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What is the difference in delta-V required for a launch from the highest natural point on Earth (about 8,800 m or 29,000 ft) as opposed to a sea level launch?

Assuming a completely ground based launch system, air resistance would presumably be a consideration. This similar question Effect of atmospheric drag on rocket launches and benefits of high altitude launch sites is specific to rockets, where lift is generated throughout the transition through the atmosphere.

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James Jenkins
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    It would be very expensive to maintain a space base there, including all infrastructure, and to transfer the payload. – gerrit Aug 13 '13 at 15:25
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    Cheaper dollar-wise or acceleration-wise? –  Aug 13 '13 at 15:25
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    Can you provide oxygen masks for all the workers? – Deer Hunter Aug 13 '13 at 15:33
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    @Undo Accelertion. – James Jenkins Aug 13 '13 at 18:22
  • I suggest that @AlanSE simply copies his answer on that similar question here, because I don't see how it doesn't answer your question. I'm not saying the question is a duplicate, I'm saying that the answer could easily fit both questions equally well. According to [SE] stuff, this is in certain cases permissible. As he said in the answer: "The sum of all these is a ballpark estimate of the benefit you would get from changing your launch location from sea-level to Mt. Everest" (in terms of Δv, and the savings are then by his calculations 6.167%). – TildalWave Aug 14 '13 at 03:17
  • @TildalWave I would assume there should be a difference, a rocket is going slower in the thicker atmosphere, and faster as it gets to the thinner. A ground based launch is going fastest in the thickest atmosphere, and slows in the thinner atmosphere. – James Jenkins Aug 14 '13 at 10:23
  • @JamesJenkins - Well, the figures would change (essentially the path is a hypotenuse instead of a vertical cathetus of a triangle), but the equations stay the same, at least I don't see the reason to use different ones. Alan's answer would need a bit of recalculation to answer your question, but since it's his answer, I thought he'd want to post it? – TildalWave Aug 14 '13 at 10:45

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