A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Wilmington vs. Salt Lake City for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Salt Lake City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Wilmington

Wilmington is a welcoming, charming, and historic city. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Wilmington travel costs.

Salt Lake City

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

Wilmington and Salt Lake City: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Popular beach
  • Scenic old town
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for students
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers
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


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

Both Salt Lake City and Wilmington have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Wilmington is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Salt Lake City is more popular for its museums and attractions, scuba diving & snorkeling, and hiking. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Wilmington and is known for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. Wilmington is well known for its laid back beaches, historical waterfront area, and university setting.

How is Wilmington different from Salt Lake City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is great for its historical sights. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

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.

Wilmington offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are art, history, and science museums around town. The Battleship North Carolina is a popular destination. Science enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science or the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For art, head to the Cameron Art Museum or Art in Bloom Gallery.


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

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Both Wilmington and Salt Lake City offer a number of notable restaurants to choose from.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Wilmington. Head to the waterfront for local seafood restaurants that offer outdoor seating and fresh caught fish. There are also farm-to-table restaurants and local diners with casual food.

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.

Is Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Nightlife?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Wilmington 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 Wilmington. Live music is popular around town. There are also bars, lounges and dance clubs. When the weather is warm, many places make use of the outdoor setting, which makes for a relaxed and fun evening.

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 Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Wilmington is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Salt Lake City has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Wilmington is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.


Is Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Beaches?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Wilmington is a very popular place for the beach. However, Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.

Wilmington is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Nearby you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They have long stretches of sand and great waves. The water is usually warm enough for swimming between the months of April and October. During these peak months parking can be challenging, but during the quieter times, you shouldn't have trouble.

Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.

Is Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for its Old Town?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Wilmington is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Salt Lake City does not have a historic old town.

Wilmington has an old town worth visiting. The Historic District is along the waterfront and has 18th and 19th century architecture. There are also great restaurants and interesting shops.

Salt Lake City does not have a historic old town.

Is Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Hiking?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Wilmington is not a hiking destination.

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

Wilmington is not a hiking destination.


Is the Shopping Better in Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

If you're looking to go shopping, Wilmington and Salt Lake City both offer plenty of notable spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Wilmington. Head downtown for the most interesting local shops. You'll find boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up art, accessories, or antiques.

Salt Lake City offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Families?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Wilmington 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 Wilmington. Near town you'll find several beaches - Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They're all family-friendly and perfect for a day's activity. The city also has the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the Wilmington Railroad Museum. For a rainy day there are also indoor play areas and entertainment centers.

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 Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Couples?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

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

Wilmington makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beaches are great for a relaxing day of swimming and sunbathing. In the evening head into town and enjoy one of the local seafood restaurants on the waterfront. You'll also find great shopping and historical sights in the area.

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 Wilmington or Salt Lake City Better for Students?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Wilmington is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Wilmington. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a popular school that brings many students to town.

Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

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

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Wilmington is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Salt Lake City offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 generally limited in Wilmington. There are public buses around town, but for practical reasons, you'll want to have your own vehicle.

Is Wilmington or Salt Lake City a more walkable city?

Wilmington
Salt Lake City

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

Wilmington is a somewhat walkable city. The Historic District is best explored on foot. You can also get around Wrightsville Beach on foot, but traveling between these places requires a car.

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

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

How long in Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Wilmington and Salt Lake City. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Wilmington than in Salt Lake City. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Wilmington, and 2-3 days is enough time in Salt Lake City.

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

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

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


  • How many days in Wilmington or Salt Lake City? Ideal Length of Stay
    Wilmington 2-5 
    Salt Lake City 2-3

One day in Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

In Wilmington, you'll find museums and nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and food around the architectural city of Salt Lake City, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

Wilmington 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 food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Salt Lake City, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Wilmington. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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.

Salt Lake City, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.


A week in Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Wilmington. 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 place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.


Which place is cheaper, Salt Lake City or Wilmington?

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

  • Wilmington Prices
    USA Prices
    Salt Lake City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Wilmington $245
    Salt Lake City $282

The average daily cost (per person) in Wilmington is $245, 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 Wilmington and Salt Lake City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wilmington $120
    Salt Lake City $119
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wilmington $240
    Salt Lake City $238
Compare Hotels in Wilmington and Salt Lake City

Looking for a hotel in Wilmington 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.

Hotels in Wilmington


Hotels in Salt Lake City


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: Wilmington Hotel Prices and Salt Lake City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wilmington $47
    Salt Lake City $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salt Lake City

Also for Salt Lake City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Park City hotel or address: $286
  • Private Transfer from SLC to Park City UT : $286
  • Private Transfer from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Salt Lake City : $132
  • 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: Hotels to SLC Airport: $45
  • Private Departure Transfer to Salt Lake City Airport SLC: $36

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

Prices for flights to both Salt Lake City and Wilmington 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
    Wilmington $97
    Salt Lake City $86

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

Tours and Activities in Wilmington

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Wilmington.

  • 2 Hour Sunset Sailing Tour in Wrightsville Beach: $95
  • 2-Hr, 45 Min Tour de Wilmington E-Bike Tour/Sightseeing/History: $70
  • 3.25-Hour Wilmington E-Bike Airlie Gardens Self-Guided Tour: $70
  • 5-Hour Wilmington River to Sea E-Bike Self-Guided Adventure Tour: $85
  • Black Water Adventure Cruise: $33
  • Cycle-logical Tours Guided eBike History Tour of Oak Island: $90
  • Downtown Wilmington Historian-Guided Walking Tour: $20
  • Eagles Island 50 minute Narrated Boat Cruise: $24
  • Experience the Exciting Fun of Surf Fishing: $165
  • History and Architecture Walking Tour : $25
  • Holiday Lights Cruise: $30
  • Island Hopper Cruise in Wrightsville Beach: $50

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:

  • 4-Day Yellowstone&Mount Rushmore Tour from Salt Lake City: $1,348
  • 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour: $39
  • 8-Day Tour: LA, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone & Las Vegas: $1,399
  • Antelope Island Wildlife Expedition Great Salt Lake Adventure: $99
  • Bonneville Salt Flats Adventure: $149
  • From 6-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Tour: $3,884
  • From Bonneville Salt Flats Guided Tour: $149
  • From Private Goblin Valley State Park Tour: $1,475
  • From Yellowstone & Grand Teton 5-Day Tour: $1,368
  • From Salt Lake Private Experience to Bonneville Salt Flats: $179
  • Gourmet Dining Experience : $215
  • Grand Teton,Yellowstone National Park 3-Day Tour from SLC: $1,016

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wilmington $39
    Salt Lake City $17

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 comparing the travel costs between Wilmington and Salt Lake City, 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 Wilmington Expensive? and Is Salt Lake City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Wilmington or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Wilmington. When comparing the sizes of Wilmington 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.