Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Eugene?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eugene 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 Eugene 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: Eugene or Salt Lake City?
Eugene
At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.
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 Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEugene $160Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Eugene is $160, 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 Eugene and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEugene $97Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEugene $194Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Eugene and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Eugene 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: Eugene Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eugene $37Salt 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
- Private Transfer from SLC to Park City UT : $261
- Private Transfer from SLC to Salt Lake City : $120
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City hotel or address: $261
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $120
- Private Transfer: Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) : $107
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Arrival Transfer: $115
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Round-Trip Transfer: $230
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $201
- Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Eugene or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Eugene 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 dayEugene $41Salt Lake City $50
Typical Food Prices in Eugene
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Eugene:
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Sam Bonds Food and Music (for 2)$16
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Morning Glory Cafe Breakfast (for 2)$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eugene -Salt Lake City $28
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
- 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $37
- History & Culture Guided Walking Day Tour: $50
- Salt Lake City Walking Tour: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEugene -Salt Lake City $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eugene and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Eugene much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Eugene would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Eugene 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 Eugene.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eugene Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eugene or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Eugene. When comparing the sizes of Eugene 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.