Should you visit Columbus or Salt Lake City?
Should I visit Columbus or Salt Lake City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Columbus
The capital city of Ohio, Columbus sits at the meeting point of America's Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Plains. It is also home of Ohio State University, which is a major financial and economic force in the city. You'll likely need a car to navigate the city, although there is a bus system, COTA, which can take you to some of Columbus' highlights.
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 Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $126, 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 Columbus and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $116 in Columbus For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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 $39 per day in Columbus 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
Columbus $39
Salt Lake City $40
Local Transportation
To get around in Columbus, the average visitor spends $40 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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 Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer:
$87
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Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$174
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Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer:
$87
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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Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport to Salt Lake City:
$62
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Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$77
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Salt Lake City International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
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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 Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$77
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Private Transfer: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Park City:
$199
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Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC:
$36
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Private Arrival Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport SLC:
$36
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Departure Private Transfer City to Salt Lake City Airport SLC by Sedan or SUV:
$68
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Arrival Private Transfer Salt Lake City Airport SLC to City by Sedan or SUV:
$76
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Columbus 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
In Columbus, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $37 per person, per day.
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.
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket:
$21
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Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus:
$11
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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3-Hour Guided Tour in Park City or Midway and Heber Areas:
$513
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4-Day Small Group Tour: Yellowstone and Tetons Camping from Salt Lake City:
$695
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4-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park Winter Tour for Small Private Group:
$1,880
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4-Day Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park Private Tour:
$1,116
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5 Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Winter Tour - Private Small Group Tour:
$2,309
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5-Day Utah All-Inclusive Tour from Salt Lake City:
$2,256
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5-Day Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Limousine Tour from Salt Lake City:
$2,500
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Best of Salt Lake City Including Great Salt Lake Sightseeing Tour:
$192
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Best of Salt Lake City Sightseeing Tour:
$125
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From Private Bryce Canyon National Park Tour:
$300
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From Private Canyonlands Off-Road Tour:
$300
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From Private Capitol Reef National Park Tour:
$300
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Columbus spend on average $16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Salt Lake City spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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 Columbus and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbus 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 Columbus.
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