Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Juneau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Juneau or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Juneau or Kailua-Kona? 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: Juneau or Kailua-Kona?
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as "stair streets" which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJuneau $160Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Juneau is $160, 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 Juneau and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJuneau $88Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJuneau $176Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Juneau and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Juneau 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.
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: Juneau Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Juneau $38Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Juneau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
- Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Juneau or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Juneau 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
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Food Meals for one dayJuneau $49Kailua-Kona $58
Typical Food Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Buffet Breakfast for Two$53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Juneau $17Kailua-Kona $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Juneau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:
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1 Day Bike Rental$25
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Admission to Alaska State Museum$5.00
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Glacier Gardens$22
Tours and Activities in Juneau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Juneau are as follows:
- Juneau, The Last Frontier Self Guided (Smart Phone App/GPS) Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Juneau City Tour: $52
- Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience: $79
- Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure: $99
- Whale Watching Adventure in Juneau: $123
- From Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks: $132
- Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake: $139
- eBikes Alaska - Rainforest Adventure: $160
- Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide: $177
- 3.5 Hour Crowd-Skipping Whale Tour in Juneau Alaska: $189
- Juneau Whale Watching Adventure: $189
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Diving with Manta Rays for Two$162
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Body Board Rental (1 Day)$12
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1 Day Kayak Rental$47
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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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJuneau $16Kailua-Kona $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Juneau and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Juneau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Juneau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Juneau 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 Kailua-Kona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kailua-Kona than you might in Juneau.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Juneau Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Juneau or Kailua-Kona?
Juneau has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Juneau 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 Juneau 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 Juneau or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
Both Kailua-Kona and Juneau are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Juneau for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Juneau is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Juneau average around 56°F (13°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
Juneau usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kailua-Kona during summer. Juneau gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Juneau. In July, Juneau usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Juneau gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyJuneau 56°F (13°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Juneau or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
Both Kailua-Kona and Juneau during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Juneau in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Juneau is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Juneau averages around 42°F (6°C) in October, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In the autumn, Juneau often gets less sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Juneau gets 69 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Juneau. Juneau usually gets more rain in October than Kailua-Kona. Juneau gets 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberJuneau 42°F (6°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Juneau or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Juneau and Kailua-Kona. Most visitors come to Juneau for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Juneau can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Juneau is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Juneau in January average around 24°F (-4°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (23°C).
Juneau usually receives less sunshine than Kailua-Kona during winter. Juneau gets 87 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. Juneau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Juneau usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Juneau gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryJuneau 24°F (-4°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Juneau or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Juneau as well as Kailua-Kona. The spring months attract visitors to Juneau because of the natural beauty.
The weather in Juneau can be very cold. In April, Juneau is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Juneau average around 40°F (4°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
In the spring, Juneau often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Juneau gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun.
Juneau usually gets less rain in April than Kailua-Kona. Juneau gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilJuneau 40°F (4°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Juneau
| Juneau | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°F (-4°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 33°F (0°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 40°F (4°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 53°F (12°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 56°F (13°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 55°F (13°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 49°F (10°C) | 7 inches (179 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 42°F (6°C) | 7.8 inches (199 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 32°F (-0°C) | 4.9 inches (123 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 27°F (-3°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
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.