Should you visit Asheville or Denver?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Asheville and Denver. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
Denver
The capital of Colorado, Denver is commonly referred to as "The Mile-High City" because it is at an elevation of 5,280 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level. It also sits where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, giving a beautiful backdrop for this metropolitan city. The city is the largest in the Rocky Mountains with a population of more than 600,000 and nearly 3 million in the metropolitan area. Denver is a cosmopolitan city with cowboy roots. It's cultural scene is thriving, and the outdoor recreation in the area is superb. Denver is a rapidly growing city but with change comes challenges. Urban sprawl is a problem and the city's infrastructure has reached its limits. Still, efforts are in place to maintain the character and personality that Denver is known for.
Which city is cheaper, Denver or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $106, while the average daily cost in Denver is $174. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Asheville and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $142 for a double occupancy room in Asheville.
A hotel room in Denver is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Asheville travelers spend around $26 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The price of a meal in Denver can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $34 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $14 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Asheville $26
Denver $34
Typical Food prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
Typical Food prices in Denver
Some typical examples of dining costs in Denver are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Denver
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Denver.
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Small-Group Food Tour in Denver:
$69
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Haunted Denver Walking Food Tour:
$73
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Denver:
$77
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Walking Food Tour - Best of Union Station & LoDo:
$79
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Denver Cooking Classes-Local, seasonal, and hands on menus:
$97
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Asheville is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Denver is $81 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
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Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by Luxury Car:
$117
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Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by Minibus:
$217
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Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by SUV:
$142
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Arrival Private Transfers from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Business Car:
$109
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Arrival Private Transfers from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Luxury Van:
$130
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Aspen: Private Transfer to or from Denver Airport:
$1,279
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$796
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$1,592
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Arrival Private Transfer:
$429
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$858
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Breckenridge - Arrival Private Transfer:
$404
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Breckenridge - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$809
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Asheville change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Asheville's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Denver's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $42 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Asheville tip-based sightseeing Walking Tour with Donut & Spirits/Beer Tastings:
$5.00
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Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure:
$12
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Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Asheville Night-Time Guided Walking Ghost Tour (1 or 1.5-Hour Options Available):
$21
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Asheville Literary Tour:
$30
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Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour:
$30
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History and Architecture Tour:
$40
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Asheville Private Guided Bird Watching Tour:
$41
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Amazing Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
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Wellness-Focused Walking Tour:
$45
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North Carolina Arboretum Running Tour in Asheville:
$45
Tours and Activities in Denver
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:
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Spokes and Scoops: Explore Denver's top ice cream spots on an audio bicycle tour:
$5.20
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Denver Ghost Hunt: Mile High Ghost Tour:
$12
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Virtual Reality Experiences for Everyone:
$21
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Denver Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Haunted Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Twilight Ghost Tour:
$22
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Best of Denver Tour:
$22
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Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour:
$22
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Denver Ghost Tour:
$23
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1.5 Hour LoDo Walking Tour in Denver:
$25
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Customized Guided Tour:
$30
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Moscow Mule Experience:
$32
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Asheville may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $4.25 on alcoholic beverages in Denver per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour:
$38
-
Private Adventure Brews Cruise Brewery Tours in Asheville (Up To 5 Breweries):
$1,013
Sample the Local Flavors in Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour in Lower Downtown:
$26
-
Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - South Broadway (SoBo):
$27
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3-Hour Brewery Walking Tour:
$49
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Craft Distillery Bus Tour:
$71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver than you might in Asheville.
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