Budget · Salt Lake City · United States
Salt Lake City on a budget
What a trip to Salt Lake City really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tricia Simpson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Salt Lake City is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $90–$150 per person per day on a tight budget, $200–$330 mid-range and $450–$1,100 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $90–$150 a day
- Mid-range
- $200–$330 a day
- Luxury
- $450–$1,100 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 9
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $90–$150 | $270–$450 | $450–$750 | $630–$1,050 |
| Mid-range | $200–$330 | $600–$990 | $1,000–$1,650 | $1,400–$2,310 |
| Luxury | $450–$1,100 | $1,350–$3,300 | $2,250–$5,500 | $3,150–$7,700 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Salt Lake City, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| TRAX single fare | about $2.50; downtown free-fare zone |
| Pastrami burger with fries | about $11–$16 |
| Dirty soda | about $3–$6 |
| Natural History Museum ticket | about $20–$25 |
| Restaurant dinner main | about $20–$35 |
| Craft beer | about $6–$8 |
| Ski lift ticket, one day | about $150–$250 at the window, less bought ahead |
| Mid-range downtown hotel | about $150–$260 per night |
Money-saving tips
- Use the downtown free-fare zone and TRAX from the airport instead of taxis.
- Temple Square, the Tabernacle Choir, the Capitol, Beehive House, Ensign Peak and the Family History Library are all free.
- Buy ski passes or lift tickets online well in advance; window prices are much higher.
- Staying in Salt Lake and driving or bussing to the resorts is far cheaper than slopeside lodging.
- Shoulder months of May, October and November have the lowest hotel rates.
- Avoid General Conference weekends and big conventions, when downtown hotel rates spike.
Free things to do
- Temple Square — The 4-hectare headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the granite Salt Lake Temple, completed in 1893, the domed Tabernacle with its famous organ, visitors' exhibits and gardens.
- Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square — The 360-member choir, founded in the 19th century, performs a weekly broadcast on Sunday mornings in the Tabernacle or the 21,000-seat Conference Center, and its rehearsals are usually open to the public.
- FamilySearch Library — Next to Temple Square, the world's largest genealogy library has billions of digitised records and volunteers who help visitors trace their ancestry for free.
- Utah State Capitol — Completed in 1916, the domed Capitol sits on a hill above downtown with views down State Street and across the valley.
- Ensign Peak — A short, steep trail of under 2 km round trip climbs from a residential street above the Capitol to a summit monument where pioneer leaders surveyed the valley in 1847.
- Cathedral of the Madeleine — Completed in 1909 on South Temple Street, the Catholic cathedral combines a Romanesque exterior with a richly painted Gothic interior, stained glass from Germany and carved gargoyles.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
The Avenues
Victorian houses climbing the foothills north-east of downtown
$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and couples
Capitol Hill and Marmalade
Pioneer-era cottages around the domed State Capitol
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
Sugar House
Walkable district of local shops, breweries and a big park
Eating well for less
- Fry sauce — Local burger drive-ins across the valley; ask for it if it does not arrive automatically.
- Utah scones — Diners and scone shops in the valley, usually at breakfast.
- Navajo taco — Fairs, festivals and some diners; also at events in summer.
Getting around for less
UTA day pass
Unlimited rides on TRAX, buses and the S-Line for a day; useful if leaving the free-fare zone several times.
Ski passes
Multi-resort passes such as Ikon and Epic cover several Utah resorts and are usually cheaper bought well ahead of the season.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Salt Lake City cost?
About $1,000–$1,650 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $450–$750 on a tight budget.
+Is Salt Lake City expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Use the downtown free-fare zone and TRAX from the airport instead of taxis.
+How much money do I need per day in Salt Lake City?
Roughly $90–$150 on a budget and $200–$330 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Salt Lake City?
Usually in November.