Should you visit Colorado Springs or Boulder?
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 Colorado Springs and Boulder can help you decide which place is right for you.
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state of Colorado. It is located in the northeastern tip of the south central region of the state and is in a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and alpine trees. It is also referred to as "America's Olympic City" because it is the location of the United States Olympic Training Center.
Boulder
Boulder is located on the edge of the Rocky Mountains in the state of Colorado. As home to the University of Colorado at Boulder, it's a college town with a liberal vibe and progressive values. In recent years, Boulder's economy has received a boost from the tech industry, which has grown rapidly in the area.
Boulder is also a great city to visit. It's surrounded by a beautiful mountain setting and there are countless outdoor sporting activities that you can enjoy. One unique aspect of Boulder is its role as home to many serious athletes who come here to train in the area's top facilities and programs.
Boulder's climate is similar to most of Colorado. It's a dry city with plenty of sunshine. Winters can vary dramatically from mild to incredibly cold and snowfall averages 44 inches a season. Summers are warm and dry with temperatures climbing above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the warmest months.
Which city is cheaper, Boulder or Colorado Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Colorado Springs is $124, while the average daily cost in Boulder is $153. 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 Colorado Springs and Boulder in more detail.
Accommodation
Colorado Springs's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $130. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $65.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Boulder, $164 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Boulder, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $82, such as in a hostel.
Food
Food in Colorado Springs costs travelers about $36 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Boulder travelers spend around $43 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Colorado Springs $36
Boulder $43
Typical Food prices in Colorado Springs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Colorado Springs:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colorado Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Colorado Springs.
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Colorado Springs:
$77
Typical Food prices in Boulder
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Boulder:
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2 Coffees
$8.75
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Nice Dinner for Two
$71
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Colorado Springs is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $31 per person, per day, on local transportation in Colorado Springs.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Boulder than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $41 on transportation in Boulder on average per day.
Is it cheaper to fly into Colorado Springs or Boulder?
Prices for flights to both Boulder and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Boulder, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $26 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Colorado Springs
Here are a few actual costs in Colorado Springs for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Segway Tour in Cheyenne Cañon and Broadmoor Area:
$99
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Broadmoor History Segway Tour:
$69
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Combo Course Zipline Tour:
$232
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Fins Course Scenic Zipline Tour:
$164
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Foothills & Garden of the Gods: Jeep Tour:
$88
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Garden of the Gods Segway Tour through Juniper Loop:
$118
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Jeep Tour - Foothills & Garden of the Gods:
$107
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Lovell Gulch Hike with Experienced Guide:
$99
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Old West High Country 4X4 Jeep Tour:
$180
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Scenic Bike Tour Of Colorado Springs:
$99
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Segway Tour of Cheyenne Cañon Art, History and Nature:
$69
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Segway Tour: Garden of the Gods: Juniper Loop:
$92
Tours and Activities in Boulder
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Boulder.
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Listen to a Tour Guide While you Drive between Boulder and Vail:
$3.75
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Downtown An audio tour around this weird and beautiful town:
$5.00
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A natural healing experience in a private epsom salt bath.:
$16
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Astronomy Tour:
$41
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Holistic & Medicinal Tour:
$42
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Amazing Boulder Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$44
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Wild West-End Hiking Tour:
$49
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Half-Day eBike Mural Tour in Boulder:
$90
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Electric Cruiser Fat Tire Bike Tour - Best of Boulder:
$97
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Best of Boulder E-Bike Tour:
$104
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High-Vibes Foodie Tour:
$106
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Hiking Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park from Boulder:
$173
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Colorado Springs may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Boulder, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colorado Springs and Boulder, we can see that Boulder is more expensive. And not only is Colorado Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Colorado Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colorado Springs 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 Boulder would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boulder than you might in Colorado Springs.
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