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

Should you visit Salt Lake City or Saskatoon?

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 Saskatoon 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 scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, and shopping. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Saskatoon

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

Salt Lake City and Saskatoon: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Home to Temple Square
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


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

Tourists will generally find more to do in Salt Lake City. Although Salt Lake City and Saskatoon are both popular with visitors, Salt Lake City has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Salt Lake City is more popular for its museums and attractions, scuba diving & snorkeling, and hiking, while Saskatoon is known for its nightlife. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Saskatoon and is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also home to Temple Square. Saskatoon is popular for its agriculture and outdoor spaces.

How is Salt Lake City different from Saskatoon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

Salt Lake City is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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 Saskatoon. There are some museums and historical sites to check out such as Fort Battleford National Historic Site, Batoche National Historic Site, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.


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

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

Foodies will find both Salt Lake City and Saskatoon both to be good destinations.

Salt Lake City is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Saskatoon offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There's a great food scene around town with diverse restaurants and cuisines to choose from. You can sample dim sum, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and many more.

Is Salt Lake City or Saskatoon Better for Nightlife?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

Saskatoon 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 Saskatoon. There are enough clubs and bars around town to keep things entertaining. Most cater to a younger crowd, but the vibe is fun and full of energy.

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 Saskatoon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

Salt Lake City is a good destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Saskatoon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery 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.

Saskatoon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.


Is Salt Lake City or Saskatoon Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

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

Salt Lake City offers some nice hiking trails. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Saskatoon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salt Lake City or Saskatoon?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

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

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.

Saskatoon is a great destination for shopping. A number of brands have opened stores in the downtown area in recent years, so the shopping scene continues to grow and diversify.

Is Salt Lake City or Saskatoon Better for Families?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

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

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 Saskatoon. It's filled with indoor and outdoor play areas. Make sure you check out the Nutrien Wonderhub as well as the countless playgrounds around town.


Is Salt Lake City or Saskatoon Better for Couples?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

Both Salt Lake City and Saskatoon 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.

Saskatoon is a nice destination for couples. There are plenty of evening activities like dining out at a nice restaurant or taking in a show at the Persephone Theatre.

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

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

Salt Lake City is a good destination for its public transit. However, Saskatoon is not a good city 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 Saskatoon. There is a bus system around town.

Is Salt Lake City or Saskatoon a more walkable city?

Salt Lake City
Saskatoon

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

Saskatoon is a somewhat walkable city. The downtown is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

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 Saskatoon Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Salt Lake City or Saskatoon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Salt Lake City and Saskatoon. In our opinion, Salt Lake City has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Salt Lake City than Saskatoon. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Salt Lake City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Saskatoon.

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


  • How many days in Salt Lake City or Saskatoon? Ideal Length of Stay
    Salt Lake City 2-3 
    Saskatoon 1-3

One day in Salt Lake City or Saskatoon?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Salt Lake City. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Salt Lake City or Saskatoon?

You'll find museums and food around the architectural destination of Salt Lake City. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Saskatoon 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 Saskatoon?

Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the religious city of Salt Lake City. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

Salt Lake City is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Saskatoon. 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.


Which place is cheaper, Saskatoon or Salt Lake City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Salt Lake City Prices
    USA Prices
    Saskatoon Prices
    Canada Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Salt Lake City $282
    Saskatoon $149

The average daily cost (per person) in Salt Lake City is $282, while the average daily cost in Saskatoon is $149. 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 Salt Lake City and Saskatoon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salt Lake City $119
    Saskatoon $54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salt Lake City $238
    Saskatoon $108
Compare Hotels in Salt Lake City and Saskatoon

Looking for a hotel in Salt Lake City or Saskatoon? 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 Salt Lake City


Hotels in Saskatoon


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: Salt Lake City Hotel Prices and Saskatoon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salt Lake City $45
    Saskatoon $32

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
  • Private Transfer: Hotels to SLC Airport: $45
  • Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) - Departure Private Transfer: $48
  • Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City - Arrival Private Transfer: $48
  • Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $132
  • Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City hotel or address: $286
  • Private Transfer from SLC to Park City UT : $286

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

Prices for flights to both Saskatoon and Salt Lake City 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
    Salt Lake City $86
    Saskatoon $54

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salt Lake City $28
    Saskatoon $17

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:

  • Utah Jazz Basketball Game Ticket: $6.55
  • Utah Jazz Basketball Game Ticket at Delta Center: $8.02
  • Mormon History Salt Lake Self-Guided Audio app Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Salt Lake City by 3Quest Challenge: $10
  • Salt Lake City Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
  • Walking Tour in Salt Lake City: $20
  • Shadows of Old Salt Lake Walking Tour: $23
  • Salt Lake Ghost Tour: Salt, Spooks, & Shadows: $24
  • Salt Lake City Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
  • Salt Lake City Haunted Old Town Tour: $25
  • Salt Lake City Historical Walking Tour of the City of Zion : $32
  • The City of Zion Walking Tour: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salt Lake City $17
    Saskatoon $9.60

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:

  • Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery Tour: $20


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

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 Saskatoon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Saskatoon?

Saskatoon has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake City and Saskatoon, 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.

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