Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Salt Lake City
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: $45-135 per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Salt Lake City
Accommodation
$25-60 per night
Hostel dorm beds, budget motels on the outskirts, shared Airbnb rooms
Food & Dining
$15-35 per day
Fast food chains, food trucks, grocery store meals, local diners
Transportation
$5-15 per day
Public buses (UTA), walking, occasional rideshare for longer distances
Activities
$0-25 per day
Free hiking trails, Temple Square tours, state capitol visits, occasional museum entry
Currency: $ US Dollar
Budget/Backpacker Activities in Salt Lake City
Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style
Money-Saving Tips
Use UTA public transit system instead of rideshares - typically saves 60-70% on transportation costs
Eat at local diners and food trucks rather than downtown tourist areas - usually 40-60% cheaper
Take advantage of free outdoor activities like hiking in nearby canyons instead of paid attractions
Book accommodation outside downtown core - generally 30-50% less expensive with easy transit access
Visit during shoulder seasons (spring/fall) when hotel rates drop 20-40% from peak winter ski season
Pack lunches for outdoor activities rather than buying food at ski resorts or tourist sites - saves $15-25 per meal
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Staying exclusively in downtown hotels during ski season - can cost 100-200% more than locations with transit access
Eating all meals in tourist areas near Temple Square or ski resorts - typically 50-100% markup over local neighborhoods
Relying only on rideshares without using the efficient UTA system - transportation costs can be 3-4x higher