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

Should you visit Salt Lake City or Edmonton?

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 Edmonton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a religious, architectural, and notable city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and food. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Salt Lake City and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

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

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Salt Lake City than Edmonton. While Edmonton is larger than Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Salt Lake City is better known for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, and hiking, while Edmonton is more popular for its nightlife and shopping. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Edmonton and is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. Also, Salt Lake City is famous for Temple Square. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Salt Lake City different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Edmonton 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 Edmonton?

You'll find a number of very good museums and attractions in both Edmonton and Salt Lake City.

Many visitors head to Salt Lake City specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Edmonton can be an interesting and educational experience. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

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

Salt Lake City is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Salt Lake City or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

Edmonton 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 Edmonton. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters 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 Edmonton Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is very good for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Edmonton is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving 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.

Edmonton is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salt Lake City or Edmonton Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Salt Lake City. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salt Lake City or Edmonton?

Edmonton 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 Edmonton. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

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.

Is Salt Lake City or Edmonton Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Salt Lake City or Edmonton.

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 Edmonton. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is Salt Lake City or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Both Salt Lake City and Edmonton are notable 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.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

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

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Salt Lake City and Edmonton.

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 Edmonton, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Is Salt Lake City or Edmonton a more walkable city?

Edmonton is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

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 Salt Lake City Worth Visiting? and Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Salt Lake City or Edmonton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Salt Lake City or Edmonton to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Salt Lake City than Edmonton 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 Edmonton.

Families should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Edmonton. 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.

One day in Salt Lake City or Edmonton?

The city of Salt Lake City offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Edmonton, 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 Edmonton?

Salt Lake City is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Salt Lake City, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Edmonton 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 Edmonton?

Salt Lake City is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Edmonton. 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 Edmonton?

Salt Lake City is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the city of Edmonton. 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 Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

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

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 Edmonton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake City and Edmonton, 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.