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

North America / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Hawaii or Alaska?

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

Should I visit Hawaii or Alaska? 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.

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.

Alaska

Alaska joined the United States of America as the 49th state. The US purchased the area from the Russian Empire in 1867 for just 7.2 million dollars (about two cents an acre). It became an organized territory in 1912 and a state in 1959. It is separated from the rest of the country by Canada and, although it is the largest state, it is the least densely populated and for many years had the lowest population. It covers an area equal to California, Texas and Montana combined and lies on the Arctic Circle. Many people consider Alaska to be the United State's "final frontier" because of its vast wilderness. It is also where you will find the highest point in North America.

Which city is cheaper, Alaska or Hawaii?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hawaii is $274, while the average daily cost in Alaska is $195. 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 Hawaii and Alaska in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hawaii $170
    Alaska $108
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hawaii $340
    Alaska $216

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hawaii $29
    Alaska $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii

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

  • Oahu: Private Transfer to/from HNL International Airport: $101
  • Honolulu Airport: Private Transfer to/from Waikiki by SUV: $130
  • Private SUV Transfer on Maui To Wailea: $289
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer: Maui Kahului Airport to Maui Hotels: $456

Is it cheaper to fly into Hawaii or Alaska?

Prices for flights to both Alaska and Hawaii 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
    Hawaii $61
    Alaska $45

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii

For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Allerton Garden and Estate Tour with Sunset Dinner: $106
  • Honolulu: City Lights and Dinner Tour: $166

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alaska

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alaska.

  • Late Night Yurt Dinner and Northern Lights: $185
  • Fairbanks: Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner, & Northern Lights: $285

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hawaii $31
    Alaska $52

Tours and Activities in Hawaii

For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Maui: Lahaina Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Honolulu: Beginner Snorkeling Tour with Videos: $39
  • Oahu: Sea Life Park General Admission Ticket: $52
  • Waikiki: BYOB Sunset Cruise with Snacks: $56
  • Oahu: Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona, and City Highlights Tour: $62
  • Big Island: 1-Hour Eco-Friendly Glass Bottom Reef Tour: $62
  • Oahu: Waikiki Sunset and Cocktail Cruise: $70
  • Oahu: Seasonal Whale Watch Cruise: $70
  • Honolulu: Mermaid Snorkel Adventure with Videos: $79
  • Maui: Catamaran Whale Cruise: $81
  • Oahu Hidden Gems & Waimea Botanical Garden/Waterfall tour: $87
  • Honolulu: Beginner Scuba Diving Adventure: $89

Tours and Activities in Alaska

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

  • Anchorage: 1-Hour Trolley Tour: $20
  • Denali Park Zipline Adventure: $139
  • Denali Park Zipline Adventure: $143
  • Denali: 5-Hour Guided Wilderness Hiking Tour: $155
  • Denali: ATV Trailblazer Tour: $175
  • Denali: Denali National Park Walking Tour: $135
  • Fairbanks: 1-Hour Snowmobile Tour: $120
  • Fairbanks: Ice Fishing Day Tour: $238
  • From Anchorage: Glacier and Wildlife Discovery Tour: $215
  • From Anchorage: Wilderness, Wildlife, & Glacier Experience: $185
  • From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Day Tour: $145
  • From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tour: $175

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hawaii $16
    Alaska $16

About these numbers

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

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
Sign Up

More City Comparisons
Florida vs. Hawaii
Florida vs. Alaska
Georgia vs. Hawaii
Georgia vs. Alaska
North Carolina vs. Hawaii
North Carolina vs. Alaska
South Carolina vs. Hawaii
South Carolina vs. Alaska
Texas vs. Hawaii
Texas vs. Alaska
Maine vs. Hawaii
Maine vs. Alaska
Michigan vs. Hawaii
Michigan vs. Alaska
Vermont vs. Hawaii
Vermont vs. Alaska
California vs. Hawaii
California vs. Alaska
Idaho vs. Hawaii
Idaho vs. Alaska
Montana vs. Hawaii
Montana vs. Alaska
Hawaii vs. Virginia
Alaska vs. Virginia
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Hawaii vs. Alaska Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.