Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Salt Lake City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a quaint, charming, and picturesque town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, Carmel-by-the-Sea attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the beaches, shopping, and museums. See Carmel-by-the-Sea travel costs.
Salt Lake City is a notable, religious, and architectural city. Other popular activities here include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and hiking. See Salt Lake City travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Salt Lake City. Although Carmel-by-the-Sea and Salt Lake City are popular destinations, Salt Lake City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Salt Lake City is very popular for its museums and attractions, scuba diving & snorkeling, and hiking, while Carmel-by-the-Sea attracts visitors for its food, beaches, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Carmel-by-the-Sea is famous for its storybook architecture, its opulent setting, and its popularity with golf enthusiasts. Salt Lake City is famous for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also well known for Temple Square.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Salt Lake City and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Salt Lake City is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.
You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Salt Lake City. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The Carmel Mission is a beautiful and fascinating Spanish mission that dates back to 1770. It's also well worth visiting the nearby Pebble Beach Golf Course. There are also a few fairytale style cottages in the area with some of the most notable being the Hansel cottage, the Gretel cottage, and the Tuck Box cottage.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Carmel-by-the-Sea has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. For such a small town there is a huge number of bistros and local cafes. Seafood is popular, but you'll also find international restaurants and more casual eateries.
Salt Lake City offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.
Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Salt Lake City are reasonable when it comes to partying.
Most people don't head to Carmel-by-the-Sea specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's not a late night town, but there are a couple of bars and some decent Happy Hours around town.
Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Salt Lake City. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.
Salt Lake City is a city with good options for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Salt Lake City. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place for the beach. However, Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. It's easy to walk to the beach from the village center. Just head down Ocean Avenue and you'll be at a beautiful beach with great scenery, surfing, and fun activities.
Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.
Salt Lake City is a city with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a hiking destination.
Plenty of visitors go hiking around Salt Lake City. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a hiking destination.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.
Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's easy to walk around the heart of town and pop in the many shops and galleries. The highest concentration of shops is found around the Carmel Plaza which has upscale brands as well as local items.
Salt Lake City is a great destination for shopping. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Salt Lake City is not a destination known for its beauty.
With stunning beauty, Carmel-by-the-Sea attracts visitors from all around. It's a beautiful town with nice beaches and a European atmosphere.
Salt Lake City is not a destination known for its beauty.
Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a good town for its kid-friendly activities.
Salt Lake City is a family-friendly place to visit. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is not always a place people visit with their families. Carmel is a good place to let the kids stretch their legs. There are also some good kid-friendly walks in the area.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place for couples. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.
Carmel-by-the-Sea makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a charming town with a beautiful coastline and plenty of cute hotels that makes for a great romantic getaway. There's wonderful shopping and many great restaurants where you can enjoy a local meal.
Salt Lake City is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.
Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.
Salt Lake City has a few public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.
Public transit is mostly limited in Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are a couple of buses, but you can't really depend on them to get around.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very walkable destination. The village center is very walkable so it's easy to park you car and shop or walk to the beach.
Salt Lake City is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Worth Visiting? and Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Salt Lake City. In our opinion, Carmel-by-the-Sea has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Carmel-by-the-Sea than Salt Lake City. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Carmel-by-the-Sea, and 2-3 days is enough time in Salt Lake City.
Families should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Salt Lake City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Carmel-by-the-Sea than Salt Lake City. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Carmel-by-the-Sea might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Most people come for the beaches. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.
With shopping and museums around the destination of Salt Lake City, there's plenty to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.
With museums and food around the religious city of Salt Lake City, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carmel-by-the-Sea. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the architectural destination of Salt Lake City. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. It's also a great beach destination, too. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
Salt Lake City is a popular choice for travelers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Salt Lake City is $282. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea and Salt Lake City in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.
Also for Salt Lake City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Carmel-by-the-Sea are as follows:
For Salt Lake City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Carmel-by-the-Sea:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salt Lake City:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.
Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.