A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Honolulu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Durham or Honolulu?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and Honolulu can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Durham or Honolulu?

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

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 Durham?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $130, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $227. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Durham and Honolulu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Durham $73
    Honolulu $146
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Durham $146
    Honolulu $292
Compare Hotels in Durham and Honolulu

Looking for a hotel in Durham or Honolulu? 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 Durham


Hotels in Honolulu


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: Durham Hotel Prices and Honolulu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Durham $26
    Honolulu $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durham

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Durham:

  • Private Transfer from Durham to Manchester Airport (MAN): $407
  • Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $139

Typical Local Transportation prices in Honolulu

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:


  • Rental Car for One Day
    $35
  • Airport Shuttle for Two
    $30
  • Hilton Parking
    $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu

Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $15
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $15
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $16
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Oahu Hotels or Cruise Terminal to Honolulu Airport: $16
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu To Ko'olina: $22
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $33
  • Private Airport Transfer: Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to Honolulu: $44
  • Private Airport Transfer: Honolulu to Honolulu International Airport (HNL): $44
  • Honolulu Private Airport Transfer by Minivan - To Hotels in Waikiki: $48
  • Private Transfer from Honolulu (HLN) Airport to Waikiki: $56
  • Private Transfer from Waikiki to Honolulu (HLN) Airport: $56
  • Arrival Lei Greeting and Round Trip Waikiki Transfers: $57

Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Honolulu?

Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Durham 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
    Durham $35
    Honolulu $42

Typical Food prices in Honolulu

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:


  • Dinner for Two
    $73
  • Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream
    $5.55
  • Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)
    $53
  • Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)
    $34
  • Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)
    $7.50
  • Hot Dog with the Fixins'
    $8.30
  • 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:

  • After Dinner Tour along the Famous Waikiki Beach Strip: $68
  • Majestic Sunset Dinner and Cocktail Cruise with Live Entertainment: $97
  • Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path: $110
  • Hawaiian Style Cooking Classes in Honolulu: $125
  • Da Local's Food Tour: $130
  • Three Star Deluxe Sunset Dinner & Show: $151
  • Private Hawaiian Food Tour by Bike in Oahu: $159
  • Oahu Fireworks Dinner Cruise: $162
  • 4th of July Sunset Dinner and Fireworks Cruise: $170
  • Oahu Food Tour with Emmy-Winning 'Cooking Hawaiian Style' Host: $177
  • Aloha Plate Food Tour: $177

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Durham $21
    Honolulu $32

Tours and Activities in Durham

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

  • Trolley Pub Public Tour of Durham: $41

Typical Entertainment prices in Honolulu

For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Parking for Hike
    $5.00
  • Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two
    $12
  • 2 hr Dinner Cruise
    $85
  • 1 Day Kayak Rental
    $36

Tours and Activities in Honolulu

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.

  • Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center Tour: $4.95
  • Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Diamond Head Hiking Narrated Tour: $5.00
  • Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center Tour: $6.99
  • USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour: $7.99
  • Oahu: Grand Circle Island Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
  • East Oahu Shoreline Drive Audio Tour: $12
  • Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour: $12
  • USS Arizona Memorial Deluxe Tour: $13
  • Arrival Trasfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Cruise Terminal: $13
  • North Shore Grand Circle Island Tour’s Honolulu Airport Shuttle Waikiki Hotel: $14
  • USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour and Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Durham $27
    Honolulu $5.18

Sample the Local Flavors in Honolulu

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Honolulu:

  • Shaxi Dive Bar Tour: $68

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham 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 Durham.


When is the best time to visit Durham or Honolulu?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Honolulu in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Honolulu.

In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as Honolulu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July are around 79°F (26°C), and Honolulu is about 81°F (27°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Honolulu. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Honolulu. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Honolulu receives 303 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Honolulu. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Durham 79°F (26°C) 
    Honolulu 81°F (27°C)

Should I visit Durham or Honolulu in the Autumn?

Both Honolulu and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Durham is generally much colder than Honolulu. Temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Honolulu stays around 80°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Honolulu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Honolulu during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Honolulu receives 246 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Honolulu. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Durham 61°F (16°C) 
    Honolulu 80°F (26°C)

Should I visit Durham or Honolulu in the Winter?

Both Honolulu and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit.

Durham can be very cold during winter. Durham is much colder than Honolulu in the winter. The temperature in Durham is usually 40°F (5°C) in January, and Honolulu stays around 73°F (23°C).

In Honolulu, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Durham often gets less sunshine than Honolulu. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Honolulu receives 212 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in January than Honolulu. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Durham 40°F (5°C) 
    Honolulu 73°F (23°C)

Should I visit Durham or Honolulu in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Honolulu.

In the spring, Durham is much colder than Honolulu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April are around 60°F (16°C), and Honolulu is about 76°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Honolulu this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Honolulu during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Honolulu receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Honolulu. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Honolulu receives 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Durham 60°F (16°C) 
    Honolulu 76°F (24°C)

Typical Weather for Honolulu and Durham

Durham Honolulu
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Feb 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 73°F (23°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 74°F (24°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm)
Apr 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 76°F (24°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm)
May 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 78°F (25°C) 1.4 inches (35 mm)
Jun 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 80°F (26°C) 0.5 inches (12 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 81°F (27°C) 0.6 inches (15 mm)
Aug 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm) 81°F (27°C) 0.4 inches (11 mm)
Sep 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 81°F (27°C) 0.7 inches (19 mm)
Oct 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 80°F (26°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Nov 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 77°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Dec 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)


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Durham vs. Honolulu Travel Comparison

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