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

Should you visit Mystic 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 Mystic 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: Mystic or Kailua-Kona?

Mystic

Mystic is a popular tourist destination in Connecticut for its many marinas, historic buildings, aquarium, and seaport. It was historically a shipbuilding and maritime town but today it attracts crowds from many nearby states and regions. Sailing trips are a fun activity that get visitors out on the water. The town is also near Foxwoods Casino.

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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.


Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Mystic?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mystic is $210, 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 Mystic and Kailua-Kona in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mystic $125
    Kailua-Kona $141
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mystic $250
    Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Mystic and Kailua-Kona

Looking for a hotel in Mystic 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.

Hotels in Mystic


Hotels in Kailua-Kona


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: Mystic Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mystic $56
    Kailua-Kona $45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kailua-Kona

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:


  • Rental Car for One Day
    $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Mystic or Kailua-Kona?

Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Mystic 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
    Mystic $52
    Kailua-Kona $58

Typical Food Prices in Kailua-Kona

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:


  • Buffet Breakfast for Two
    $53

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mystic $24
    Kailua-Kona $40

Tours and Activities in Mystic

For Mystic, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour: $30
  • Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour: $30
  • Ghosts of Christmas Past Downtown Walking Tour: $30
  • Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure : $31
  • Moonlit Mystic Graveyard Ghost Tour: $35
  • Guided Ghost Tour of Downtown Mystic at Night: $35

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kailua-Kona

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kailua-Kona are as follows:


  • Diving with Manta Rays for Two
    $162
  • Body Board Rental (1 Day)
    $12
  • 1 Day Kayak Rental
    $47
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mystic $31
    Kailua-Kona $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Mystic

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mystic:

  • Paranormal Pub Crawl: Beer Tour: $75
  • Paranormal Pub Crawl: Beer Tour: $75
  • Spirits of Cocktail Pub Crawl: $100
  • Spirits of Cocktail Pub Crawl: $100


When comparing the travel costs between Mystic and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Mystic or Kailua-Kona?

Kailua-Kona has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Mystic 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 Mystic 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 Mystic or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mystic as well as Kailua-Kona. Many visitors come to Mystic in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Mystic is cooler than Kailua-Kona in the summer. The daily temperature in Mystic averages around 73°F (23°C) in July, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic this time of the year. In the summer, Mystic often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Mystic gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets more rain in July than Kailua-Kona. Mystic gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Mystic 73°F (23°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)

Should I visit Mystic or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?

Both Kailua-Kona and Mystic are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Mystic for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Mystic is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mystic in October average around 53°F (12°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. Mystic usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during autumn. Mystic gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Mystic usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Mystic gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Mystic 53°F (12°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Mystic or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?

Both Kailua-Kona and Mystic during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Mystic because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Mystic can be very cold. In January, Mystic is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Mystic average around 28°F (-2°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

In the winter, Mystic often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kailua-Kona. Mystic gets 170 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. Mystic usually gets less rain in January than Kailua-Kona. Mystic gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Mystic 28°F (-2°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)

Should I visit Mystic or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mystic and Kailua-Kona. The beaches are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.

Mystic is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the spring. The daily temperature in Mystic averages around 48°F (9°C) in April, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mystic usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during spring. Mystic gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mystic usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Mystic gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Mystic 48°F (9°C) 
    Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)

Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Mystic

Mystic Kailua-Kona
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°F (-2°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Feb 30°F (-1°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Mar 38°F (3°C) 4 inches (101 mm) 74°F (23°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Apr 48°F (9°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3 inches (76 mm)
May 58°F (15°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm) 76°F (24°C) 1.6 inches (40 mm)
Jun 67°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm) 77°F (25°C) 1.8 inches (47 mm)
Jul 73°F (23°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 78°F (25°C) 2.3 inches (58 mm)
Aug 72°F (22°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 78°F (26°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm)
Sep 64°F (18°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 79°F (26°C) 1.1 inches (29 mm)
Oct 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 78°F (26°C) 1.6 inches (41 mm)
Nov 44°F (7°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Dec 33°F (0°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)