Should you visit Denver or Honolulu?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Denver or Honolulu, 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.
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.
Honolulu
Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.
Which city is cheaper, Honolulu or Denver?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Denver is $174, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $227. 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 Denver and Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Denver is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Travelers usually pay around $292 for a double occupancy room in Honolulu If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
In Honolulu travelers spend around $42 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
Denver $34
Honolulu $42
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
Typical Food prices in Honolulu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:
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Dinner for Two
$73
-
Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream
$5.55
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Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)
$53
-
Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)
$34
-
Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)
$7.50
-
Hot Dog with the Fixins'
$8.30
-
Sushi Dinner for Two
$73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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After Dinner Tour along the Famous Waikiki Beach Strip:
$68
-
Majestic Sunset Dinner and Cocktail Cruise with Live Entertainment:
$97
-
Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path:
$110
-
Hawaiian Style Cooking Classes in Honolulu:
$125
-
Da Local's Food Tour:
$130
-
Three Star Deluxe Sunset Dinner & Show:
$151
-
Private Hawaiian Food Tour by Bike in Oahu:
$159
-
Oahu Fireworks Dinner Cruise:
$162
-
4th of July Sunset Dinner and Fireworks Cruise:
$170
-
Oahu Food Tour with Emmy-Winning 'Cooking Hawaiian Style' Host:
$177
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Aloha Plate Food Tour:
$177
Local 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.
To get around in Honolulu, the average visitor spends $21 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$1,592
-
Private Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Aspen:
$1,321
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Aspen: Private Transfer to or from Denver Airport:
$1,279
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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 - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$809
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$796
-
Denver Airport (DEN) to Keystone resort - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$672
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Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Denver Airport (DEN) to Vail city:
$582
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Private Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vail:
$576
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Vail: Private Transfer to or from Denver Airport:
$557
-
Private Denver International Airport Transfer to Vail or Beaver Creek:
$450
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Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Arrival Private Transfer:
$429
Typical Local Transportation prices in Honolulu
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day
$35
-
Airport Shuttle for Two
$30
-
Hilton Parking
$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu
Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal:
$15
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Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal:
$15
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal:
$16
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Shared Departure Transfer: Oahu Hotels or Cruise Terminal to Honolulu Airport:
$16
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Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu To Ko'olina:
$22
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Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal:
$33
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Private Airport Transfer: Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to Honolulu:
$44
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Private Airport Transfer: Honolulu to Honolulu International Airport (HNL):
$44
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Honolulu Private Airport Transfer by Minivan - To Hotels in Waikiki:
$48
-
Private Transfer from Honolulu (HLN) Airport to Waikiki:
$56
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Private Transfer from Waikiki to Honolulu (HLN) Airport:
$56
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Arrival Lei Greeting and Round Trip Waikiki Transfers:
$57
Is it cheaper to fly into Denver or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Denver 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
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.
In Honolulu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $32 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Denver
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:
-
1.5 Hour LoDo Walking Tour in Denver:
$25
-
Astrophotography Experience in the Colorado Rockies:
$200
-
Best of Denver Tour:
$64
-
Best of Denver Tour:
$22
-
Bike and Brew Tour:
$60
-
Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from Denver:
$115
-
Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour:
$22
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Craft Beer Tour in Lower Downtown Denver:
$53
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Denver Ghost Hunt: Mile High Ghost Tour:
$12
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Denver Ghost Tour:
$23
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Denver Guided Sightseeing Tour on Motor Scooters:
$112
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Denver History and Highlights Small Group Tour:
$35
Typical Entertainment prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
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Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
Diamond Head Hiking Narrated Tour:
$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center Tour:
$6.99
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USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour:
$7.99
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East Oahu Shoreline Drive Audio Tour:
$12
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Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour:
$12
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USS Arizona Memorial Deluxe Tour:
$13
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Arrival Trasfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Cruise Terminal:
$13
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North Shore Grand Circle Island Tour’s Honolulu Airport Shuttle Waikiki Hotel:
$14
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USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour and Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center:
$15
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Honolulu Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Bishop Museum General Admission Ticket:
$25
Alcohol
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Honolulu, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.18.
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Honolulu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Honolulu:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Denver and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Denver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Denver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Denver 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu than you might in Denver.
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