A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America El Paso vs. Salt Lake City for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit El Paso 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 El Paso and Salt Lake City can help you decide which place is right for you.

El Paso

El Paso is a undiscovered, laid-back, and low-key city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a religious, architectural, and notable city. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and food.

El Paso and Salt Lake City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Salt Lake City than El Paso. While El Paso is larger than Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Salt Lake City is better known for its museums, scuba diving & snorkeling, and hiking, while El Paso is more popular for its nightlife. Salt Lake City is more touristy than El Paso and is known for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. Also, Salt Lake City is famous for Temple Square. El Paso is well known for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is El Paso different from Salt Lake City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Salt Lake City and El Paso. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Salt Lake City specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in El Paso or Salt Lake City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both El Paso and Salt Lake City can be an enjoyable experience.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Salt Lake City. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City Better for Nightlife?

El Paso is very good for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in El Paso. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Salt Lake City is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is very good for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, El Paso is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Salt Lake City. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

El Paso is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is very good for its hiking trails. However, El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Salt Lake City. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both El Paso and Salt Lake City.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Salt Lake City offers some nice shopping areas. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either El Paso or Salt Lake City.

El Paso is a family-friendly city. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Salt Lake City. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City Better for Couples?

Salt Lake City is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Salt Lake City is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Salt Lake City is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Salt Lake City has some public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is El Paso or Salt Lake City a more walkable city?

El Paso and Salt Lake City are respectable when it comes to walkability.

El Paso is generally not a very walkable city. You really need a car to get around town.

Salt Lake City is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is El Paso Worth Visiting? and Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Salt Lake City or El Paso?

How long in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both El Paso and Salt Lake City. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Salt Lake City than in El Paso. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for El Paso, and 2-3 days is enough time in Salt Lake City.

Families should spend more time in Salt Lake City than El Paso. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Salt Lake City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Salt Lake City than El Paso. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Salt Lake City that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Salt Lake City than El Paso if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Salt Lake City.

One day in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

In El Paso, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Salt Lake City, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

El Paso is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Salt Lake City, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Salt Lake City has to offer.

Five days in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in El Paso. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Salt Lake City is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in El Paso or Salt Lake City?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of El Paso. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Salt Lake City. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Salt Lake City. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Paso and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is El Paso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Paso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Paso 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 El Paso.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Paso Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, El Paso or Salt Lake City?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of El Paso 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.