A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kailua-Kona vs. Hope for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kailua-Kona or Hope?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kailua-Kona or Hope, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Kailua-Kona or Hope?

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.

Hope

Hope, located in British Columbia, Canada, is a small town in the far east of the Fraser Valley. It's at the cross section of several major highways making it a pass through point for many visitors to the area. Hope is also the location of the filming of the 1980's film Rambo: First Blood, a fact which many locals take much pride in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kailua-Kona Expensive? and Is Hope Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kailua-Kona or Hope?

Kailua-Kona has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Kailua-Kona and Hope, 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 Kailua-Kona or Hope?

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 Kailua-Kona or Hope in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Kailua-Kona as well as Hope.

Kailua-Kona is a little warmer than Hope in the summer. The daily temperature in Kailua-Kona averages around 78°F (25°C) in July, and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Kailua-Kona usually gets more rain in July than Hope. Kailua-Kona gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kailua-Kona or Hope in the Autumn?

Both Hope and Kailua-Kona are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In the autumn, Kailua-Kona is much warmer than Hope. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kailua-Kona in October average around 78°F (26°C), and Hope averages at about 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hope. In October, Kailua-Kona usually receives less rain than Hope. Kailua-Kona gets 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kailua-Kona or Hope in the Winter?

Both Hope and Kailua-Kona during the winter are popular places to visit.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hope. In January, Kailua-Kona is generally much warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in Kailua-Kona average around 74°F (23°C), and Hope fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Hope gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kailua-Kona. Kailua-Kona usually gets less rain in January than Hope. Kailua-Kona gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kailua-Kona or Hope in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kailua-Kona and Hope.

Kailua-Kona is much warmer than Hope in the spring. The daily temperature in Kailua-Kona averages around 74°F (24°C) in April, and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Kailua-Kona usually receives less rain than Hope. Kailua-Kona gets 3 inches (76 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hope and Kailua-Kona