Which place is cheaper, Hawaii or North Carolina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit North Carolina or Hawaii?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between North Carolina and Hawaii can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: North Carolina or Hawaii?
North Carolina
North Carolina is a diverse state in the southern United States. The state has a variety of landscapes, with mountains, forests, and beaches all represented. The state's elevation ranges from sea level to 6,684 feet on Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi. There are large cosmopolitan cities like Charlotte, and there are quaint college towns like Chapel Hill. North Carolina is the nineth most populous state in the country and the economy is currently centered around engineering, energy, biotechnology, and finance. Historically, the state's economy developed from the tobacco, textile, and furniture making industries.
Hawaii
Located towards the center of the Pacific Ocean and the northeast corner of Polynesia, Hawai'i is the 50th state of the United States of America. It is a major tourist destination for travelers from around the world and as such, its economy is very dependent on the tourist dollar. Historically, the state had strong whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, but today tourism and the military make up a significant part of the economy. The state includes many islands that spread over 1,500 miles, but there are eight main islands which have a diversity of natural beauty and interesting landscapes. The islands offer visitors many impressive features from the beautiful beaches to the lush interior. There is a lot of hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving available throughout the islands. The capital of the state is Honolulu, which is also the largest city. Both Hawaiian and English are spoken throughout.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Carolina $185Hawaii $342
The average daily cost (per person) in North Carolina is $185, while the average daily cost in Hawaii is $342. 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 North Carolina and Hawaii in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Carolina $112Hawaii $214
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Carolina $224Hawaii $428
Compare Hotels in North Carolina and Hawaii
Looking for a hotel in North Carolina or Hawaii? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Carolina $36Hawaii $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii
Also for Hawaii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $13
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Maui Kahului Airport: $13
- Shared Departure Transfer: Kauai Hotels to Kauai International Airport: $13
- Departure Transfer from Hotels to Kona International Airport: $15
- Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki Hotels: $18
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Kona International Airport: $18
- Shared Departure Transfer from Waikiki Hotels to Honolulu Airport: $18
- Shared Departure Transfer: Oahu Hotels or Cruise Terminal to Honolulu Airport: $20
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise Terminal: $20
- Private Arrival Transfer from Maui Kahului Airport OGG: $31
- Honolulu Airport Private Transfer to or from Waikiki: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into North Carolina or Hawaii?
Prices for flights to both Hawaii and North Carolina 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 dayNorth Carolina $45Hawaii $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $97
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $107
- Honolulu Sunset & Fireworks Dinner Cruise: $107
- Ahi Uila Fire Show and Dinner: $110
- Walking Food Tour Exploring Hanalei: $119
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Dinner Cruise Aboard the Quicksilver: $120
- Best Food Tours on Kaua'i: $125
- Hanalei, Kauaʻi Walking Food Tour: $129
- Explore Waimea Town on a Walking Food Tour: $129
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise Aboard Calypso: $130
- Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Prime Rib or Mahi Mahi Dinner Cruise : $140
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Carolina $25Hawaii $38
Tours and Activities in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Diamond Head Hiking Narrated Tour: $5.00
- Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour: $5.00
- Baumkuchen Farm Tour: $5.00
- Walk The Deck of The USS Arizona Virtual Reality Tour: $5.99
- USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Chief'sTour: $7.99
- GPS-Guided Waikiki Walking Tour Part 1: Hawaiian Royalty: $7.99
- Historic Downtown Honolulu GPS-Led Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Experience: $7.99
- Big Island - Kohala Coast & Backcountry Driving Tour: $9.99
- Commander's 1-Hour Official Pearl Harbor Narrated Multimedia Tour: $9.99
- Honolulu's Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- 15 Minutes Air Raid Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Tour: $9.99
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Carolina $29Hawaii $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Hawaii
Also in Hawaii, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Whiskey Tour - Koʻolau Distillery - Kailua, Hawai'i 96734: $25
- Honolulu Haunts Ghost Tours And Pub Crawls: $30
- Shaxi Dive Bar Tour: $37
- History Tour Pub Crawl in Waikiki: $45
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Carolina and Hawaii, we can see that Hawaii is more expensive. And not only is North Carolina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to North Carolina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in North Carolina 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 Hawaii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hawaii than you might in North Carolina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Carolina Expensive? and Is Hawaii Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, North Carolina or Hawaii?
North Carolina has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Hawaii. When comparing the sizes of North Carolina and Hawaii, 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.