Should you visit Austin or Denver?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or Denver, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
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 Austin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Austin is $114, 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 Austin and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Austin is about $90 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
A hotel room in Denver is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Austin for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Austin $28
Denver $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
-
Austin Food Tour by Bus with Live Band On Board:
$93
-
Austin Beer and Food Tour by Bike:
$97
-
Private Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin:
$103
-
East Austin Urban Farms & Brewery Food Tour by Bike:
$106
-
Wood Fired Dinner Series at the Austin Winery:
$159
-
Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
-
Secret Food Tour:
$288
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.
-
Small-Group Food Tour in Denver:
$69
-
Haunted Denver Walking Food Tour:
$73
-
The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Denver:
$77
-
Walking Food Tour - Best of Union Station & LoDo:
$79
-
Denver Cooking Classes-Local, seasonal, and hands on menus:
$97
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Austin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Austin.
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 Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
-
Private Departure Transfer to Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
-
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
-
Private Airport and Hotel Transfer Services in Austin:
$86
-
Austin City to Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
-
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
-
Transfer from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Austin:
$109
-
Private Austin Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$114
-
Private Austin Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$128
-
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by Luxury Car:
$117
-
Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by Minibus:
$217
-
Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by SUV:
$142
-
Arrival Private Transfers from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Business Car:
$109
-
Arrival Private Transfers from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Luxury Van:
$130
-
Aspen: Private Transfer to or from Denver Airport:
$1,279
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$796
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$1,592
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Arrival Private Transfer:
$429
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$858
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Breckenridge - Arrival Private Transfer:
$404
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Breckenridge - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$809
Is it cheaper to fly into Austin or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Austin 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
Entertainment and activities in Austin typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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 Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Austin Digital Private Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$11
-
Austin Trails Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$20
-
Austin Capital Photo Tour:
$21
-
Haunted History Ghost Tour:
$21
-
Double Decker Austin Single Loop Sightseeing Tour:
$23
-
Spy Adventure: Operation Mindfall:
$25
-
Spy Adventure at the Domain in Austin:
$25
-
Operation Mindfall, A Spy Adventure in Austin:
$25
-
Austin Street Art Walking Tour:
$25
-
Haunted Austin Walking History Tour:
$26
-
Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour:
$26
-
Downtown Austin Photo Tour:
$26
Tours and Activities in Denver
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:
-
Spokes and Scoops: Explore Denver's top ice cream spots on an audio bicycle tour:
$5.20
-
Denver Ghost Hunt: Mile High Ghost Tour:
$12
-
Virtual Reality Experiences for Everyone:
$21
-
Denver Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Haunted Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
-
Twilight Ghost Tour:
$22
-
Best of Denver Tour:
$22
-
Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour:
$22
-
Denver Ghost Tour:
$23
-
1.5 Hour LoDo Walking Tour in Denver:
$25
-
Customized Guided Tour:
$30
-
Moscow Mule Experience:
$32
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Austin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $23 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 Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
-
Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl:
$12
-
More than a Pub Crawl:
$24
-
Haunted Austin Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Tours through East Austin via Motorized Pedicab:
$40
-
Austin Pedicab Brewery Tour with Beer Flights Included Option:
$46
-
The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band:
$81
-
Half-Day Craft Beer and Brewery Tour:
$82
-
Private Texas Hill Country Half-Day Wine Tour from Austin:
$140
-
Texas Hill Country Wine Tour by Limousine:
$175
-
Customizable Austin Distillery and Brewery Tour:
$206
-
Half-Day Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Austin with Tastings:
$240
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
-
3-Hour Brewery Walking Tour:
$49
-
Craft Distillery Bus Tour:
$71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Austin and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Austin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Austin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Austin 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 Austin.
Related Articles for Austin
Related Articles for Denver
