Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Las Vegas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Las Vegas or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Las Vegas and Kailua-Kona. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Las Vegas or Kailua-Kona?
Las Vegas
Las Vegas has long been the gambling capital of the United States. Known as "Sin City," it is a hot spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in weddings and business conferences. It is the largest city in the state of Nevada and one of the most visited and well known cities in the country. It is located in the Mojave Desert in South Nevada and has a very arid climate with very hot and dry summers. The average high in July is 104 degrees Fahrenheit, but as many people like to say "its a dry heat." Winters are cooler and pleasant with highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheits. Snow is very rare but the surrounding mountains are often topped with snow during the winter months.
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 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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLas Vegas $310Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Las Vegas is $310, 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 Las Vegas and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLas Vegas $158Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLas Vegas $316Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Las Vegas and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Las Vegas 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: Las Vegas Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Las Vegas $53Kailua-Kona $45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
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24 Hr Bus Pass$15
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24 hrs Deuce Bus$7.00
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Taxi from Airport to the Strip$36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Las Vegas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Las Vegas:
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport Transfer Any Part of Manila: $23
- Private Transfer from Subic Bay Port to Clark Airport (CRK): $46
- Private Transfer from Laoag city hotels to Salomague Cruise Port: $46
- Private Transfer from Salomague Cruise Port to Laoag city hotels: $46
- Private Transfer from Salomague Port to Laoag Airport (LAO) : $46
- Transfer from Airport to Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel: $50
- Private Transfer: McCarran International Airport (LAS) to Las Vegas : $50
- Private Transfer: Las Vegas to McCarran International Airport (LAS): $51
- Private Transfer from Manila City Hotels to Subic Bay Cruise Port: $52
- Lake Las Vegas to Las Vegas Airport (LAS) - Departure Transfer: $52
- Lake Las Vegas to Las Vegas Airport (LAS) - Departure Transfer: $52
- Las Vegas Airport(LAS)to Lake Las Vegas- Arrival Private Transfer: $53
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 Las Vegas or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Las Vegas 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 dayLas Vegas $80Kailua-Kona $58
Typical Food Prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of dining costs in Las Vegas are as follows:
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Coffee$5.00
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Deep Fried Twinkie$1.07
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Chocolate Dip Banana$1.07
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Gelato$5.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Las Vegas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Las Vegas.
- Chuck Wagon Dinner and Show at the Firelight Barn in Henderson: $49
- Guest Artists Chuck Wagon Dinner Show in Henderson: $49
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour Experience : $65
- Manila A Walking Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink: $70
- Makati Street Food tour Experience with Mari: $73
- Manila Filipino Cooking Class: Meryenda Favorites: $75
- Las Vegas Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $80
- Market Tour and Provincial Filipino Cooking Class in the Countryside: $88
- Downtown Las Vegas Food Tour: $89
- Private Filipino cooking class in a local Manila Home: $90
- Marriage Can Be Murder Dinner Show in Las Vegas: $100
- Private Filipino Cooking Class in the Heart of Manila,Makati City: $110
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.Las Vegas $78Kailua-Kona $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Las Vegas
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Las Vegas are as follows:
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Wedding Chapel$139
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Atomic Testing Museum (two people)$12
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Gondola Ride (4 person)$64
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Monorail Ride$5.00
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NY NY Rollercoaster$14
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Circus Circus Adventure Dome Day Pass$26
Tours and Activities in Las Vegas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Las Vegas are as follows:
- Self-Guided Red Rock Canyon Audio Driving Tour: $7.19
- Red Rock Canyon: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Hoover Dam & Lake Mead: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Las Vegas Strip: Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Las Vegas’ Glitter Gulch, Ghosts and Gangsters: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Dowtown Las Vegas: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Henderson by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Hoover Dam: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $12
- Self-Guided Sightseeing Highlights Digital Tour: $13
- Hoover Dam and Lake Mead Audio-Guided Tour: $14
- Hoover Dam Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour Guide: $15
- Red Rock Canyon Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour Guide: $15
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 dayLas Vegas $55Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Las Vegas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Las Vegas:
- Mobsters, Casinos, and Speaky Bar Crawl: $36
- Las Vegas Fremont Street Bar Crawl (party bus add-on option): $36
- Off The Beaten Path Bar Crawl: $45
- Las Vegas Bar Crawl by Party Bus with Free Drinks: $49
- Zombie Burlesque Comedy Musical Show Ticket: $50
- Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino: $50
- Fremont Street Party Bus and Bar Crawl: $50
- Las Vegas Fremont Street Bar Crawl: $50
- Las Vegas Fremont Street Bar Crawl : $50
- Red Velvet Burlesque Show in Las Vegas: $55
- Las Vegas Country Bar Crawl by Party Bus w/ Free Drinks: $59
- Fantasy Burlesque Show at Luxor Hotel & Casino: $61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Las Vegas and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Las Vegas is more expensive. And not only is Kailua-Kona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kailua-Kona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kailua-Kona 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 Las Vegas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Las Vegas than you might in Kailua-Kona.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Las Vegas Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Las Vegas or Kailua-Kona?
Las Vegas has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Las Vegas 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.
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.