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

Should you visit South Lake Tahoe or Denver?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between South Lake Tahoe or Denver, 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: South Lake Tahoe or Denver?

South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe is the largest town on the famous Lake Tahoe that straddles the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Mountain Range. Located just south of Reno, Nevada and about 2 hours east of Sacramento, the Lake Tahoe area is easily accessible to many visitors.

Lake Tahoe is known for skiing and other winter sports, as well as plenty of warm weather activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, mountain biking, and more.

South Lake Tahoe has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shopping. This is a good town to base yourself if you're looking to explore the area, as it has a large number of amenities.

Located on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe is the town of Stateline. Here you can find some casinos, as gambling is legal in Nevada.

If you're looking to go skiing or snowboarding, the Heavenly Ski Resort can be found on the southern edge of the town of South Lake Tahoe. Naturally, more ski resorts are located around the lake as well.

As swimming is also popular, several beach areas are on the southern section of the lake including the Regan Memorial City Beach, Lakeside Beach, Pope Beach, Emerald Bay State Park, and the Edgewood Resort area (on the Nevada side).

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 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Denver or South Lake Tahoe?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in South Lake Tahoe is $118, 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 South Lake Tahoe and Denver in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    South Lake Tahoe $54
    Denver $87
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    South Lake Tahoe $108
    Denver $174
Compare Hotels in South Lake Tahoe and Denver

Looking for a hotel in South Lake Tahoe 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.

Hotels in South Lake Tahoe


Hotels in Denver


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: South Lake Tahoe Hotel Prices and Denver Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    South Lake Tahoe $24
    Denver $101

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:

  • Private Arrival Transfer - Denver International Airport (DEN) : $40
  • Private Departure Transfer to Denver Airport (DEN): $44
  • Denver hotel or address to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer: $51
  • Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport(DEN) to Downtown: $86
  • Transfer in private minivan from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN): $86
  • Private Transfer from Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Business Car: $109
  • Private Transfer from Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Business Car: $109
  • Private One-way Denver Airport Transfer To/From Denver: $114
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Denver International Airport: $125
  • Denver Airport (DEN) to Winter Park - Arrival Private Transfer: $132
  • Departure Private Transfer: Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Luxury SUV: $137
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Luxury Van: $137

Is it cheaper to fly into South Lake Tahoe or Denver?

Prices for flights to both Denver and South Lake Tahoe 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
    South Lake Tahoe $38
    Denver $42

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    South Lake Tahoe $56
    Denver $52

Tours and Activities in South Lake Tahoe

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for South Lake Tahoe are as follows:

  • Driving Lake Tahoe: A Self-Guided Tour from South Lake Tahoe to Tahoe City: $12
  • Driving Lake Tahoe: A Self-Guided Tour From Incline Village to South Lake Tahoe: $12
  • Lake Tahoe: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
  • Tallac Historic Site Pope House Tour: $16
  • Ultimate Lake Tahoe Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
  • Tallac Historic Site Grand Estates Tour: $20
  • Lake Tahoe: Self-Guided Driving Tour: $25
  • Full Day Self-Guided Bike Tour of Lake Tahoe: $69
  • Guided Tour of Historic Virginia City and Carson City from South Lake Tahoe: $70
  • Introductory Snowshoe Shared Experience: $75
  • Kayak Tour of Historic Lake Tahoe West Shore: $80
  • Full-Day Lake Tahoe Circle Tour including Squaw Valley: $80

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 Downtown: Past and Present In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure on Your Phone: $10
  • Denver Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
  • Molly Brown House Museum Self-Guided Tour & Entry: $14
  • Colorado Rockies Baseball Game Ticket at Coors Field: $14
  • Denver Botanic Gardens General Admission Ticket: $16
  • Haunted Tour with Ghost Hunting Gear: $18
  • History and Architecture Walking Tours: $20
  • Holiday Lights & History Walking Tour: $24
  • Museum of Nature and Science Admission Ticket: $25
  • All Ages Guided Ghost Walking Tour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    South Lake Tahoe $34
    Denver $5.31

Sample the Local Flavors in South Lake Tahoe

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

  • Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Sunset Wine Tasting Yacht Cruise: $150

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 South Lake Tahoe and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is South Lake Tahoe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to South Lake Tahoe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe.

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


Which is Bigger, South Lake Tahoe or Denver?

Denver has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of South Lake Tahoe. When comparing the sizes of South Lake Tahoe 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.