Should you visit Chattanooga or Honolulu?
Should I visit Chattanooga or Honolulu? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Chattanooga
Located on the Tennessee River near the border of the U.S. state of Georgia, Chattanooga is Tennessee's fourth largest city and a major transportation hub. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its once dilapidated downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront, including the restoration of the historic Walnut Street Bridge.
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 Chattanooga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chattanooga is $145, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $196. 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 Chattanooga and Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $73. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Chattanooga the cost is $146 on average.
Travelers usually pay around $230 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
In Chattanooga travelers spend around $47 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.
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
Chattanooga $47
Honolulu $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chattanooga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chattanooga.
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Small-Group Electric Bike Food Tour in Chattanooga:
$50
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2-Hour Small Group Southern Cuisine Food Tour in Chattanooga:
$65
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2-Hour Chattanooga Walking Food Tour:
$69
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
-
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
-
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 $28 per day to get around in Chattanooga.
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 Chattanooga
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chattanooga:
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Chattanooga Zoo (for 2)
$16
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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Arrival Lei Greeting and Round Trip Waikiki Transfers:
$57
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Arrival Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by Executive Car:
$138
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Arrival Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by Executive SUV:
$164
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Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu To Ko'olina:
$22
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Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal:
$15
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Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal:
$15
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Honolulu Airport (HNL) to Honolulu / Waikiki - Arrival Private Transfer:
$116
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Honolulu Airport (HNL) to Honolulu / Waikiki - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$231
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Honolulu Airport Transfer - Private Sedan:
$140
-
Honolulu Hawaii Airport Transfer:
$66
-
Honolulu Private Airport Transfer by Minivan - To Hotels in Waikiki:
$48
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Honolulu to Honolulu Airport (HNL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$116
Is it cheaper to fly into Chattanooga or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Chattanooga 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 $42 per person, per day in Chattanooga. 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.
Tours and Activities in Chattanooga
Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Chattanooga "Awakening" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$29
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Chattanooga "C-Block Prison Break" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$36
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Chattanooga "Locker Room Lockdown: Mascot Rescue" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "Secret Agent" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "Speakeasy" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "The Hunted" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$32
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Chattanooga "The Inheritance Mystery Room" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$36
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Chattanooga "Vaccine: Search For The Zombie Cure" Escape Room Admission Ticket:
$36
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Chattanooga Guided Electric Bike City Tour:
$80
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Chattanooga Guided Party Bike Tour:
$26
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Chattanooga Guided Walking Tour:
$23
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Chattanooga Stand-Up Paddleboarding & Kayak Tour:
$75
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
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chattanooga may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 Chattanooga
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chattanooga:
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Chattanooga Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Tastings:
$41
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Half-Day Private Wine Tour in Chattanooga:
$159
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 Chattanooga and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Chattanooga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chattanooga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga.
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