A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Kansas City vs. Kailua-Kona for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kansas City or Kailua-Kona?

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

Should I visit Kansas City 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: Kansas City or Kailua-Kona?

Kansas City

A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kansas City or Kailua-Kona?

Kansas City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Kansas City 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 Kansas City or Kailua-Kona?

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 Kansas City or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Kansas City is around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kansas City in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (25°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kansas City this time of the year. In the summer, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Kansas City gets 325 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun.

Kansas City usually gets more rain in July than Kailua-Kona. Kansas City gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kansas City or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?

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

In October, Kansas City is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Kansas City average around 60°F (15°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kansas City. Kansas City usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during autumn. Kansas City gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kansas City usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Kansas City gets 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kansas City or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?

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

Kansas City can be very cold during winter. Kansas City is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the winter. The daily temperature in Kansas City averages around 30°F (-1°C) in January, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

In the winter, Kansas City often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Kansas City gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun.

Kailua-Kona gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kansas City usually gets less rain in January than Kailua-Kona. Kansas City gets 0.9 inches (23 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kansas City or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Kansas City is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kansas City in April average around 58°F (15°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (24°C).

In Kansas City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kansas City usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during spring. Kansas City gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kansas City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kailua-Kona. Kansas City gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Kansas City