Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Milwaukee?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Milwaukee and Kailua-Kona can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona?
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan's western shore. It's known for its breweries, many of which offer tours chronicling its role in the beer industry. Overlooking the Menomonee River, the Harley-Davidson Museum displays classic motorcycles, including one of Elvis Presley's. Nearby is the Milwaukee Public Museum, with its large-scale European Village and a recreation of old Milwaukee. In summertime, festivals let loose by the lake almost every weekend. These attractions along with stylish eating and shopping areas have turned Wisconsin's largest city into an interesting and attractive destination.
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 Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMilwaukee $176Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Milwaukee is $176, 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 Milwaukee and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMilwaukee $99Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMilwaukee $198Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Milwaukee and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Milwaukee 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: Milwaukee Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Milwaukee $38Kailua-Kona $45
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 Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Milwaukee 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 dayMilwaukee $52Kailua-Kona $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milwaukee
For Milwaukee, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Family Fun Food Tour: $80
- Local Food Tour: $97
- Milwaukee Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Original Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $139
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.Milwaukee $26Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Milwaukee
For Milwaukee, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Museum Admission Ticket - Grohmann Museum: $5.00
- The Grand Milwaukee Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- The Grand Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour through Milwaukee: $6.99
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Milwaukee by Operation City Quest: $10
- Geneva Lake Shore Path: Uncover 21 miles of stories on a self-guided audio tour: $10
- Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Game Ticket at American Family Field: $11
- Skip The Line: Harley-Davidson Museum Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $22
- Macabre Milwaukee Walking Tour: $26
- Shakers Original Historical Ghost Tour: $27
- Downtown Kenosha Urban Art and Photography Walking Tour: $30
- Brew City Ghosts: Macabre Milwaukee By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Milwaukee Private or Public Pedal Tavern Tour : $35
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 dayMilwaukee $33Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Milwaukee
Also in Milwaukee, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sip of Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Snack: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Milwaukee and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Milwaukee much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Milwaukee would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Milwaukee Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona?
Milwaukee has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Milwaukee as well as Kailua-Kona. Most visitors come to Milwaukee for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Milwaukee is generally around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Milwaukee average around 74°F (23°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Milwaukee this time of the year. In the summer, Milwaukee often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Milwaukee gets 321 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun.
Milwaukee usually gets more rain in July than Kailua-Kona. Milwaukee gets 3.4 inches (87 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 JulyMilwaukee 74°F (23°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
Both Kailua-Kona and Milwaukee are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Milwaukee because of the shopping scene.
Milwaukee is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Milwaukee averages around 53°F (12°C) in October, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
Milwaukee usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during autumn. Milwaukee gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Milwaukee usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Milwaukee gets 2 inches (50 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 OctoberMilwaukee 53°F (12°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
Both Kailua-Kona and Milwaukee during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milwaukee this time of year.
It's quite cold in Milwaukee in the winter. In the winter, Milwaukee is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Milwaukee in January average around 21°F (-6°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (23°C).
In the winter, Milwaukee often gets less sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Milwaukee gets 138 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. Milwaukee usually gets less rain in January than Kailua-Kona. Milwaukee gets 1.6 inches (41 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 JanuaryMilwaukee 21°F (-6°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Milwaukee or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Milwaukee and Kailua-Kona.
In April, Milwaukee is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Milwaukee average around 47°F (8°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
In Milwaukee, it's very sunny this time of the year. Milwaukee usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during spring. Milwaukee gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Milwaukee usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Milwaukee gets 2.8 inches (70 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 AprilMilwaukee 47°F (8°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Milwaukee
| Milwaukee | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°F (-6°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 26°F (-4°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 36°F (2°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 47°F (8°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 68°F (20°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 74°F (23°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 65°F (18°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 53°F (12°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 41°F (5°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.7 inches (44 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.