Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Big Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Big Sur vs. Salt Lake City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Big Sur or Salt Lake City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Big Sur and Salt Lake City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Big Sur or Salt Lake City?
Big Sur
Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.
However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.
While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Sur $0.00Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Sur is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Salt Lake City is $246. 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 Big Sur and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Sur $165Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Sur $330Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Big Sur and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Big Sur or Salt Lake City? 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.
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: Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Big Sur -Salt Lake City $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salt Lake City
Also for Salt Lake City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $200
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City - Arrival Private Transfer : $90
- Arrival Private Transfer Salt Lake City Airport SLC to City by Sedan or SUV: $76
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36
- Private Arrival Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Sur or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Big Sur 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
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Food Meals for one dayBig Sur -Salt Lake City $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salt Lake City
For Salt Lake City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Original Salt Lake City Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $140
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Big Sur -Salt Lake City $28
Tours and Activities in Big Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Big Sur.
- Big Sur California: Pacific Coast Highway Self-Drive Tour: $15
- Big Sur Hwy 1 | Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
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:
- 4-Day Small Group Tour: Yellowstone and Tetons Camping from Salt Lake City: $895
- Zion, Bryce, & Antelope Canyon Adventure: Small Group 3-Day Tour: $1,595
- 2 Hour Salt Lake Boat Tour with Swimming on the Lake: $79
- 4-Day Salt Lake City,Grand Teton,Yellowstone National Park Tour: $907
- 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $37
- 5-Day Salt Lake City, Grand Teton, Yellowstone National Park Tour: $927
- 8-Day Mighty 5 Tour from Salt Lake City: $1,899
- Arches, Canyonlands & Moab Adventures: Small Group 3-Day Tour: $1,595
- From Private Bryce Canyon National Park Tour: $1,475
- From Private Canyonlands National Park Tour: $1,475
- From Private Capitol Reef National Park Tour: $1,475
- From Private Goblin Valley State Park Tour: $1,475
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBig Sur -Salt Lake City $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Sur and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Big Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Sur 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 Big Sur.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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