 if the lease says so (CRS 38-12-103, updated by HB25-1249 effective January 1, 2026)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1249)
- [Application fees limited to actual screening cost (CRS 38-12-903)](https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-38/article-12/part-9/section-38-12-903/)
- [Portable tenant screening report waives the application fee (CRS 38-12-904)](https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-38/tenants-and-landlords/article-12/part-9/section-38-12-904/)
- [Pet deposits capped at $300 refundable and pet rent capped at the greater of $35/mo or 1.5% of rent (HB23-1068, effective January 2024)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1068)
- [Colorado Springs Utilities generally requires no deposit for new residential accounts](https://www.csu.org/rates/)
## Movers, insurance, and internet in Colorado Springs

- Movers: $100 to $150 per hour for a two-mover crew and truck. Local-move totals researched July 2026: studio $437, one bedroom $618, two bedroom $1,014 ([moveBuddha Colorado Springs](https://www.movebuddha.com/moving-cost-calculator/co/colorado-springs/)).
- Renter's insurance: $15 to $25 per month in Colorado Springs depending on coverage; ValuePenguin puts the city average at $24 per month (July 2026).
- Internet: Xfinity starts at $40 per month with free self-install or up to $100 professional installation; Quantum Fiber starts at $45 per month with installation ranging from free to $99 depending on promotion.
## Common questions

**How much money do I need to move into an apartment in Colorado Springs?**

Plan on the first month's rent plus a security deposit, application and administrative fees, and any pet or parking charges, then add movers, insurance, and utility setup. The calculator above itemizes each line with Avian's published fees and Colorado Springs market ranges so you can total your own scenario.

**What upfront fees can a landlord legally charge in Colorado?**

Application fees are limited to the landlord's actual screening cost and must be waived if you provide a portable tenant screening report (CRS 38-12-903 and 38-12-904). Security deposits are capped at two months' rent (CRS 38-12-102.5). Pet deposits are capped at $300 refundable, and pet rent at the greater of $35 per month or 1.5% of rent (HB23-1068). Administrative fees are not capped but must be disclosed.

**Is the security deposit refundable in Colorado?**

Yes. Every deposit — including a pet deposit — is refundable under Colorado law; there is no such thing as a non-refundable deposit (CRS 38-12-102(6)). Landlords must return it within 30 days of move-out, or up to 60 days if the lease says so, with an itemized statement for anything withheld (CRS 38-12-103, updated by HB25-1249 effective January 1, 2026).

**Do I have to pay the application fee if I have a portable screening report?**

No. Under CRS 38-12-904, if you hand the landlord a portable tenant screening report completed within the last 30 days, the landlord may not charge you an application fee at all. Landlords who only hold one application fee at a time and refund it within 20 days of a denial are exempt.