A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Denver vs. Moab for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Denver or Moab?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Denver or Moab, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Denver or Moab?

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.

Moab

Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park in Utah's Canyon Country. It is also a popular base for exploring Canyonlands National Park. It's a small town that serves mainly to accommodate tourists to the popular national parks and other surrounding wildlife areas. It has grown dramatically in recent years and has a population of just over 5,000. In town you will find hotels and motels, a handful of restaurants and a few shops where you can stock up on supplies. There's a small museum, the Museum of Moab, and a variety of tour operators in town. You can easily book river rafting trips, jeep expeditions, and tours of the surrounding area. For many, exploring Arches National Park on your own is a more enjoyable and independent experience.

Which place is cheaper, Moab or Denver?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Denver is $218, while the average daily cost in Moab is $388. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Denver and Moab in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Denver $87
    Moab $336
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Denver $174
    Moab $672
Compare Hotels in Denver and Moab

Looking for a hotel in Denver or Moab? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Denver


Hotels in Moab


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Denver Hotel Prices and Moab Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Denver $101
    Moab $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:

  • Denver Airport Transfer To/From Aspen for 6-14 Sprinter Van: $1,950
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Snowmass/Aspen - Arrival Private Transfer: $297
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Steamboat - Arrival Private Transfer: $286
  • Denver Airport (DEN): Private Transfer to Denver hotels: $256
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Arrival Private Transfer : $240
  • Denver Airport (BJC) to Beaver Creek Ski Resort -Arrival Transfer: $220
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Aspen hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer : $220
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Breckenridge - Arrival Private Transfer: $195
  • Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by SUV: $177
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Keystone resort - Arrival Private Transfer: $176
  • Arrival Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by Luxury Car: $155
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Denver Int. Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $144

Is it cheaper to fly into Denver or Moab?

Prices for flights to both Moab 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Denver $42
    Moab $37
Typical Food Prices in Denver

Some typical examples of dining costs in Denver are as follows:


  • Sushi Dinner (for 2)
    $61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Denver

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Denver.

  • Denver : Paella Cooking Class With Local Chef: $55
  • Denver : Hands-on Cooking Classes With Chef Kevin: $55
  • RiNo Arts District Food Tour: $79
  • Downtown Denver Food Tour: $79
  • Arts District Walking Food Tour: $79
  • Mystery Puzzle Food Tour in Golden, CO: $80
  • The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Denver, CO: $86

Typical Food Prices in Moab

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Moab:


  • Moab Brewery
    $42
  • Breakfast for Two
    $17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moab

For Moab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show: $99
  • Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner: $109

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Denver $52
    Moab $3.13

Tours and Activities in Denver

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:

  • Shared Golden's History Wagon Ride Tour in Colorado: $65
  • Small-Group Cocktail Tour in Denver: $99
  • 2 Hour Guided Segway Tour: $69
  • 2 Hour LoDo Historic Walking Tour in Denver: $28
  • 3 Hour Whiskey and History Tour: $99
  • Best of Denver Tour: $27
  • Best of Denver Tour: $64
  • Bike and Brew Tour: $79
  • Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from Denver: $129
  • Cheesman Park Ghost Tour: $28
  • Combo: Best of Denver Tour/Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour: $41
  • Craft Beer Tour in Lower Downtown Denver: $58

Typical Entertainment Prices in Moab

For Moab, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Slickrock Trail Pass
    $5.00

Tours and Activities in Moab

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moab.

  • La Sal Mountain Loop Scenic Drive: Half-Day Audio Driving Private Tour : $8.99
  • Arches National Park: Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $8.99
  • La Sal Mountain Loop: Scenic Self-Driving App Tour: $8.99
  • Canyonlands National Park: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $8.99
  • Full-Day Audio Driving Tour of Arches National Park: $8.99
  • La Sal Mountain: Scenic Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $13
  • Canyonlands National Park Self-Driving Tour: $15
  • Arches National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
  • Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks Self-Driving Bundle Tour: $25
  • Moab Giants Dinosaur Park and Museum Entrance Ticket: $28
  • Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Self-Driving Audio Tours: $33
  • Utah Mighty 5 + More: Get SIX Self-Guided Audio Driving Tours: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Denver $5.31
    Moab $66

Sample the Local Flavors in Denver

Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Denver Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Wild West Pub Crawl in Golden: $65
  • Craft Distillery Bus Tour: $71
  • Denver Pedicab Brewery Tour: $130
  • Guided Downtown Denver Walking Wine Tour: $190


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Denver and Moab, we can see that Moab 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 Moab would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moab than you might in Denver.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Denver Expensive? and Is Moab Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Denver or Moab?

Denver has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Denver and Moab, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.