Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Dayton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dayton or Salt Lake City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Salt Lake City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dayton or Salt Lake City?
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDayton $323Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, 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 Dayton and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Dayton 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: Dayton Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25Salt 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:
- Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City - Arrival Private Transfer : $90
- Private Transfer: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $106
- Private Transfer: Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) : $107
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Arrival Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer from SLC to Salt Lake City : $119
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $120
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City UT - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $181
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $200
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Round-Trip Transfer: $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Dayton 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 dayDayton $61Salt Lake City $50
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dayton -Salt Lake City $28
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
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:
- Mormon History - Salt Lake Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Mormon History Salt Lake Self-Guided Audio app Walking Tour: $7.75
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Salt Lake City by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $13
- Salt Lake City Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Salt Lake City & La Sal: Self-Guided Walking & Driving Tour: $20
- Salt Lake City Ghost Tour: Outer Reaches Tour: $23
- Salt Lake City Haunted Old Town Tour: $23
- Haunted Walking Tour: $26
- Salt Lake Ghosts and Hauntings Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Salt Lake City Puzzling Adventure: $35
- 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDayton -Salt Lake City $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Salt Lake City, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Salt Lake City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salt Lake City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salt Lake City 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Salt Lake City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Salt Lake City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.