Which place is cheaper, Hawaii or California?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit California or Hawaii?
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 California and Hawaii. 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: California or Hawaii?
California
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is known for a variety of attractions such as Hollywood, warm beaches, the San Francisco bay area, Redwood trees, national parks, and stunning mountain vistas. With a variety of locations and activities to offer, California has become one of the premier travel destinations in the world.
Hawaii
Located towards the center of the Pacific Ocean and the northeast corner of Polynesia, Hawai'i is the 50th state of the United States of America. It is a major tourist destination for travelers from around the world and as such, its economy is very dependent on the tourist dollar. Historically, the state had strong whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, but today tourism and the military make up a significant part of the economy. The state includes many islands that spread over 1,500 miles, but there are eight main islands which have a diversity of natural beauty and interesting landscapes. The islands offer visitors many impressive features from the beautiful beaches to the lush interior. There is a lot of hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving available throughout the islands. The capital of the state is Honolulu, which is also the largest city. Both Hawaiian and English are spoken throughout.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
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California Prices
USA PricesHawaii Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCalifornia $286Hawaii $393
The average daily cost (per person) in California is $286, while the average daily cost in Hawaii is $393. 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 California and Hawaii in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCalifornia $116Hawaii $214
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCalifornia $232Hawaii $428
Compare Hotels in California and Hawaii
Looking for a hotel in California or Hawaii? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.California $42Hawaii $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in California
Also for California, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- World Cruise Center to Long Beach Airport(LGB)-Departure Transfer: $137
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco HTL-APT (SFO): $138
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco APT-HTL (SFO): $138
- Transfers between Temecula area and San Diego Airport: $300
- The Best Transfer to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): $199
- Snow Summit to Ontario Airport (ONT) - Departure Private Transfer: $156
- Shared Airport Arrival Transfer: LAX International Airport to Anaheim, Buena Park or Garden Grove: $68
- Sedan Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego: $160
- Sedan Airport Transfer from SFO to East Bay (one way): $262
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $68
- San Marcos, CA to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii
Also for Hawaii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Your Island Welcome: Private KOA Airport Transfers: $124
- Waikoloa beach hotels to Kona Intl. Airport (KOA) - Departure Private Transfer: $48
- VIP Private Maui OGG Departure Transfer Black Cadillac Escalade: $259
- VIP Luxury Transfers: Honolulu Airport ↔ Waikiki ↔ Cruise Port: $179
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $52
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Maui Kahului Airport: $17
- Shared Departure Transfer from Waikiki Hotels to Honolulu Airport: $23
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $17
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $26
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotels: $25
- Round Trip Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu City: $55
- Private Waikiki HNL Airport/Cruise Port Transfer | Up to 10: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into California or Hawaii?
Prices for flights to both Hawaii and California 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 dayCalifornia $79Hawaii $128
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in California
For California, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ocean Beach Walking Food Tour in San Diego: $60
- Dinner In San Francisco: $63
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $71
- Fun Gyoza Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Los Angeles: $75
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour By Junket: $75
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $75
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- San Diego Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries, & More: $79
- San Diego Pizza & Gelato Walking Tour in Little Italy Small Group: $80
- Carlsbad Taco Tuesday Walking Food Tour with Margarita or Beer: $84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour of Kaua'i: $125
- Explore Waimea Town on a Walking Food Tour: $129
- Walking Food Tour of Hanalei, Kauaʻi: $129
- Honolulu: Pacific Star Sunset Dinner Cruise and Show: $139
- Friday Fireworks Dinner Sail from the Hilton Hawaiian Village: $144
- Maui Farm to Taco: A Farm to Table Cooking Class: $149
- Maui Ma'alaea Sunset Prime Rib or Fresh Island Fish Dinner Cruise: $150
- Honolulu: Off The Beaten Path Food Tour: $150
- Maui Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise from Ka’anapali Beach: $166
- Maui: Coast of Ka'anapali Beach Sunset Dinner Sail: $167
- Big Island: Farm to Table Cooking Class at Kulaniapia Falls: $169
- Corner Store Kauai Cooking Class: $174
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.California $69Hawaii $38
Tours and Activities in California
For California, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Dead of the Night" SB Ghost Tour History & Mystery-Children FREE: $55
- "Lake Tahoe 101" : See The Whole Lake! 6 HR Shared Tour by Van.: $230
- 1 Hour Shared Parasailing Adventure in Oceanside: $99
- 1-Hour Driving Tour from Hollywood to Beverly Hills in a Ferrari: $289
- 1.5 Hour Walking Tour from La Jolla in San Diego: $59
- 17 Mile Drive eBike Tour in Monterey: $59
- 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour: $75
- 17-Mile Drive Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Carmel: $15
- 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula&Carmel Premium Small Group Tour: $112
- 1HR San Francisco Chinatown and Downtown GoCar Tour: $99
- 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Plus Night Tour: $86
- 2 Hour Private Tour - Hollywood and Beverly Hills Celebrity Homes: $195
Tours and Activities in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Ultimate Big Island Experience” Volcano,Waterfall,Beach & Lunch: $189
- 1 Hour Friday Night Fireworks Cruise w/ Complimentary Drinks: $60
- 10 Bar Hawaiian Craft Chocolate Tasting Experience: $65
- 18 Minutes PRIVATE Helicopter Tour in Honolulu: $269
- 18 Minutes SHARED Helicopter Tour in Honolulu: $239
- 1st Waterfall, Road to Hana, Chocolate Tour, Historical, Jungle: $140
- 2-Hour Ma'alaea Humpback Whale Watching Cruise for up to 6 Guests: $279
- 2-Hour Maalaea Luxury Powerboat Sunset Cruise for up to 6 Guests: $251
- 2-Hour Mauna Kea One Stop Sealife Snorkel Adventure: $107
- 2-Hour Private Botanical Facial with Hand Dip Experience: $175
- 2.5 Hour Whale Escape Tour: $177
- 3 Hour Big Island Dolphin Watch Boat Tour, Snorkeling & BBQ Lunch: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCalifornia $21Hawaii $19
Sample the Local Flavors in California
Also in California, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Lake Tahoe: $15
- Awesome Bar Crawl in Santa Monica: $15
- Gaslamp Bar Crawl: $20
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Sonoma County Self-Guided Wine Tour: GPS Audio Driving Guide: $30
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- Drag Bar Crawl with Drink in Los Angeles: $39
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $44
- Wine Tasting and Craft Experience in Laguna Beach: $55
Sample the Local Flavors in Hawaii
Also in Hawaii, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Royal Hawaiian Spirits Distillery: Liquor Tasting: $19
- Kō Hana Hawaiian Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting for One: $25
- Koʻolau Distillery Whiskey Tour in Kailua, Hawai'i: $25
- Oahu: Kō Hana Agricole Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $35
- Winery Oeno Island Style Wine Tasting: $39
- Oahu: Dole Plantation and Ko Hana Distillery with Rum Tasting: $104
- Twilight Wine Tasting by Sea and Sunset Cruise in Honolulu: $119
- Oahu: Kō Hana Rum Deep Dive Distillery Tour with Tasting: $150
- V.I.P Dole, Rum Distillery, N.Shore, Haleiwa Circle island tour: $241
- North Shore, Kailua Distillery Brewery V.I.P circle island tour: $241
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between California and Hawaii, we can see that Hawaii is more expensive. And not only is California much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to California would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in California 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 Hawaii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hawaii than you might in California.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is California Expensive? and Is Hawaii Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, California or Hawaii?
California has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hawaii. When comparing the sizes of California and Hawaii, 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.