Budget · Denver · United States
Denver on a budget
What a trip to Denver really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thelastcanadian, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Denver is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $90–$140 per person per day on a tight budget, $210–$350 mid-range and $450–$1,000 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $90–$140 a day
- Mid-range
- $210–$350 a day
- Luxury
- $450–$1,000 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 7
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $90–$140 | $270–$420 | $450–$700 | $630–$980 |
| Mid-range | $210–$350 | $630–$1,050 | $1,050–$1,750 | $1,470–$2,450 |
| Luxury | $450–$1,000 | $1,350–$3,000 | $2,250–$5,000 | $3,150–$7,000 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Denver, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| RTD local bus or light-rail ride | about $2.75–$3 |
| Airport train to Union Station | about $10–$12 |
| Smothered breakfast burrito | about $10–$15 |
| Pint of local beer | about $7–$9 |
| Mid-range dinner, before tip | about $40–$70 per person |
| Denver Art Museum ticket | about $20–$30 |
| Rocky Mountain National Park vehicle day pass | about $30–$40 |
Money-saving tips
- Red Rocks (outside concert times), the Capitol tour, Union Station, Larimer Square and many parks are free.
- Take the A Line from the airport; a taxi costs several times more.
- Many museums offer free days, often for Colorado residents, so check each museum's policy.
- Mountain hotels and ski lift tickets are the big costs; staying in Denver and driving up early is cheaper.
- Happy hours at breweries and restaurants are common on weekday afternoons.
- Visit in shoulder months such as May and October for lower hotel rates and decent weather.
Free things to do
- Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre — An open-air amphitheatre set between two towering sandstone monoliths in the foothills west of Denver, famous for its acoustics and concerts by everyone from the Beatles to U2.
- Colorado State Capitol — The Capitol's dome is covered with real Colorado gold leaf, and one of its west steps is engraved 'One Mile Above Sea Level'.
- Denver Union Station — The 1914 Beaux-Arts station was restored in 2014 as a transit hub, hotel and public 'living room', with restaurants, bars and a bookshop in the Great Hall.
- Larimer Square — Denver's oldest block, saved from demolition in the 1960s, is lined with Victorian buildings, restaurants and boutiques under overhead strings of lights that make it especially pretty after dark.
- RiNo street art — Large murals cover the walls of the River North Art District's warehouses and alleys, many added during the annual CRUSH Walls street-art festival.
- Washington Park — Known locally as Wash Park, this large park in south Denver has two lakes, a replica of Martha Washington's garden, flower beds and a 4-km loop path that fills with runners, cyclists and volleyball games on summer weekends.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and culture
RiNo
Murals, breweries, food halls and galleries in a former industrial district
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Capitol Hill
Victorian mansions, apartment blocks and dive bars east of the Capitol
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and shopping
Baker and South Broadway
Vintage shops, dive bars and live music along South Broadway
Eating well for less
- Smothered breakfast burrito — Breakfast diners and burrito counters citywide.
- Denver omelette — Classic diners and breakfast spots.
- Rocky Mountain oysters — Steakhouses and Western-themed restaurants, and at Coors Field concessions.
- Palisade peaches — Farmers' markets and roadside stands, usually from late July to September.
Getting around for less
RTD day pass
A day pass for unlimited local and regional rides; check whether it covers the airport fare when buying.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Denver cost?
About $1,050–$1,750 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $450–$700 on a tight budget.
+Is Denver expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Red Rocks (outside concert times), the Capitol tour, Union Station, Larimer Square and many parks are free.
+How much money do I need per day in Denver?
Roughly $90–$140 on a budget and $210–$350 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Denver?
Usually in January–February and November.