Which place is cheaper, Hawaii or Idaho?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Idaho or Hawaii?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Idaho or Hawaii? 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: Idaho or Hawaii?
Idaho
Perhaps best known for its "Famous Potatoes," Idaho's true nickname is "The Gem State" and is full of a kind of wild beauty that comes with snow-capped mountains, raging rivers, placid lakes, and dense forests. Agriculture mostly lies in the eastern part of the state, while the wilderness of northern and central Idaho consists of some of the state's greatest natural treasures, dotted with a few cities and college towns.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIdaho $0.00Hawaii $342
The average daily cost (per person) in Idaho is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Hawaii is $342. 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 Idaho and Hawaii in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIdaho -Hawaii $214
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIdaho $0.00Hawaii $428
Compare Hotels in Idaho and Hawaii
Looking for a hotel in Idaho or Hawaii? 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.Idaho -Hawaii $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii
Also for Hawaii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Maui Kahului Airport: $13
- Shared Departure Transfer: Kauai Hotels to Kauai International Airport: $13
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $13
- Departure Transfer from Hotels to Kona International Airport: $15
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotels: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Kona International Airport to Hotels: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $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
Is it cheaper to fly into Idaho or Hawaii?
Prices for flights to both Hawaii and Idaho 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 dayIdaho -Hawaii $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunchtime Walking Food Tour in Honolulu: $99
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $106
- 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
- Honolulu Sunset & Fireworks Dinner Cruise: $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
- Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise from Ka’anapali Beach: $154
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Idaho -Hawaii $38
Tours and Activities in Idaho
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Idaho are as follows:
- Boise Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
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
- USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Chief'sTour: $7.99
- Historic Downtown Honolulu GPS-Led Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- GPS-Guided Waikiki Walking Tour Part 1: Hawaiian Royalty: $7.99
- Honolulu Historic District a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- Waikiki Military and Entertainment History GPS-Led Walking Tour: $7.99
- Honolulu's Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Kauai Poipu & Koloa Town Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Oahu: Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Driving Tour: $9.99
- Commander's 1-Hour Official Pearl Harbor Narrated Multimedia Tour: $9.99
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayIdaho -Hawaii $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
- Maui Farm Distillery and local craft experience Full-Day Tour: $224
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Idaho and Hawaii, we can see that Hawaii is more expensive. And not only is Idaho much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Idaho would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Idaho 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 Idaho.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Idaho Expensive? and Is Hawaii Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Idaho or Hawaii?
Idaho has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Hawaii. When comparing the sizes of Idaho and Hawaii, 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.