Should you visit Berkeley or Honolulu?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Berkeley or Honolulu, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Berkeley
Berkeley is considered to be perhaps the most progressive or liberal city in the United States. The town has deep roots in the Free Speech movement of the 1960s. Visitors, students, and locals alike will find an eclectic mix of cultures and viewpoints. The city's free-thinking environment has witnessed the creation of quality attractions, great food from many world cultures, and of course the internationally renowned University of California, Berkeley (also known as "Cal" or "Cal Berkeley").
Honolulu
Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.
Which city is cheaper, Honolulu or Berkeley?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Berkeley is $152, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $227. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Berkeley and Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Berkeley is about $210 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Travelers usually pay around $292 for a double occupancy room in Honolulu If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Berkeley can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $29 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $12 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Honolulu travelers spend around $42 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Berkeley $29
Honolulu $42
Typical Food prices in Berkeley
Some typical examples of dining costs in Berkeley are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berkeley
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Berkeley.
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Learn to Make New Orleans-Style Gumbo in a Private Berkeley Cooking Class:
$66
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Best of North Berkeley Food Tour:
$110
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North 3-Hour Food Tour:
$116
Typical Food prices in Honolulu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:
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Dinner for Two
$73
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Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream
$5.55
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Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)
$53
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Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)
$34
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Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)
$7.50
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Hot Dog with the Fixins'
$8.30
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Sushi Dinner for Two
$73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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After Dinner Tour along the Famous Waikiki Beach Strip:
$68
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Majestic Sunset Dinner and Cocktail Cruise with Live Entertainment:
$97
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Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path:
$110
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Hawaiian Style Cooking Classes in Honolulu:
$125
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Da Local's Food Tour:
$130
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Three Star Deluxe Sunset Dinner & Show:
$151
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Private Hawaiian Food Tour by Bike in Oahu:
$159
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Oahu Fireworks Dinner Cruise:
$162
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4th of July Sunset Dinner and Fireworks Cruise:
$170
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Oahu Food Tour with Emmy-Winning 'Cooking Hawaiian Style' Host:
$177
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Aloha Plate Food Tour:
$177
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $24 per day to get around in Berkeley.
To get around in Honolulu, the average visitor spends $21 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Honolulu
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day
$35
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Airport Shuttle for Two
$30
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Hilton Parking
$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu
Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal:
$15
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Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal:
$15
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal:
$16
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Shared Departure Transfer: Oahu Hotels or Cruise Terminal to Honolulu Airport:
$16
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Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu To Ko'olina:
$22
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Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal:
$33
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Private Airport Transfer: Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to Honolulu:
$44
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Private Airport Transfer: Honolulu to Honolulu International Airport (HNL):
$44
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Honolulu Private Airport Transfer by Minivan - To Hotels in Waikiki:
$48
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Private Transfer from Honolulu (HLN) Airport to Waikiki:
$56
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Private Transfer from Waikiki to Honolulu (HLN) Airport:
$56
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Arrival Lei Greeting and Round Trip Waikiki Transfers:
$57
Is it cheaper to fly into Berkeley or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Berkeley 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $24 per person, per day in Berkeley. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Honolulu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $32 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
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Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour:
$5.00
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Diamond Head Hiking Narrated Tour:
$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center Tour:
$6.99
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USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour:
$7.99
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East Oahu Shoreline Drive Audio Tour:
$12
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Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour:
$12
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USS Arizona Memorial Deluxe Tour:
$13
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Arrival Trasfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Cruise Terminal:
$13
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North Shore Grand Circle Island Tour’s Honolulu Airport Shuttle Waikiki Hotel:
$14
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USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour and Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center:
$15
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Honolulu Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Bishop Museum General Admission Ticket:
$25
Alcohol
The average person spends about $10 on alcoholic beverages in Berkeley per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Honolulu, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.18.
Sample the Local Flavors in Honolulu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Honolulu:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berkeley and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Berkeley much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Berkeley would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Berkeley 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu than you might in Berkeley.
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