Travel Budget for Denver Visit Denver on a Budget or Travel in Style

Denver, Colorado, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to Denver?

You should plan to spend around $218 per day on your vacation in Denver. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $42 on meals
  • $101 on local transportation
  • $173 on hotels

A one week trip to Denver for two people costs, on average, $3,050. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $218
  • One Week Per person
    $1,525
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $3,050
  • One Month Per person
    $6,536
  • One Week For a couple
    $3,050
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $6,101
  • One Month For a couple
    $13,073
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Denver cost?

A one week trip to Denver usually costs around $1,525 for one person and $3,050 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Denver on average costs around $3,050 for one person and $6,101 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Denver will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Denver on average costs around $6,536 for one person and $13,073 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Denver has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Denver expensive to visit?

Prices in Denver are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Denver is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Montreal or Denali National Park.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Denver Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Denver?

The average Denver trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Denver travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) $173
Local Transportation 1 $101
Food 2 $42
Entertainment 1 $52
Tips and Handouts 1 $4 - 12
Alcohol 2 $3 - 8
Accommodation Budget in Denver
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Denver is $87. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Denver is $173. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $87
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $173

Hotel Prices in Denver

Looking for a hotel in Denver? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Denver based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $167. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Denver
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Denver is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $101 per person, per day, on local transportation in Denver.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $101

Recommended Services


Flights to Denver
How much does it cost to go to Denver? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Denver
The price of renting a car in Denver will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Denver
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Denver can vary, the average cost of food in Denver is $42 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Denver 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 Denver is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $42

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Denver?

Typical prices for Food in Denver are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Denver, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Sushi Dinner (for 2)
    $61


Entertainment Budget in Denver
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Denver typically cost an average of $52 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $52

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Denver
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Denver is $7.92 per day. The usual amount for a tip in Denver is 10% - 20%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $7.92


Alcohol Budget in Denver
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $5.31 on alcoholic beverages in Denver per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $5.31

Recommended


Last Updated: Jan 5, 2024
Denver On a Budget
Denver Denver, Colorado
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.

The city's climate is temperate and sunny days are common. There are four distinct seasons. During the winter months snowstorms are common but temperatures are usually warmer than the New England region of the United States. Spring is pleasant, although snow can occur well into April. Summer begins in June and temperatures rise quickly. Highs during the summer months can reach the high 80's or mid 90's. Fall begins in early September and temperatures drop rapidly.
Sights
Denver is really a collection of nice neighborhoods, many of which are fun to explore on their own. The city has many parks and green space, and being outside is an essential part of a trip to Denver. Popular museums in the city include the Byers-Evans House Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Black American West Museum, the Chamberlin Observatory, and Molly Brown House Museum. Popular parks around town include City Park, the Denver Zoo, the Denver Botanic Gardens, Washington Park, Cheesman Park, and Confluence Park. A visit to the Denver State Capitol is also enjoyable. Make sure you take in most or all of these sites if you have 3 days in Denver.
Neighborhoods
Older, more historic neighborhoods in Denver include Washington Park, Platt Park, Highlands, West Highlands, Congress Park, and City Park West. Other neighborhoods near downtown include Capitol Hill, Uptown, Cheesman Park, South Broadway, and Baker.

If you're hoping to do some shopping there are several areas you can check out including the 16th Street Mall, the Cherry Creek Shopping District, the Lower Downtown area, Larimer Square, and Colfax Avenue.

Activities
Denver really is a city for outdoor enthusiasts. There are plenty of parks, hiking trails, and outdoor areas in town and just outside of the city that are worth exploring. There are also a handful of amusement parks and sporting events that you can attend.

There are festivals in town almost year around so check out a schedule before you visit to see what's going on. While festivals are most common during the summer months, events occur in the winter months as well that are well worth a trip.

If you're looking for cultural activities, or if the weather isn't great, then there are some shows or concerts you can enjoy. Check out the Colorado Ballet, the Colorado Symphony, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Opera Colorado.
Food and Dining
Restaurants are abundant and food is generally quite good in Denver. There are a variety of local specialties with Green Chili being a favorite. It's a brown, thick sauce that is made with pork and Pueblo green chilies. It can be served with almost anything including chorizo, eggs, or tamales. Other local dishes often include ingredients such as angus beef, buffalo, cutthroat trout and Rocky Mountain oysters. Some restaurants may even have rattlesnake on the menu.

Mexican restaurants are ubiquitous around town and usually one of the more affordable options. You can really find cuisine from all over the world with Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese all available.

Transportation
You'll likely want access to a car when you're visiting Denver. Much of the appeal of this city comes from getting out and exploring the nearby natural settings, most of which are not accessible by public transportation.

There is a public transportation system in town which includes buses and a light rail, both of which are reliable but are feeling the strain of the city's growing population. The light rail system connects the downtown area to the south central and southeast suburbs. Buses make up the most significant part of public transit in the city. Even so, it is inefficient to rely solely on public transit during your time in Denver.

Another option is the explore the city with a bike. There's an elaborate network of bike trails which allow you to have a unique perspective on this bustling city. There is a strong cycling culture in the city and there are many bike lanes around town. The main trails run along Cherry Creek and the Platte.
Related
Looking for a party hostel in Las Vegas or San Diego? Traveling alone to NYC or LA? Want a budget hostel in San Francisco?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.