Should you visit Charleston or Denver?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston 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.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
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 Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $136, 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 Charleston and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Charleston is about $144 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
A hotel room in Denver is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Charleston cost around $46 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $18.
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
Charleston $46
Denver $34
Typical Food prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
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Charleston Harbor: Luxury Dinner Cruise & Live Music:
$66
-
Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour:
$73
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Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Charleston Chef's Kitchen Guided Walking Food Tour:
$75
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Charleston:
$129
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Undiscovered 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class:
$154
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3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Charleston w/ Private Tour Option:
$277
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
-
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
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $26 per day to get around in Charleston.
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 Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
-
Private Departure Transfer to Charleston Airport (CHS):
$52
-
Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$124
-
Private transfer: Charleston to Charleston Airport (CHS):
$622
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
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Private Departure Transfer to Denver Airport (DEN):
$46
-
Private Arrival Transfer - from Denver Airport (DEN):
$46
-
Private Departure Transfer from Denver City to DEN Denver Airport:
$54
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Private Arrival Transfer from DEN Denver Airport to Denver City:
$58
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Denver hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$68
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Denver hotel or address to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer:
$68
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Transfer in Private Car from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Downtown:
$72
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Transfer in Private Car from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN):
$72
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Denver to Denver International Airport (DEN):
$81
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Private Airport Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Denver:
$81
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Transfer in private minivan from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN):
$86
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Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport(DEN) to Downtown:
$86
Is it cheaper to fly into Charleston or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Charleston 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $17 per person, per day in Charleston. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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 Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)
$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
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Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Smart Phone Guided Tour:
$5.00
-
Charleston Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$16
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Charleston's French Quarter Guided Walking Tour:
$20
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Shem Creek Culture Tour:
$20
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Downtown Charleston Walking Tour with Certified Local Guide:
$21
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Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour:
$21
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Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour:
$21
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Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour:
$22
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Charleston Historical Walking Tour:
$22
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Charleston French Quarter Historic Guided Walking Tour:
$22
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Drayton Hall Plantation Admission Ticket in Charleston:
$22
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Small-Group Tour: Charleston Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour:
$23
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
-
1.5 Hour LoDo Walking Tour in Denver:
$25
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Customized Guided Tour:
$30
-
Moscow Mule Experience:
$32
Alcohol
The average person spends about $28 on alcoholic beverages in Charleston per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
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Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl:
$12
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Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston:
$27
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Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market:
$37
Sample the Local Flavors in Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour in Lower Downtown:
$26
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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 Charleston and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Charleston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Charleston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Charleston 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 Charleston.
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