Which place is cheaper, Denver or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johannesburg or Denver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Johannesburg and Denver can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Johannesburg or Denver?
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohannesburg $95Denver $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $95, while the average daily cost in Denver is $218. 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 Johannesburg and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohannesburg $55Denver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohannesburg $110Denver $174
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Denver
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Denver? 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: Johannesburg Hotel Prices and Denver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johannesburg $16Denver $101
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg Airport JNB to Johannesburg Hotels Arrival Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport (JNB) Departure Transfer: $35
- Transfers Between Lanseria Airport And Johannesburg : $42
- OR Tambo Private Airport to Hotel and Hotel to Airport Transfers : $43
- Private Airport Transfer & Grounds to Sandton, Johannesburg & Pretoria 599: $44
- Johannesburg Airport Private Transfers: Departures (Hotel Pickup): $45
- OR Tambo Airport Transfers Around Johannesburg: $46
- Private Airport Transfer from OR Tambo Airport to Lesedi Village: $47
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg : $47
- Luxury Car Johannesburg Airport Private Transfer: $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
- Denver hotel or address to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer: $50
- Transfer in Private Car from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $72
- Transfer in Private Car from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN) : $72
- Private Transfer from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Business Car: $108
- Private Transfer from Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Business Car: $108
- Departure Private Transfer: Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Business Car: $108
- Denver Airport (DEN) to Glenwood Springs - Round-Trip Transfer: $121
- Private City Tour in Denver with Transfer: $130
- Departure Private Transfer: Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Luxury SUV: $136
- Departure Private Transfer: Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Luxury Van: $136
- Arrival Private Transfer: Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Luxury Van: $136
- Arrival Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by Luxury Car: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Johannesburg 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 dayJohannesburg $17Denver $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $41
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- JOBURG DINNERS : MABONENG CITY DINNER: $97
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $99
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $216
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.
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johannesburg $21Denver $52
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Johannesburg Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $16
- Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto: $16
- Architectural Walking Tour: $19
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $24
- Braamfontein Street Art Tour: $27
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $27
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $30
- Colours of A Graffiti & Street Art Tour: $30
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $30
- Half-Day Walking Tour in Soweto: $32
- A Day Of Soweto Food & Beer Tour: $32
Tours and Activities in Denver
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:
- Discover A Walking Tour of Denver's Top Sights: $5.00
- Denver's Spokes and Scoops: A Self-Guided Cycle Tour: $5.20
- Denver’s Downtown: Past and Present In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Denver by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure on Your Phone: $10
- Denver Ghost Hunt: Mile High Ghost Tour: $12
- Denver Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Denver Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Molly Brown House Museum Self-Guided Tour & Entry: $14
- Denver Botanic Gardens General Admission Ticket: $16
- General Admission to Denver Botanic Gardens Ticket: $16
- Colorado Rockies Baseball Game Ticket at Coors Field: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohannesburg $4.73Denver $5.31
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.23
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $115
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $226
Sample the Local Flavors in Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Wine Tasting with Cheese, Charcuterie, and Dessert : $74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johannesburg is in Africa and Denver is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Denver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Denver?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Denver. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg and Denver, 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.
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.