Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Durango?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durango vs. Salt Lake City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Durango or Salt Lake City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Durango and Salt Lake City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Durango or Salt Lake City?
Durango
Located in the State of Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains, Durango is on the tourist maps because of its historic narrow gauge railroad that connects the city to the town of Silverton. Durango has a population of just over 16,000 and it is only a short distance from the "four corners" area where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado all meet. The landscape surrounding Durango is quite impressive and includes the Animas River Valley, the San Juan Mountains, and some beautiful red sandstone bluffs.
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 dayDurango $153Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Durango is $153, 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 Durango and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurango $79Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurango $158Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Durango and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Durango 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: Durango Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durango $27Salt 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: $199
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City - Arrival Private Transfer : $89
- Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36
- Private Arrival Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36
- Arrival Private Transfer Salt Lake City Airport SLC to City by Sedan or SUV: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Durango or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Durango 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 dayDurango $50Salt 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.Durango $46Salt Lake City $28
Typical Entertainment prices in Durango
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Durango's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Hot Springs (for 2)$50
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Tubing (for 2)$40
Tours and Activities in Durango
For Durango, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Scenic Waterfall's & Ghost Town Jeep Tour La Plata's~ 2.5 hours: $84
- *CLIFF PALACE* Private Mesa Verde Tour-Archeologist Trained Guide: $319
- 12-Zipline Adventure in the San Juan Mountains near Durango: $150
- 4 Hours Durango Colorado - Jeep Tour : $102
- 6-Zipline Adventure in the San Juan Mountains near Durango: $139
- 700 Year Tour - Half Day Mesa Verde Cultural Tour: $108
- Afternoon La Plata Canyon Jeep Tour from Durango: $108
- All-Day Guided Zipline Tour with Train Ride and Lunch in Durango: $650
- Colorado: Million Dollar Highway Self-Driving Audio Tour: $13
- La Plata Canyon Exclusive Access Jeep Tour: $99
- La Plata Canyon Scenic Waterfalls Jeep Tour: $84
- Mesa Verde Express Tour with Cliff Palace Tickets: $139
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
- Experience Park City, Beautiful Hike and Historic Main Street: $100
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurango $30Salt Lake City $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durango and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Durango much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durango would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durango 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 Durango.
Which is Bigger, Durango or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City is bigger, and its population is about 11.9 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the population of Durango vs. 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Durango
Related Articles for Salt Lake City
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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