Should you visit Sacramento or Denver?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sacramento or Denver, 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.
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city and one of the oldest cities in the state of California. It was founded in 1849 in the midst of the Gold Rush, and has since grown to a population of over 500,000 people. The atmosphere is more laid back than most major cities, and its heritage is rooted in the Gold Rush and Transcontinental Railroad era.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Denver or Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sacramento is $225, while the average daily cost in Denver is $174. 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 Sacramento and Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Sacramento can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $88, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $176.
A hotel room in Denver is about $138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
While meal prices in Sacramento can vary, the average travelers spends about $42 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Sacramento should cost around $17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Sacramento is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sacramento $42
Denver $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour:
$82
-
Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour:
$85
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
-
Haunted Denver Walking Food Tour:
$73
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The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Denver:
$77
-
Walking Food Tour - Best of Union Station & LoDo:
$79
-
Denver Cooking Classes-Local, seasonal, and hands on menus:
$97
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Sacramento than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $41 on transportation in Sacramento on average per day.
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sacramento
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer:
$72
-
Sacramento City to Sacramento Airport (SMF) - Departure Private Transfer:
$72
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Sacramento City - One Way:
$73
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address- RoundTrip Private Transfer:
$144
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Sacramento Executive Airport to Roseville City - One Way:
$144
-
Private Sacramento Transfer Hotel to Airport:
$150
-
Private Sacramento Transfer Airport to Hotel:
$150
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer:
$228
-
Private transfer from Sacramento to SFO:
$340
-
Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$455
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
-
Vail: Private Transfer to or from Denver Airport:
$557
-
Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport(DEN) to Downtown:
$86
-
Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vail city:
$291
-
Transfer in private minivan from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN):
$86
-
Transfer in Private Car from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Downtown:
$72
-
Transfer in Private Car from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN):
$72
-
Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Denver Intl. Airport to Downtown:
$173
-
Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Denver Airport (DEN) to Vail city:
$582
-
Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Denver Int. Airport (DEN) to Downtown:
$144
-
Private Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vail:
$576
-
Private Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Aspen:
$1,321
-
Private Transfer from Denver City to Denver (DEN) Airport:
$109
Is it cheaper to fly into Sacramento or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver and Sacramento 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
Sightseeing expenses in Sacramento, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
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.
Tours and Activities in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Sacramento Urban Murals: Cycle the streets of Sacramento with an audio tour:
$5.00
-
California Gold Rush: The Sacramento Grid on a Self-Guided Bicycle Audio Tour:
$8.30
-
Sacramento Historic River Cruise:
$20
-
Sacramento Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
-
Sacramento Sutter District History and Food Walking Tour:
$78
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
-
Craft Beer Tour in Lower Downtown Denver:
$53
-
Denver Ghost Hunt: Mile High Ghost Tour:
$12
-
Denver Ghost Tour:
$23
-
Denver Guided Sightseeing Tour on Motor Scooters:
$112
-
Denver History and Highlights Small Group Tour:
$35
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Sacramento spend on average $9.31 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Bk Best Wine Tasting Tours Amador County 4 Hour Chevrolet Suburban Passengers 7:
$385
-
4 Hour Private Amador County Wine Tasting Tours Mercedes Sprinter Passengers Van:
$409
-
Amador Wine Tour from Sacramento:
$436
-
6 Hour Wine Tasting Tours Napa Valley Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passengers Van:
$625
Sample the Local Flavors in Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour in Lower Downtown:
$26
-
Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - South Broadway (SoBo):
$27
-
3-Hour Brewery Walking Tour:
$49
-
Craft Distillery Bus Tour:
$71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sacramento and Denver, we can see that Sacramento 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento than you might in Denver.
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