Which place is cheaper, Virginia or Hawaii?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hawaii or Virginia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hawaii or Virginia? 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: Hawaii or Virginia?
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.
Virginia
One of the original thirteen British colonies, Virginia is a place of rich history and varied environments. You might explore the historic settlement of Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the current culture of its major cities, or get lost in nature along the coast or in the scenic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. There's a little something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHawaii $342Virginia $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Hawaii is $342, while the average daily cost in Virginia is $161. 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 Hawaii and Virginia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHawaii $214Virginia $80
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHawaii $428Virginia $160
Compare Hotels in Hawaii and Virginia
Looking for a hotel in Hawaii or Virginia? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hawaii $37Virginia $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii
Also for Hawaii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $13
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Maui Kahului Airport: $13
- Shared Departure Transfer: Kauai Hotels to Kauai International Airport: $13
- Departure Transfer from Hotels to Kona International Airport: $15
- Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotels: $18
- Shared Departure Transfer from Waikiki Hotels to Honolulu Airport: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $20
- Shared Departure Transfer: Oahu Hotels or Cruise Terminal to Honolulu Airport: $20
- Private Arrival Transfer from Maui Kahului Airport OGG: $31
- Honolulu Airport Private Transfer to or from Waikiki: $32
- Honolulu Airport -Waikiki Arrival Private Transfer W/Lei Greeting: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Virginia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Virginia:
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Private transfer to or from Reston and Ronald Reagan National Airport: $200
- Private Transfer To or From Reston and Dulles International Airport: $180
- Private Departure Transfer to Charlottesville Airport (CHO): $50
- Private Arrival Transfer from Charlotteville Airport (CHO): $50
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Reagan Airport(DCA): $188
- Airport Transfer to or from Mclean, VA and Dulles Airport: $195
Is it cheaper to fly into Hawaii or Virginia?
Prices for flights to both Virginia 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 dayHawaii $77Virginia $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $106
- Honolulu Sunset & Fireworks Dinner Cruise: $107
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $107
- Ahi Uila Fire Show and Dinner: $110
- Walking Food Tour Exploring Hanalei: $119
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Dinner Cruise Aboard the Quicksilver: $120
- Hanalei, Kauaʻi Walking Food Tour: $129
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise Aboard Calypso: $130
- Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Prime Rib or Mahi Mahi Dinner Cruise : $140
- Farm to Taco: A Farm to Table Cooking Class: $149
- Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path : $150
- Oahu Da Local's Food Tour: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Virginia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Virginia.
- Taste of Williamsburg Food Tour by Junket: $79
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $90
- Norfolk Buffet Dinner Cruise : $101
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $126
- The UVA Corner Food Tour: Private Walking Food Tour in Charlottesville: $139
- The Downtown Mall Food Tour: $149
- Roanoke Ebike Food Tour: $150
- Norfolk Mother's Day Signature Dinner Cruise: $162
- Norfolk 4th of July Buffet Dinner Cruise: $182
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hawaii $38Virginia $24
Tours and Activities in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Diamond Head Hiking Narrated Tour: $5.00
- Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour: $5.00
- Walk The Deck of The USS Arizona Virtual Reality Tour: $5.99
- Historic Downtown Honolulu GPS-Led Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Honolulu Historic District a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Chief'sTour: $7.99
- Honolulu's Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- 15 Minutes Air Raid Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Tour: $9.99
- Commander's 1-Hour Official Pearl Harbor Narrated Multimedia Tour: $9.99
- Kauai Poipu & Koloa Town Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Hawaii Tiki Tour with Lava Rock Sculptures and Off Grid Lifestyle: $10
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Honolulu, HI: $15
Tours and Activities in Virginia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Virginia are as follows:
- Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Stories and Walking Tour: $25
- 1 Hour Christmastide Walking Tour in Virginia Past and Present : $25
- 2-Hour Private Guided The best of Williamsburg Walking Tour: $175
- 3-Hour E-Bike Sightseeing and Breweries Tour in Roanoke: $109
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Roanoke to Afton) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg Admission Ticket: $101
- Charlottesville Dark History Ghost Tour : $30
- Charlottesville Historic Downtown APP/GPS Smartphone Walking Tour: $7.75
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $25
- Church Hill Segway Tour in Richmond: $80
- Colonial Ghosts Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHawaii $19Virginia $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Hawaii
Also in Hawaii, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Whiskey Tour - Koʻolau Distillery - Kailua, Hawai'i 96734: $25
- Honolulu Haunts Ghost Tours And Pub Crawls: $30
- Shaxi Dive Bar Tour: $37
- History Tour Pub Crawl in Waikiki: $45
Sample the Local Flavors in Virginia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Virginia:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Colonial Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- The Murder Tour and Pub Crawl: $48
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $74
- Drink Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl: $74
- Private Wine Tours (Minimum 3 & Maximum 6 ) Pickup Maximum 30 Mi : $85
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hawaii and Virginia, we can see that Hawaii is more expensive. And not only is Virginia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia 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 Virginia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hawaii Expensive? and Is Virginia Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Hawaii or Virginia?
Virginia has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Hawaii. When comparing the sizes of Hawaii and Virginia, 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.
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.