Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Cincinnati?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona?
Cincinnati
Located on the north banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati is the third largest city in Ohio having grown from its industrial heritage. It is situated in the southwest part of the state, separated from the Kentucky border by the river. The city is best known for its striking skyline and unique chili.
Kailua-Kona
Kailua Kona, or Kona, as it is commonly referred, is the largest city on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It's a popular destination for sport fishing, snorkeling, and its beautiful sunsets. Kona is protected by the mountains so it receives very little rain annually and has about 300 days of sunshine every year. The closest airport is Kona International Airport at Keahole, which receives flights from the mainland United States, Canada, as well as Honolulu and other islands. Once in town, you can walk around Kona, but if you hope to explore anywhere else on the Big Island you will need a car. To take full advantage of your Hawaiian vacation it really is recommended that you rent a car for at least a few days while you're on the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCincinnati $183Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Cincinnati is $183, while the average daily cost in Kailua-Kona is $231. 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 Cincinnati and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCincinnati $102Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCincinnati $204Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Cincinnati and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona? 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: Cincinnati Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cincinnati $25Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cincinnati
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cincinnati:
- Cincinnati to Cincinnati Airport (CVG) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Cincinnati 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 dayCincinnati $55Kailua-Kona $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cincinnati
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cincinnati.
- Ohio River Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $61
- Mainstrasse Village Food Tour in Covington KY: $79
- Cincinnati Court Street Food Tour with Vegan Options: $85
- Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour With Findlay Market : $85
- Cincinnati Walking Sightseeing Tour with Pizza and Ice-cream: $120
Typical Food Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Buffet Breakfast for Two$53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cincinnati $26Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Cincinnati
Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mt Adams Historic, Cincinnati, App/GPS Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Self-Guided Haunted Walking Audio Tour: $6.75
- Mount Adams Historic Smartphone Guided App GPS Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Self Guided Cincinnati Ghost Haunted Walking Tour Audio Tour Music Hall OTR: $7.75
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Cincinnati: $9.59
- Queen of the West's Best - An Audio Tour: $12
- Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game Ticket at Great American Ballpark: $18
- Tour of Historic Wesleyan Cemetery: $20
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Cincinnati: $25
- Ghost Walking Tour: $26
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Cincinnati Sights & Stories: $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Diving with Manta Rays for Two$162
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Body Board Rental (1 Day)$12
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1 Day Kayak Rental$47
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2 Tank Morning Scuba Dive$115
Tours and Activities in Kailua-Kona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kailua-Kona are as follows:
- From Kona-Volcanoes & waterfall tour in a small group: $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCincinnati $11Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Cincinnati
Also in Cincinnati, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cincinnati Bar Hunt: Cin-sational Cincinnati Bar Crawl: $12
- Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour in Cincinnati with Beer Tasting: $49
- Craft Brewery 3 Stop Hop: $64
- Cincinnati Original Craft Brewery Small-Group Tour: $68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cincinnati and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Cincinnati much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cincinnati would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cincinnati 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 Kailua-Kona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kailua-Kona than you might in Cincinnati.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cincinnati Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona?
Cincinnati has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Cincinnati and Kailua-Kona, 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 Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona?
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 Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cincinnati and Kailua-Kona. Many travelers come to Cincinnati for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Cincinnati is generally around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Cincinnati average around 79°F (26°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
In Cincinnati, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cincinnati usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during summer. Cincinnati gets 298 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cincinnati usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCincinnati 79°F (26°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cincinnati as well as Kailua-Kona. Many visitors come to Cincinnati in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Cincinnati is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cincinnati averages around 58°F (15°C) in October, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In the autumn, Cincinnati often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Cincinnati gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun.
Cincinnati usually gets more rain in October than Kailua-Kona. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCincinnati 58°F (15°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
Both Kailua-Kona and Cincinnati are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cincinnati for the museums and the shopping scene during these months.
Cincinnati can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Cincinnati is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cincinnati in January average around 31°F (-0°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (23°C).
Cincinnati usually receives less sunshine than Kailua-Kona during winter. Cincinnati gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kailua-Kona. In January, Cincinnati usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCincinnati 31°F (-0°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Cincinnati or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
Both Kailua-Kona and Cincinnati during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Cincinnati is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Cincinnati average around 56°F (14°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
It's quite sunny in Cincinnati. In the spring, Cincinnati often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Cincinnati gets 215 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun.
Cincinnati usually gets more rain in April than Kailua-Kona. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCincinnati 56°F (14°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Cincinnati
| Cincinnati | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 31°F (-0°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 46°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 56°F (14°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 77°F (25°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 71°F (21°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 48°F (9°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (87 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.