Which place is cheaper, Honolulu or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Honolulu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Honolulu 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: Nairobi or Honolulu?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
Honolulu
Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesHonolulu Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $68Honolulu $329
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $329. 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 Nairobi and Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Honolulu $190
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Honolulu $380
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Honolulu
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Honolulu? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Honolulu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Honolulu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Arusha: $292
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Maasai Mara Reserve: $215
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road: $160
- Private Road transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli: $150
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Transfer to Naivasha from Nairobi: $99
- Private Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA Transfers to Nairobi Hotels: $95
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Museum of Illusion Nairobi Experience with Transfers: $75
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi City: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Honolulu
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
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Airport Shuttle for Two$30
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Hilton Parking$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu
Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 【ARRIVAL】Honolulu Airport -Private Transfer to Waikiki: $90
- Waikiki Private transfer Airport to Hotel *1-12 Passengers: $185
- VIP Luxury Transfers: Honolulu Airport ↔ Waikiki ↔ Cruise Port: $179
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $52
- Shared Departure Transfer from Waikiki Hotels to Honolulu Airport: $23
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $26
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotels: $25
- Private Waikiki HNL Airport/Cruise Port Transfer | Up to 10: $150
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Sedan Car: $116
- Private Transfer: Honolulu Airport HNL to Honolulu in Luxury SUV: $147
- Private Transfer waikiki to HNL airport * 1-12 passenger*: $140
- Private Transfer from Waikiki to Honolulu Airport HNL by Minibus: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Honolulu $91
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
Typical Food Prices in Honolulu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:
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Dinner for Two$73
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Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream$5.55
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Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)$53
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Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)$34
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Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)$7.50
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Hot Dog with the Fixins'$8.30
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Sushi Dinner for Two$73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Waikiki Food Tour with Local Guide: $98
- Hawaii: Off The Beaten Path Food Tour: $150
- Ka Moana Luau Dinner and Show with Transportation: $166
- Sunset 5 Course Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $193
- Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Jazz: $236
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Honolulu $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
- 1 Day Hell's Gate Bicycle Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $280
- 1 Day Purple Farm Tour from Nairobi Tea Tasting and Lunch: $295
- 1 Day Tour to Amboseli Park And a Majestic Mt Kilimanjaro View: $90
- 2 Days 1 Night Amboseli National Park With Masai Village Tour: $280
- 2 Days Amboseli Safari using a 4x4 Landcruiser jeep(with options): $105
- 2-Hour Private Kibera Slum Guided Tour: $90
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Group Joining Safari With Guided Tour: $250
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Shared Safari In a Land Cruiser: $220
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Group Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $295
- 3 Days Masai Mara Budget Camping Safari on 4X4 Land Cruiser: $285
- 3 day Maasai Mara Small Group Safari in a 4 x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $220
Typical Entertainment Prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Parking for Hike$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two$12
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2 hr Dinner Cruise$85
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1 Day Kayak Rental$36
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
- #1 Private VIP USS Arizona Memorial & Historic Honolulu Tour: $899
- 18 Minutes PRIVATE Helicopter Tour in Honolulu: $269
- 3 Hour Sightseeing *SPECIALTY Tour: $149
- 3 Zipline Adventure with Waikiki Transportation: $153
- 3-Hour Honolulu Bottom Fishing Adventure: $87
- 4 Hour Half Day Island Jeep Tour: $190
- 5 Hour Romantic Hawaii Jeep Tour: $276
- 6 Hour Local Food Plate Jeep Tour: $230
- 7 Day Hawaii Tour!: $8,800
- 8 Hour Circle Island Jeep Tour: $275
- Afternoon Honolulu City Tour: $144
- Afternoon at McGarret - Hawaii 5-0 TV Tour: $229
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Honolulu $6.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in Honolulu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Honolulu:
- Waikiki Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- Kaka'ako Brewery Tour by 15-Passenger Bike: $45
- Kaka'ako Brewery Tour by 15-Passenger Bike: $45
- Oahu: Dole Plantation and Ko Hana Distillery with Rum Tasting: $104
- V.I.P Dole, Rum Distillery, N.Shore, Haleiwa Circle island tour: $241
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Honolulu is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Honolulu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Honolulu?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Honolulu. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Honolulu, 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.