Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Salt Lake City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City 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: Kansas City or Salt Lake City?
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKansas City $161Salt Lake City $246
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, 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 Kansas City and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Salt Lake City $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Salt Lake City
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City 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: Kansas City Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Salt 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 to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $200
- Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City UT - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $180
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Round-Trip Transfer: $228
- Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Arrival Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer: Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) : $106
- Private Transfer: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $106
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $119
- Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City hotel or address: $259
- Private Transfer from SLC to Salt Lake City : $119
- Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Kansas City 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 dayKansas City $47Salt Lake City $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kansas City $11Salt 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:
- 2 Hour Salt Lake Boat Tour with Swimming on the Lake: $79
- 4-Day Winter Yellowstone Tour: $2,499
- 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $37
- 5-day Tour Yellowstone Park Los Angeles-Salt Lake City: $1,558
- From 3-Day Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure: $999
- 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
- From Private Goblin Valley State Park Tour: $1,475
- From Private Tour of Arches National Park: $1,475
- Great Salt Lake Flying Tour: $249
- Great Salt Lake Guided Bus Tour from Salt Lake City: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Salt Lake City $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Kansas City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kansas City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kansas 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 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 Kansas City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kansas City Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kansas City or Salt Lake City?
Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City 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.