Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Memphis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Memphis or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Memphis or Kailua-Kona, 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: Memphis or Kailua-Kona?
Memphis
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is a city famous for the blues, soul, and Rock 'n' Roll music that originated there. There are a number of museums and historic landmarks like Elvis Presley's Graceland dedicated to that history, while areas of the city like Beale Street keep the musical culture alive today with a vibrant scene of bars, restaurants, and live music.
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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMemphis $167Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Memphis is $167, 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 Memphis and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMemphis $84Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMemphis $168Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Memphis and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Memphis 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: Memphis Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Memphis $59Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Memphis
Also for Memphis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Memphis Airport Transfers: $60
- Private Departure Transfer to Memphis Airport MEM: $72
- Private Arrival Transfer from Memphis Airport MEM: $72
- Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $133
- Guided Tour with Riverboat Cruise & Hotel Transfers: $339
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 Memphis or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Memphis 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 dayMemphis $43Kailua-Kona $58
Typical Food Prices in Memphis
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:
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Baskin Robins (for 2)$6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Memphis
For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour: $75
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.Memphis $45Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Memphis
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Memphis.
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Beale Street: $6.50
- Beale Street Experience Audio App Self Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Downtown In-App Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Memphis by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure City Game on Your Phone: $10
- Entry Ticket to the Edge Motor Museum: $10
- Rock 'n' Soul Museum with Audio Tour: $11
- Brews, Blues and BBQ Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket in Memphis: $15
- 1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour: $16
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 dayMemphis $26Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Memphis
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:
- Drinking Spirits with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Haunted Pub Crawl in Memphis: $27
- Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $69
- Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Memphis and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Memphis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Memphis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Memphis 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 Memphis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Memphis Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Memphis or Kailua-Kona?
Memphis has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Memphis 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 Memphis 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 Memphis or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
Both Kailua-Kona and Memphis during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Memphis because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Memphis is a little warmer than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Memphis in July average around 83°F (29°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (25°C).
It's quite sunny in Memphis. In the summer, Memphis often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Memphis gets 328 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun.
Memphis usually gets more rain in July than Kailua-Kona. Memphis gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMemphis 83°F (29°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Memphis or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Memphis and Kailua-Kona. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Memphis this time of year.
In October, Memphis is generally cooler than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Memphis average around 64°F (18°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In Memphis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Memphis usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during autumn. Memphis gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Memphis usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kailua-Kona. Memphis gets 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMemphis 64°F (18°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Memphis or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Memphis as well as Kailua-Kona. Many travelers come to Memphis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Memphis. Memphis is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the winter. The daily temperature in Memphis averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
In the winter, Memphis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kailua-Kona. Memphis gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kailua-Kona. Memphis usually gets less rain in January than Kailua-Kona. Memphis gets 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMemphis 40°F (5°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Memphis or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
Both Kailua-Kona and Memphis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Memphis in the spring for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Memphis is cooler than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Memphis in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (24°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Memphis. Memphis usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during spring. Memphis gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Memphis. In April, Memphis usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Memphis gets 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMemphis 64°F (18°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Memphis
| Memphis | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 72°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (29°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 54°F (12°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 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.