A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Honolulu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Honolulu?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Honolulu? 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: Kampala or Honolulu?

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

Honolulu

Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Honolulu or Kampala?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $284. 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 Kampala and Honolulu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $59
    Honolulu $183
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $118
    Honolulu $366
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Honolulu

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Honolulu? 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.

Hotels in Kampala


Hotels in Honolulu


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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Honolulu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.48
    Honolulu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $3.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Honolulu

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:


  • Rental Car for One Day
    $35
  • Airport Shuttle for Two
    $30
  • Hilton Parking
    $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu

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

  • Honolulu HNL Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer in SUV: $272
  • Arrival Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by Executive Car: $157
  • Arrival Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by SUV: $211
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
  • Chief's Luau Admission Including Transfers: $181
  • Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
  • HNL Airport & Waikiki Private Transfer by Brand New Mercedes Van: $160
  • Honolulu Airport & Ko Olina Hotels Private Transfer by Minivan (up to 5 people): $90
  • Honolulu Airport & KoOlina Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5 People): $180
  • Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5 people): $130
  • Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Passenger Van(up to 14ppl): $140
  • Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by SUV(up to 6 people): $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Honolulu?

Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Kampala 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
    Kampala $8.36
    Honolulu $53
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

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

  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
  • Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
  • Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
  • Kampala food tour: $205

Typical Food Prices in Honolulu

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:


  • Dinner for Two
    $73
  • Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream
    $5.55
  • Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)
    $53
  • Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)
    $34
  • Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)
    $7.50
  • Hot Dog with the Fixins'
    $8.30
  • Sushi Dinner for Two
    $73

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu

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

  • Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path : $150
  • Oahu Da Local's Food Tour: $150
  • Lanai Tabura curated Private Aloha Plate Food Tour from Honolulu: $239
  • Brewery and Local Food Tour: $480

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Honolulu $40

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Equator Tour: $100
  • 1 - One Day Best Of Kampala city Walking Tour: $45
  • 1 Day Jinja source of the River Nile tour: $260
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
  • 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
  • 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
  • 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $465
  • 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
  • 1-Day Uganda Rhino Trekking Tour Experience: $239
  • 1-day Kampala city tour Uganda: $171
  • 1Day Jinja Tour & source of the Nile River Experience : $193

Typical Entertainment Prices in Honolulu

For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Parking for Hike
    $5.00
  • Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two
    $12
  • 2 hr Dinner Cruise
    $85
  • 1 Day Kayak Rental
    $36

Tours and Activities in Honolulu

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.

  • Heart of Waikiki Walking Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $4.99
  • Historic Downtown Honolulu Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $4.99
  • Military and Entertainment in Waikiki: A Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
  • Waikīkī's Beaches and Royalty: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Hawaii‘s Historic Kingdom: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Oahu: USS Arizona Memorial Chief's Narrated Multimedia Tour: $7.99
  • Downtown Honolulu Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
  • Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
  • Honolulu In-App Audio Tour: Historical & Cultural Treasures: $9.00
  • Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $9.99
  • USS Arizona Commander's Narrated Multimedia Tour - 23 Stops: $11
  • Oahu: Honolulu 3-Hour Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Honolulu $6.47

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kampala is in Africa and Honolulu is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu than you might in Kampala.

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


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Honolulu?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Honolulu. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Honolulu, 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.