Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Denver?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Denver vs. Salt Lake City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Denver or Salt Lake City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Denver or Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City?
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.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the capital city of Utah and one of the largest cities in the southwest region of the US. Salt Lake sits on the border between the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin regions, making it the perfect place for outdoor activities. The city's natural beauty and resources even became the focal point for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Salt Lake experiences all four seasons, with the most popular times to visit being summer and winter. Summer, June-August, sees little rain and temperatures in the high 80's Fahrenheit. Winter, December-March, has temperatures in the 30's Fahrenheit and gets the perfect amount of snow for winter sports.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDenver $218Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Denver is $218, while the average daily cost in Salt Lake City is $246. 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 Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDenver $87Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDenver $174Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Denver and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Denver or Salt Lake City? 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.
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 Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Denver $101Salt Lake City $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
- Transfer in Private Car from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $72
- Private Departure Transfer to Denver Airport (DEN): $44
- Private Arrival Transfer - from Denver Airport (DEN): $44
- Private Arrival Transfer - Denver International Airport (DEN) : $40
- Denver Airport to Vail Transfer: $599
- Denver Airport (DEN): Private Transfer to Denver hotels: $252
- Bergen International Airport: Private One Way Transfer: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salt Lake City
Also for Salt Lake City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- Arrival Private Transfer Salt Lake City Airport SLC to City by Sedan or SUV: $76
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City - Arrival Private Transfer : $90
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $201
Is it cheaper to fly into Denver or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City 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
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Food Meals for one dayDenver $42Salt Lake City $50
Typical Food prices in Denver
Some typical examples of dining costs in Denver are as follows:
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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.
- Downtown Denver Food Tour: $75
- RiNo Arts District Food Tour: $75
- Arts District Walking Food Tour: $75
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Denver, CO: $82
- Dinner with Artists David Griffin: $175
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salt Lake City
For Salt Lake City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Original Salt Lake City Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $140
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Denver $52Salt Lake City $28
Tours and Activities in Denver
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:
- 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
- 7 Day Tour from Denver with Yellowstone Grand Teton and Salt Lake: $1,211
- Best of Denver Tour: $30
- Best of Denver Tour: $27
- Bicycle Tour of Downtown Denver.: $79
- Bike and Brew Tour: $79
- Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from Denver: $129
- Breckenridge: Ultimate Mountain Tour from Denver: $138
- Colorado Gold Rush Mountain and Mine Half-Day Tour from Denver: $95
Tours and Activities in Salt Lake City
For Salt Lake City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mormon History - Salt Lake Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Mormon History Salt Lake Self-Guided Audio app Walking Tour: $6.75
- Salt Lake City Haunted Old Town Tour: $20
- Salt Lake City Ghost Tour: Outer Reaches Tour: $20
- Salt Lake Ghosts and Hauntings Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $25
- Ghosts and True Crime Walking Tour: $32
- 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $37
- History & Culture Guided Walking Day Tour: $50
- Salt Lake City Walking Tour: $50
- Guided City Tour by Car: $65
- Salt Lake City Driving Tour: $65
- Trolley Show-Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDenver $5.31Salt Lake City $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 4-Hour Downtown Denver Pub Crawl: $25
- Half-Day Pub Crawl Through Denver RiNo Arts District : $30
- California Vs. Colorado Wine Tasting: $30
- Denver Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Haunted Denver Ghost & Pub Walking Tour - Lower Downtown (LoDo): $38
- South Broadway (SoBo) Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour: $38
- Golden Ghosts & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $45
When comparing the travel costs between Denver and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Denver or Salt Lake City?
Denver is bigger, and its population is about 3.1 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the population of Denver vs. Salt Lake City, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Denver
Related Articles for Salt Lake City
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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