Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Salt Lake City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Salt Lake City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Hot Springs or Salt Lake City?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, 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 Hot Springs and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs 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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Salt Lake City $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142
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 to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer: Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) : $107
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Arrival Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $120
- Private Transfer from SLC to Salt Lake City : $120
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $201
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Round-Trip Transfer: $230
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City hotel or address: $261
- Private Transfer from SLC to Park City UT : $261
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $52Salt Lake City $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Salt Lake City $28
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
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 dayHot Springs $22Salt Lake City $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Hot Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hot Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs 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.