A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Dayton vs. Kailua-Kona for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dayton or Kailua-Kona?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Kailua-Kona, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Dayton or Kailua-Kona?

Dayton

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

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 Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Dayton?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, 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 Dayton and Kailua-Kona in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dayton $250
    Kailua-Kona $141
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dayton $500
    Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Kailua-Kona

Looking for a hotel in Dayton 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.

Hotels in Dayton


Hotels in Kailua-Kona


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: Dayton Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dayton $25
    Kailua-Kona $45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kailua-Kona

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:


  • Rental Car for One Day
    $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Kailua-Kona?

Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Dayton 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dayton $61
    Kailua-Kona $58
Typical Food Prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Typical Food Prices in Kailua-Kona

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:


  • Buffet Breakfast for Two
    $53

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dayton -
    Kailua-Kona $40

Tours and Activities in Dayton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:

  • Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kailua-Kona

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kailua-Kona are as follows:


  • Diving with Manta Rays for Two
    $162
  • Body Board Rental (1 Day)
    $12
  • 1 Day Kayak Rental
    $47
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dayton -
    Kailua-Kona $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:

  • Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Kailua-Kona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kailua-Kona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kailua-Kona 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Kailua-Kona.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dayton or Kailua-Kona?

Dayton has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Dayton 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 Dayton 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 Dayton or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?

Both Kailua-Kona and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In the summer, Dayton is around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dayton in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. Dayton usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during summer. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dayton usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dayton 78°F (26°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?

Both Kailua-Kona and Dayton during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In October, Dayton is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 57°F (14°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

In the autumn, Dayton often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets more rain in October than Kailua-Kona. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dayton 57°F (14°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Kailua-Kona.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dayton. Dayton is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the winter. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Kailua-Kona during winter. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.

Kailua-Kona receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Dayton usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Kailua-Kona.

In the spring, Dayton is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dayton in April average around 55°F (13°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In the spring, Dayton often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets more rain in April than Kailua-Kona. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dayton 55°F (13°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)

Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Dayton

Dayton Kailua-Kona
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Mar 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 74°F (23°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Apr 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3 inches (76 mm)
May 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 76°F (24°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 77°F (25°C) 1.8 inches (47 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 78°F (25°C) 2.3 inches (58 mm)
Aug 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 78°F (26°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm)
Sep 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 79°F (26°C) 1.1 inches (29 mm)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 78°F (26°C) 1.6 inches (41 mm)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)