Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Albuquerque?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Albuquerque or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Albuquerque and Kailua-Kona. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Albuquerque or Kailua-Kona?
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a large city in the middle of the desert, right in the heart of New Mexico. It's the largest city in the state and has a lot to offer visitors. The city has a quaint downtown with a handful of good shops and restaurants. The surrounding area is quite beautiful and every fall the city hosts a famous and spectacular hot air balloon festival.
Kailua-Kona
Kailua Kona, or Kona, as it is commonly referred, is the largest city on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It's a popular destination for sport fishing, snorkeling, and its beautiful sunsets. Kona is protected by the mountains so it receives very little rain annually and has about 300 days of sunshine every year. The closest airport is Kona International Airport at Keahole, which receives flights from the mainland United States, Canada, as well as Honolulu and other islands. Once in town, you can walk around Kona, but if you hope to explore anywhere else on the Big Island you will need a car. To take full advantage of your Hawaiian vacation it really is recommended that you rent a car for at least a few days while you're on the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlbuquerque $135Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Albuquerque is $135, while the average daily cost in Kailua-Kona is $231. 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 Albuquerque and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlbuquerque $69Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlbuquerque $138Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Albuquerque and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Albuquerque or Kailua-Kona? 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.
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: Albuquerque Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Albuquerque $37Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albuquerque
Also for Albuquerque, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Albuquerque Airport (ABQ): $40
- Private Departure Transfer To Albuquerque Airport ABQ: $40
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Albuquerque to Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Albuquerque - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Albuquerque Airport to Truth or Consequences Private Transfer: $130
- Albuquerque Airport (ABQ) to Pagosa Springs Private Transfer: $181
- Albuquerque International Sunport Private Transfer: $196
- Albuquerque Airport to Truth or Consequences Round-Trip Transfer: $260
- Balloon Fiesta Albuquerque 2024 transfers: $999
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Albuquerque or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Albuquerque 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
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Food Meals for one dayAlbuquerque $41Kailua-Kona $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albuquerque
For Albuquerque, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Albuquerque, NM: $79
Typical Food Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Buffet Breakfast for Two$53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Albuquerque $24Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Albuquerque
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Albuquerque.
- Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour by App: $6.50
- Historic Old Town Albuquerque smart phone App/Audio Walking Tour: $7.95
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Albuquerque by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Albuquerque by Zombie Scavengers: $16
- National Museum of Nuclear Science Entry Ticket: $17
- Turquoise Museum Admission Ticket: $20
- Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Old Town Albuquerque Ghost Tour: $23
- Quirky Burque Amazing Race & Tour: $24
- Albuquerque Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- 10pm Moonlight Ghost Tour of Old Town: $30
- 8pm ORIGINAL Ghost Tour of Old Town; 105-mins: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Diving with Manta Rays for Two$162
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Body Board Rental (1 Day)$12
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1 Day Kayak Rental$47
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2 Tank Morning Scuba Dive$115
Tours and Activities in Kailua-Kona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kailua-Kona are as follows:
- From Kona-Volcanoes & waterfall tour in a small group: $295
- Kailua-Kona Glide & Sunset Segway Tour: $195
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlbuquerque $20Kailua-Kona $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albuquerque and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Albuquerque much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Albuquerque would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Albuquerque 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 Kailua-Kona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kailua-Kona than you might in Albuquerque.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albuquerque Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Albuquerque or Kailua-Kona?
Albuquerque has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Albuquerque and Kailua-Kona, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.