A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salt Lake City vs. Calgary for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Salt Lake City or Calgary?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Salt Lake City and Calgary can help you decide which place is right for you.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a architectural, notable, and religious city. And you can't forget about the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and hiking. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a authentic, western, and local city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Calgary travel costs.

Salt Lake City and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Salt Lake City than Calgary. While Calgary is larger than Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Salt Lake City is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, scuba diving & snorkeling, and hiking, while Calgary is known for its nightlife. Salt Lake City is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also home to Temple Square. Calgary is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede.

How is Salt Lake City different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Calgary and Salt Lake City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

Salt Lake City is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calgary. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Is the Food Better in Salt Lake City or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Salt Lake City. 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.

Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Calgary is very good for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Calgary. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Salt Lake City is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. 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.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Calgary 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.

Calgary is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Calgary 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.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Salt Lake City and Calgary.

Salt Lake City has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Calgary is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Salt Lake City or Calgary.

Salt Lake City is a family-friendly city. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Calgary. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Couples?

Both Salt Lake City and Calgary are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Salt Lake City is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Calgary is a nice destination for couples. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Calgary is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Salt Lake City is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels in town, but most backpackers overlook this destination or breeze through town quickly.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Salt Lake City and Calgary.

Salt Lake City has some 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.

You'll find some public transit in Calgary, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Is Salt Lake City or Calgary a more walkable city?

Salt Lake City and Calgary are decent when it comes to walkability.

Salt Lake City is generally not a very walkable city. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

Calgary is generally not very walkable. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

For even more information, also check out Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Salt Lake City?

How long in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Salt Lake City or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Salt Lake City than Calgary because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Salt Lake City, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

Families should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Calgary. 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 Salt Lake City than Calgary. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Salt Lake City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Salt Lake City if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Calgary.

One day in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

In Salt Lake City, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

In Calgary, you'll find nightlife and shopping. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

In Salt Lake City, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Salt Lake City has to offer.

Calgary is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

Salt Lake City is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calgary. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Salt Lake City or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Salt Lake City. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Salt Lake City. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the city of Calgary. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake City and Calgary, 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.