Which place is cheaper, Honolulu or Big Pine Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Big Pine Key or Honolulu?
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 Big Pine Key and Honolulu. 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: Big Pine Key or Honolulu?
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Pine Key $144Honolulu $284
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $144, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $284. 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 Big Pine Key and Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Pine Key $64Honolulu $183
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Pine Key $128Honolulu $366
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and Honolulu
Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key or Honolulu? 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: Honolulu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Big Pine Key $56Honolulu $26
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:
- VIP Transfer: Ko Olina to Honolulu Airport or Vice Versa: $199
- VIP Transfer Between Waikiki and Honolulu Airport, Vice versa: $139
- VIP Transfer Between Waikiki & Honolulu Airport, /vice versa: $136
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Honolulu HTL-APT (HNL): $81
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $39
- Shared Departure Transfer: Oahu Hotels or Cruise Terminal to Honolulu Airport: $20
- Shared Departure Transfer from Waikiki Hotels to Honolulu Airport: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $20
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotels: $18
- Private Transfers between HNL Airport and Honolulu City: $56
- Private Transfer: Waikiki to Honolulu Airport HNL by Sedan: $108
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Sedan Car: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Big Pine Key or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Big Pine Key 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 dayBig Pine Key $42Honolulu $53
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:
- Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path : $150
- Oahu Da Local's Food Tour: $150
- Lanai Tabura curated Private Aloha Plate Food Tour from Honolulu: $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Big Pine Key $42Honolulu $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Parking for Hike$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two$12
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2 hr Dinner Cruise$85
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1 Day Kayak Rental$36
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
- Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial, small group Tour: $80
- 'Lost' and Movie Tour: $200
- 1 Hour Private Luxury Classic Car Sightseeing City Tour Honolulu: $138
- 3 Hour Sightseeing *SPECIALTY Tour: $149
- 3 Hour Sunrise Photo Tour with Malasada: $65
- 3 Hour Waikiki Waterslide and Ocean Playground Cruise: $113
- 3-Hour Adventure in Waikiki Water Park Adventure: $127
- 5 Hour Half Day Island Jeep Tour: $190
- 5 Hour Small Group Tour in Pearl Harbor and Honolulu: $145
- 5-Star Oahu Sightseeing with local food & shrimp plate included: $133
- 6 Hour Local Food Plate Jeep Tour: $230
- 6 Hour Romantic Hawaii Jeep Tour: $276
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBig Pine Key $9.29Honolulu $6.47
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Big Pine Key and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Big Pine Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Pine Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is Honolulu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Big Pine Key or Honolulu?
Honolulu has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Big Pine Key and Honolulu, 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.
When is the best time to visit Big Pine Key or Honolulu?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Honolulu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Pine Key and Honolulu. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Honolulu because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Big Pine Key is generally around the same temperature as Honolulu. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 84°F (29°C), and Honolulu fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Honolulu this time of the year. In Big Pine Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. Big Pine Key usually receives more sunshine than Honolulu during summer. Big Pine Key gets 328 hours of sunny skies, while Honolulu receives 303 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Big Pine Key usually receives more rain than Honolulu. Big Pine Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBig Pine Key 84°F (29°C)Honolulu 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Honolulu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Big Pine Key as well as Honolulu. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Honolulu this time of year.
Big Pine Key is around the same temperature as Honolulu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 80°F (27°C) in October, and Honolulu fluctuates around 80°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Honolulu. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Big Pine Key this time of the year. In the autumn, Big Pine Key often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Honolulu. Big Pine Key gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Honolulu receives 246 hours of full sun.
Big Pine Key receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Big Pine Key usually gets more rain in October than Honolulu. Big Pine Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBig Pine Key 80°F (27°C)Honolulu 80°F (26°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Honolulu in the Winter?
Both Honolulu and Big Pine Key are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Honolulu for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Big Pine Key is around the same temperature as Honolulu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Big Pine Key in January average around 70°F (21°C), and Honolulu averages at about 73°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in Honolulu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. Big Pine Key usually receives more sunshine than Honolulu during winter. Big Pine Key gets 252 hours of sunny skies, while Honolulu receives 212 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than Honolulu. Big Pine Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBig Pine Key 70°F (21°C)Honolulu 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or Honolulu in the Spring?
Both Honolulu and Big Pine Key during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Honolulu in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Big Pine Key is generally around the same temperature as Honolulu. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 77°F (25°C), and Honolulu fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
In Honolulu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Big Pine Key. In the spring, Big Pine Key often gets more sunshine than Honolulu. Big Pine Key gets 326 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Honolulu receives 253 hours of full sun.
Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in April than Honolulu. Big Pine Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBig Pine Key 77°F (25°C)Honolulu 76°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Honolulu and Big Pine Key
| Big Pine Key | Honolulu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 80°F (26°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
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.