Should you visit Austin or Salt Lake City?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or Salt Lake City, 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.
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the capital city of Utah and one of the largest cities in the southwest region of the US. Salt Lake sits on the border between the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin regions, making it the perfect place for outdoor activities. The city's natural beauty and resources even became the focal point for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Salt Lake experiences all four seasons, with the most popular times to visit being summer and winter. Summer, June-August, sees little rain and temperatures in the high 80's Fahrenheit. Winter, December-March, has temperatures in the 30's Fahrenheit and gets the perfect amount of snow for winter sports.
Which city is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Austin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Austin is $114, while the average daily cost in Salt Lake City is $197. 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 Austin and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Austin is about $90 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $190 in Salt Lake City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Austin for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $40 per day in Salt Lake City for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Austin $28
Salt Lake City $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
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Austin Food Tour by Bus with Live Band On Board:
$93
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Austin Beer and Food Tour by Bike:
$97
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Private Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin:
$103
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East Austin Urban Farms & Brewery Food Tour by Bike:
$106
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Wood Fired Dinner Series at the Austin Winery:
$159
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Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
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Secret Food Tour:
$288
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Austin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Austin.
Salt Lake City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $36 per person, per day on transportation in Salt Lake City.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
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Transfer from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Austin:
$109
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Private Departure Transfer to Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
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Private Austin Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$114
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Private Austin Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$128
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Private Arrival Transfer from Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
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Private Airport and Hotel Transfer Services in Austin:
$86
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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
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Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
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Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
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Austin City to Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salt Lake City
Also for Salt Lake City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Salt Lake City Airport SLC to City by Sedan or SUV:
$76
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Departure Private Transfer City to Salt Lake City Airport SLC by Sedan or SUV:
$68
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Private Arrival Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport SLC:
$36
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Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC:
$36
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Private Transfer: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Park City:
$199
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Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$77
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Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$154
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Salt Lake City International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
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Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$77
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Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport to Salt Lake City:
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Austin or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Austin 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
Entertainment and activities in Austin typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Salt Lake City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $22 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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48-Hour Austin Hop-On Hop-Off Blue Line City Tour:
$45
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Austin Biker Gang E-Bike Adventure:
$62
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Austin Capital Photo Tour:
$21
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Austin City Landmarks and Taco Tour by Bike:
$97
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Austin Digital Private Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$11
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Austin E-Bike Tour:
$69
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Austin Electric Bike Tour: Let it Ride:
$71
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Austin Electric Minibike Adventure Tour:
$77
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Austin Famous Ghost and Bat Segway Tour:
$59
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Austin Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$81
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Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$33
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Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$30
Tours and Activities in Salt Lake City
For Salt Lake City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Sale Lake City Haunted Old Town Tour:
$20
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Salty Queen Adventures: Spanish Fork Festival of Lights in Utah:
$25
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Guided Tour of Great Salt Lake from Salt Lake City:
$39
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Salt Lake City Guided Bus Tour:
$49
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Salt Lake City Big City Loop Bike Tour:
$120
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Best of Salt Lake City Sightseeing Tour:
$125
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Salt Lake City Bike and Brew Tour:
$138
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Salt Lake City Sunset Bike and Brothel Tour:
$139
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Best of Salt Lake City Including Great Salt Lake Sightseeing Tour:
$192
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Cottonwood Canyons Backcountry Ski Tour:
$200
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Private Sightseeing Tour of Salt Lake City:
$260
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Wasatch Backcountry Skiing with Lift Ticket:
$275
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Austin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $23 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Salt Lake City spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
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Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl:
$12
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More than a Pub Crawl:
$24
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Haunted Austin Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
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Brewery Tours through East Austin via Motorized Pedicab:
$40
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Austin Pedicab Brewery Tour with Beer Flights Included Option:
$46
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The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band:
$81
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Half-Day Craft Beer and Brewery Tour:
$82
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Private Texas Hill Country Half-Day Wine Tour from Austin:
$140
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Texas Hill Country Wine Tour by Limousine:
$175
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Customizable Austin Distillery and Brewery Tour:
$206
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Half-Day Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Austin with Tastings:
$240
Sample the Local Flavors in Salt Lake City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salt Lake City:
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Salt Lake City Bar Hunt: Salt Lake City Bar Crawl:
$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Austin and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Austin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Austin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Austin 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 Salt Lake City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salt Lake City than you might in Austin.
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