Which place is cheaper, Denver or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Denver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City or Denver? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kansas City or Denver?
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKansas City $161Denver $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, 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 Kansas City and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Denver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Denver $174
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Denver
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City 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: Kansas City Hotel Prices and Denver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Denver $101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
- Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport(DEN) to Downtown: $86
- Transfer in private minivan from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN): $86
- Transfer in Private Car from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $72
- Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Denver Intl. Airport to Downtown: $173
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Denver Int. Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $144
- Private Transfer from Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Luxury Van: $135
- Private Transfer from Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Business Car: $107
- Private Transfer from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Luxury Van: $135
- Private Transfer from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Business Car: $107
- Private One-way Denver Airport Transfer To/From Denver: $113
- Private One Way Transfer From and To Denver Colorado: $200
- Private City Tour in Denver with Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Kansas City 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 dayKansas City $47Denver $42
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.Kansas City $11Denver $52
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
- 1-Hour Ghost Tour with Ghost Hunting Gear in Cheeseman Park: $25
- 1.5 Hour RiNo Art District Walking Tour: $28
- 2 Hour Guided Segway Tour: $69
- 2 Hour LoDo Historic Walking Tour in Denver: $28
- 3 Hour Whiskey and History Tour: $99
- Archery Dodgeball - 75 Minute Indoor Experience: $31
- Best of Denver Tour: $30
- Best of Denver Tour: $64
- Best of Denver Tour: $24
- Bicycle Tour of Downtown Denver.: $93
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Denver $5.31
Sample the Local Flavors in Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Through Denver RiNo Arts District : $25
- 4-Hour Downtown Denver Pub Crawl: $25
- Denver Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Golden Ghosts & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $45
- Wild West Pub Crawl in Golden: $65
- Denver Pedicab Brewery Tour: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Kansas City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kansas City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kansas City 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 Kansas City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kansas City Expensive? and Is Denver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kansas City or Denver?
Denver has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Kansas City. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City 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.