A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Pasadena vs. Salt Lake City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pasadena 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 Pasadena 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: Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Pasadena

Pasadena, California is adjacent to Los Angeles and is probably most famous as the host for the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game. As such, it has become known as the City of Roses. Year around Pasadena is known to have a vibrant night life. It has a great Old Town area that has impressive shopping and many excellent restaurants. It's also home to the California Institute of Technology and has many museums, theaters, and independent films that make it a cultural haven for the area. Also make sure you visit the Huntington Library which has an impressive art collection and over 150 acres of botanical gardens. It's been featured in several Hollywood Films.

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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Pasadena?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pasadena is $62, 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 Pasadena and Salt Lake City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pasadena $25
    Salt Lake City $119
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pasadena $50
    Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Pasadena and Salt Lake City

Looking for a hotel in Pasadena 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.

Hotels in Pasadena


Hotels in Salt Lake City


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: Pasadena Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pasadena $21
    Salt 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
  • Departure Private Transfer City to Salt Lake City Airport SLC by Sedan or SUV: $76
  • Private Transfer: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $108
  • Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Arrival Transfer: $116
  • Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $121
  • Private Transfer from SLC to Salt Lake City : $121
  • Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City UT - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $183
  • Salt Lake City Airport (SLC): Transfer to Salt Lake City: $204
  • Salt Lake Airport (SLC) to Canyons Village - Round-Trip Transfer: $231
  • Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City hotel or address: $263

Is it cheaper to fly into Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Pasadena 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pasadena $19
    Salt Lake City $50
Typical Food Prices in Pasadena

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pasadena are as follows:


  • Casual Dinner Out (family of 4)
    $58

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salt Lake City

For Salt Lake City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Salt Lake City : Cooking Classes With a Local Chef: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pasadena -
    Salt Lake City $28

Tours and Activities in Pasadena

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pasadena are as follows:

  • LA: East Side Guided Film Locations Tour: $350
  • Old Pasadena Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $49

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
  • Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
  • Salt Lake City Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
  • Utah Jazz Basketball Game Ticket at Delta Center: $17
  • Utah Jazz Basketball Game Ticket: $23
  • Salt Lake City Haunted Old Town Tour: $23
  • Salt Lake City & La Sal: Self-Guided Walking & Driving Tour: $25
  • Ghosts and True Crime Walking Tour: $26
  • Salt Lake Ghosts and Hauntings Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
  • Salt Lake City Puzzling Adventure: $35
  • 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pasadena -
    Salt Lake City $17


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

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


Which is Bigger, Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Pasadena 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.