Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Napa Valley?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley 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: Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona?
Napa Valley
Napa Valley, in the Bay Area of California, is a popular destination for its wineries and beautiful scenery. The area, referred to as Wine Country, is just north of San Francisco and makes for a great day or weekend trip. Many honeymooners visit the area for its romantic setting and popular bed and breakfasts. The best time to visit is during the months of September and October when the grapes are wipe. This time is referred to as the harvest "crush." The summer months are also a popular time but the crowds are often overwhelming.
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 dayNapa Valley $288Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Napa Valley is $288, 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 Napa Valley and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNapa Valley $126Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNapa Valley $252Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Napa Valley and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Napa Valley 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: Napa Valley Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Napa Valley $183Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Napa Valley
Also for Napa Valley, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Napa, CA to Sacramento Airport (SMF) - Departure Private Transfer : $110
- Private Airport Transfer from Sonoma to SFO (One-way): $286
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 Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Napa Valley 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 dayNapa Valley $62Kailua-Kona $58
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.Napa Valley $28Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Napa Valley
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Napa Valley.
- Sonoma Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour & Game: $25
- Napa Valley River History Kayak Tour: Single Kayaks: $79
- Napa and Sonoma Wine and Food Experience (Napa pickup): $109
- Napa Valley Wineries Tour Including Picnic Lunch: $125
- The Original Napa Valley Wine Trolley "Up Valley" Castle Tour : $125
- The Original Napa Valley Wine Trolley Classic Tour: $125
- Sonoma Valley Open Air Wine Trolley Tour: $125
- Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Sonoma Valley: $130
- Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Napa Valley: $130
- Half Day Tour: $139
- Half Day Bike Tour: $139
- Napa Valley River History Kayak Tour: 2 Person Tandem : $158
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 dayNapa Valley $66Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Napa Valley
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Napa Valley:
- Private Self-Guided Wine Tasting Tour in Sonoma: $50
- 6 Hour Wine Tour in Napa & Sonoma with Pick-Up from Napa: $109
- Napa Cable Car Wine Tasting Tour: $129
- Intro to Wine Tasting with Napa Sommelière : $195
- Healdsburg Cycling Wine Tour : $199
- Yountville Food and Wine Tour in Napa: $275
- Napa's Downtown Food & Wine Tour : $275
- Private, Customized Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Napa Valley and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona?
Napa Valley has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
Both Kailua-Kona and Napa Valley during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Napa Valley for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Napa Valley is cooler than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Napa Valley in July average around 73°F (23°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (25°C).
It's quite sunny in Napa Valley. In the summer, Napa Valley often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley gets 439 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun.
Napa Valley usually gets less rain in July than Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley gets 0.1 inches (2 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 JulyNapa Valley 73°F (23°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Napa Valley and Kailua-Kona. The autumn months attract visitors to Napa Valley because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Napa Valley is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Napa Valley average around 62°F (17°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In Napa Valley, it's very sunny this time of the year. Napa Valley usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during autumn. Napa Valley gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Napa Valley usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley gets 1.3 inches (33 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 OctoberNapa Valley 62°F (17°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Napa Valley as well as Kailua-Kona. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Napa Valley this time of year.
Napa Valley is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the winter. The daily temperature in Napa Valley averages around 46°F (8°C) in January, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
In the winter, Napa Valley often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley gets 3.8 inches (96 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 JanuaryNapa Valley 46°F (8°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Napa Valley or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
Both Kailua-Kona and Napa Valley are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Napa Valley for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Napa Valley is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Napa Valley in April average around 56°F (13°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (24°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Napa Valley. Napa Valley usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during spring. Napa Valley gets 328 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Napa Valley usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Napa Valley gets 1.2 inches (31 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 AprilNapa Valley 56°F (13°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Napa Valley
| Napa Valley | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 56°F (13°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 69°F (21°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 70°F (21°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 54°F (12°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 46°F (8°C) | 2.7 inches (68 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.