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

Should you visit Salt Lake City or Toronto?

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

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a religious, architectural, and notable city. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and hiking. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Toronto

Toronto is a vibrant, cultural, and diverse city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Toronto travel costs.

Salt Lake City and Toronto: Pros and Cons

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

You'll generally find more things to do in Toronto than Salt Lake City. Toronto is bigger than Salt Lake City, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Toronto is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Salt Lake City is more popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling and hiking. Salt Lake City is well known for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. Toronto is well known for its art and culture, diverse cuisine, and multi-cultural population. Also, Toronto is famous for the CN Tower.

How is Salt Lake City different from Toronto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Toronto is a world-class destination for its museums and history. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Toronto has many famous sights for visitors. The city is filled with landmarks and museums such as the CN Tower and the Royal Ontario Museum. Ripley's Aquarium is a highlight for many visitors. It's near the CN Tower and has an underwater tunnel. The city is also filled with art galleries and cultural sights. Another must is a visit to Casa Loma and, of course, the Toronto Zoo.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Salt Lake City can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

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

Toronto 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.

Toronto has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The food scene is as diverse as the city itself. You'll find classic Canadian favorites like peameal bacon sandwiches and beavertails, as well as almost any international cuisine you could want. Make sure you try the dim sum, roti, and street hot dogs.

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.

Is Salt Lake City or Toronto Better for Nightlife?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

People head to Toronto just to party. It's a diverse nightlife scene, with upscale lounges, dive bars, live music, and high energy nightclubs. Popular areas for nightlife include King Street, the Ossington Strip, College Street, and Kensington Market.

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 Toronto Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Toronto 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.

Toronto is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salt Lake City or Toronto Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its hiking trails. However, Toronto 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.

Toronto is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salt Lake City or Toronto?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Toronto specifically to go shopping. Shopping is huge here, with plenty of options available that range from large malls to vintage stores or flea markets. Eaton Center on Yonge Street is a major shopping area. Yonge Street is also home to more than 600 retail stores.

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 Toronto Better for Families?

Toronto is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Toronto. Kids will enjoy the city's many family-friendly museums like the Royal Ontario Museum or the Ontario Science Center. Younger kids will have fun playing at the Centreville Theme Park while all ages will love a day at Canada's Wonderland. Black Creek Pioneer Village is a highlight for many families as well.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Salt Lake 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.

Is Salt Lake City or Toronto Better for Couples?

Toronto is a very popular place for couples. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Toronto makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This city is full of energy, and couples can enjoy amazing meals, impressive shows, and romantic outings. You can picnic at a park or check out the view from CN Tower. There are also dinner cruises and live theater.

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.

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

Toronto is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Toronto. There are a number of hostels around town and there's often a good crowd of backpackers.

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 Toronto Better for Students?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Toronto. The city has a good number of universities that attract students from around the globe. This is a very livable city with a lot of diversity and plenty of entertainment options.

Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

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

Toronto is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Toronto can get you around easily. Union Station is the hub of the city's transportation system, which includes subways, buses and streetcars.

You'll find some public transit in Salt Lake City, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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.

Is Salt Lake City or Toronto a more walkable city?

Toronto is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Toronto is a very walkable destination. It's a pedestrian-friendly city that is great for exploring on foot. The waterfront area has a walkway and there are cycling trails around town as well.

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 Toronto Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Salt Lake City or Toronto?

Both Salt Lake City and Toronto have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Toronto than in Salt Lake City. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Salt Lake City, and 3-7 days is enough time in Toronto.

Families should spend more time in Toronto than Salt Lake City. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Toronto, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Toronto 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 Toronto.

One day in Salt Lake City or Toronto?

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.

Because Toronto is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Salt Lake City or Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a great place to explore. Anyone can find something fun to do here. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Salt Lake City or Toronto?

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 Toronto. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

A week in Salt Lake City or Toronto?

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.

Because Toronto is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. One week is usually enough time to experience most activities.

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 Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Salt Lake City and Toronto, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Toronto Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Toronto?

Toronto has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake City and Toronto, 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.