Should you visit Orlando or Salt Lake City?
Should I visit Orlando or Salt Lake City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Orlando
Orlando is a haven for tourists from the entire United States and abroad. The most famous sight in Orlando, Walt Disney World, is not actually located in the city at all, but in nearby Lake Buena Vista. The area attracts over 50 million visitors a year and the city's sprawling development has created amenities and entertainment options for tourists of all ages.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Orlando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Orlando is $240, while the average daily cost in Salt Lake City is $197. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Orlando and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $224 in Orlando For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $190 in Salt Lake City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Orlando can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $50 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $40 per day in Salt Lake City for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Orlando $50
Salt Lake City $40
Typical Food prices in Orlando
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:
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Lunch for Two at Epcot
$29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, Orlando:
$34
-
The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show:
$34
-
Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show Tickets:
$50
-
Mango's Tropical Cafe Orlando Dinner and Show Ticket:
$50
-
The Rock Dinner Show in Orlando:
$51
-
Food Tour of Celebration:
$55
-
Pirates Dinner Adventure Orlando:
$57
-
Downtown Food Tour:
$60
-
WonderWorks and Outta Control Dinner Show VIP Combo:
$64
-
Audubon Park Garden District Food Tour:
$85
-
Cowboy Rodeo Adventure Tour & BBQ Dinner from Orlando:
$89
-
Dinner with Disney Characters by Limousine:
$119
Local Transportation
To get around in Orlando, the average visitor spends $48 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Salt Lake City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $36 per person, per day on transportation in Salt Lake City.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
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Parking
$14
-
Taxi Ride
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Universal/North I-Drive Hotels to Orlando Airport Private Transfer:
$69
-
Universal Studios to Cruise Port Canaveral. Private Transfer Up to 10 pax:
$128
-
Universal Studios Resorts to Orlando Airport MCO. Private Transfer Up to 10 pax:
$58
-
Universal Studios Resort to Cruise Port Canaveral. Private Transfer up to 4 pax:
$112
-
Transfer to / from Miami Area and Ports:
$325
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Orlando downtown to Orlando Airport:
$55
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Orlando Airport to Orlando downtown:
$55
-
Transfer in private minivan from Orlando downtown to Orlando Airport:
$67
-
Transfer in private minivan from Orlando Airport to Orlando downtown:
$67
-
Transfer from Orlando to Cape Canaveral/Cruises/Cocoa Beach:
$98
-
Transfer from Orlando International Airport to Orlando:
$87
-
Transfer from Orlando International Airport to Central Florida:
$80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salt Lake City
Also for Salt Lake City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Park City:
$199
-
Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$154
-
Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$77
-
Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer:
$77
-
Arrival Private Transfer Salt Lake City Airport SLC to City by Sedan or SUV:
$76
-
Departure Private Transfer City to Salt Lake City Airport SLC by Sedan or SUV:
$68
-
Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport to Salt Lake City:
$62
-
Salt Lake City International Airport One Way Transfer:
$48
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport SLC:
$36
-
Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC:
$36
Is it cheaper to fly into Orlando or Salt Lake City?
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Orlando 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.
Entertainment
In Orlando, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $163 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Salt Lake City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $22 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Orlando
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
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1-Hour Airboat Sunset Tour (Seasonal):
$72
-
1-Hour Private Ski Boat Experience in Florida:
$69
-
2-Park 1-Day Universal Orlando™ Theme Park Tickets:
$174
-
2-Park 2-Day Universal Orlando™ Theme Park Tickets:
$275
-
8-Hour Automatic Polaris Slingshot SL Adventure Rental:
$193
-
A Walk Around Lake Eola Audio Tour:
$6.65
-
Central Florida Everglades Airboat Tour from Orlando:
$59
-
Central Florida Everglades and Safari Park Tour:
$129
-
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens Admission Ticket:
$20
-
Chef Nite Dining Experience:
$150
-
City Tour of Orlando with Gospel Brunch:
$109
-
Clearwater Beach Deep Sea Fishing Adventure with Lunch:
$149
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:
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3-Hour Guided Tour in Park City or Midway and Heber Areas:
$513
-
4-Day Small Group Tour: Yellowstone and Tetons Camping from Salt Lake City:
$695
-
4-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park Winter Tour for Small Private Group:
$1,880
-
4-Day Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park Private Tour:
$1,116
-
5 Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Winter Tour - Private Small Group Tour:
$2,309
-
5-Day Utah All-Inclusive Tour from Salt Lake City:
$2,256
-
5-Day Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Limousine Tour from Salt Lake City:
$2,500
-
Best of Salt Lake City Including Great Salt Lake Sightseeing Tour:
$192
-
Best of Salt Lake City Sightseeing Tour:
$125
-
From Private Bryce Canyon National Park Tour:
$300
-
From Private Canyonlands Off-Road Tour:
$300
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From Private Capitol Reef National Park Tour:
$300
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Orlando, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $24.
Typically, people visiting Salt Lake City spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
-
Florida Craft Beer & Brewery Tour:
$65
Sample the Local Flavors in Salt Lake City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salt Lake City:
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Salt Lake City Bar Hunt: Salt Lake City Bar Crawl:
$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and Salt Lake City, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Salt Lake City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salt Lake City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salt Lake 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando than you might in Salt Lake City.
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