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:
- 【Japanese Driver Commitment】 Los Angeles International Airport⇒Down Hotel We provide Japanese hospitality and security with a transfer service.: $290
- 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
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Los Angeles APT-HTL (LAX): $133
- Transfers between Temecula area and San Diego Airport: $300
- Snow Summit to Ontario Airport (ONT) - Departure Private Transfer: $155
- Shared ride Arrival Transfer John Wayne airport to Anaheim hotels: $36
- Shared Airport Departure Transfer: Anaheim, Buena Park or Garden Grove to LAX International Airport: $68
- Shared Airport Departure Transfer Anaheim and Orange County to John Wayne Airport: $36
- Sedan Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego: $160
- Sedan Airport Transfer from Walnut Creek to SFO (one way): $269
- Sedan Airport Transfer from Vallejo to SFO (one way): $259
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: $94
- 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 Departure Transfer: Hotel to Maui Kahului Airport: $17
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $17
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $26
- Round Trip Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu City: $55
- Private Transfer: Waikiki to Honolulu Airport HNL by Sedan: $121
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Sedan Car: $115
- Private Transfer from to Kona Airport (KOA) to Hilo Cruise Port: $197
- Private Transfer from Waikiki to Honolulu Airport HNL by Minibus: $290
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:
- Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $60
- Sacramento: Chicken Curry Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour By Junket: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- Fun Pad Thai Cooking Class With a Local Chef in San Diego: $75
- Chocolate Making Cooking Class With a Local Chef in the Bay Area: $75
- Tijuana Walking Street Food Tour with Wild Foodie Tours: $79
- San Diego Pizza & Gelato Walking Tour in Little Italy Small Group: $80
- San Francisco: The Mission District Food Tour with 5 Local Dishes: $85
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- Los Angeles Taco Tour with To Live and Dine in LA Food Tours: $89
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
- Honolulu: Pacific Star Sunset Dinner Cruise and Show: $139
- Maui Farm to Taco: A Farm to Table Cooking Class: $149
- Walking Food Tour Exploring Hanalei: $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
- Maui Sunset Dinner Cruise - A Hawaiian Hula Experience: $168
- Maui Premium Dinner Cruise: Four Course Dining Experience: $170
- Kauai: Luau Ka Hikina Admission with Dinner and Lei Greeting: $175
- Authentic Hawaiian Dinner Pa'ina with Natives in Hana: $185
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:
- "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: $13
- 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula&Carmel Premium Small Group Tour: $118
- 1HR San Francisco Chinatown and Downtown GoCar Tour: $99
- 2 Hour Sailing Cruise on Lake Tahoe: $149
- 2 hour Catamaran Sailing Cruise on Lake Tahoe: $130
- 2- Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai: $65
Tours and Activities in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Experience “Hawaii Volcano,Waterfall, Black Sand Beach & Lunch: $185
- “Ultimate Big Island Experience” Volcano,Waterfall,Beach & Lunch: $189
- "Tour de Honolulu" Foodie Bike Tour: $189
- 1 Hour Friday Night Fireworks Cruise w/ Complimentary Drinks: $60
- 18 Minutes SHARED Helicopter Tour in Honolulu: $239
- 1st Waterfall, Road to Hana, Chocolate Tour, Historical, Jungle: $140
- 2 Hour Big Island Dolphin Watching and Sea Turtle Snorkel Tour: $88
- 2 Hour Waikiki Whale Watching Cruise from Oahu: $40
- 2 Tank Natural Reef & Wreck Dive Tour off Wai'anae: $249
- 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: $279
- 2-Hour Private Botanical Facial with Hand Dip Experience: $175
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
- Paso Robles Sonata(Red Blend) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- Little Italy Pub Crawl: $30
- Hollywood Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience: $30
- Paso Robles Aria (Syrah Dominant) Flight Wine Tasting: $30
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Drag Bar Crawl with Drink in Los Angeles: $39
- Wine Tasting and Craft Experience in Laguna Beach: $55
- DIY Wine Tour Temecula (Private): $59
- Wine Tasting Around the World: $60
- Orange County Evening Harbor Wine Cruise Scenic Wine Tasting: $63
Sample the Local Flavors in Hawaii
Also in Hawaii, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A Spectacular Bar Crawl in Honolulu: $15
- RHS Distillery Hand Crafted In Hawaii Spirits - Liquor Tasting: $23
- Kō Hana Hawaiian Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting for One: $25
- Oahu: Kō Hana Agricole Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $35
- Twilight Wine Tasting by Sea and Sunset Cruise in Honolulu: $119
- Oahu: Kō Hana Rum Deep Dive Distillery Tour with Tasting: $150
- North Shore, Kailua Distillery Brewery V.I.P circle island tour: $241
- Maui Upcountry Drive, Haleakala NP & Ocean Vodka Distillery Tour: $259
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.