Should you visit Baltimore or Denver?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Denver can help you decide which place is right for you.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.
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 Baltimore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Baltimore is $143, 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 Baltimore and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
Baltimore's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $150. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $75.
A hotel room in Denver is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The average traveler spends about $37 per day in Baltimore 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
Baltimore $37
Denver $34
Typical Food prices in Baltimore
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.
-
Federal Hill Food Tour:
$71
-
Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour:
$71
-
Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore:
$73
-
Spirit of Baltimore Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$100
-
Baltimore Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Plus Dinner:
$288
-
Platinum Package - Helicopter Tour with Dinner at Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille:
$315
-
Baltimore Helicopter Tour plus Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$321
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 average price of local transportation around Baltimore is $15 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 Baltimore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Baltimore Washington Airport BWI:
$54
-
Private Airport Transfer: Baltimore to Baltimore–Washington Int. Airport (BWI):
$56
-
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
-
Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle:
$74
-
Private Transfer Washington Airport BWI to Washington DC in a Business Car:
$96
-
Transfer from Baltimore–Washington Airport to Baltimore:
$100
-
Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer:
$109
-
Baltimore Washington International Airport Transfer to Downtown Baltimore:
$120
-
Private Transfer from Downtown Baltimore to BWI Airport:
$120
-
Arrival Private Transfer Washington Airport BWI to Washington DC by SUV:
$129
-
Private Baltimore Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$143
-
Private Baltimore Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$143
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 Baltimore or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Baltimore 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
Baltimore's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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.
Tours and Activities in Baltimore
Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Baltimore Monuments Walking Tour:
$12
-
2 Hour Chesapeake Signature Cruise:
$15
-
Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Baltimore Inner Harbor Sightseeing Tour:
$23
-
History & Culture Small-Group Tour with a Local:
$41
-
History of Chesapeake Bay Sailing Tour:
$49
-
Baltimore Inner Harbor Sailing Experience:
$49
-
West Bank Tour:
$60
-
Inner Harbor Small-Group Culture Tour with a Local:
$69
-
Small-Group Food and Drink Tour with Local Snacks:
$73
-
Private Baltimore Historical Sightseeing Tours:
$75
-
Wine Beer and Spirit Tour in Frederick:
$97
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 Baltimore may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 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 Baltimore
Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Sip of Baltimore Brewery Tour:
$90
-
Westminster Region Wine Tour:
$97
-
Chesapeake Region Wine Tour:
$97
-
Heritage Region Wine Tour:
$97
-
Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$106
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 Baltimore and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Baltimore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Baltimore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Baltimore 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 Baltimore.
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