Which place is cheaper, Big Island of Hawaii or Oahu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oahu or Big Island of Hawaii, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Hawaii is the epitome of paradise, and at the heart of paradise is the island of O'ahu (or Oahu). While it's only the third largest of the Hawaiian islands, O'ahu, or "the gathering place," is the most populous in the state with approximately 976,000 people calling O'ahu home, many of which live in the capital city of Honolulu.
What comes to mind when someone says, "Hawaii"? Probably sandy beaches, coconut drinks and lazy days of tanning. It's a dream destination for those who want to get away, but the island of Hawai'i, or the Big Island as it's most commonly called, has so much more to offer than a place to catch up on your latest novel.
At 93 miles across, and a population of 185 thousand, the Big Island was once a large exporter of sugarcane. After its final plantation closed in 1996, tourism became the backbone of Hawai'i Island's economy. More recently, the Big Island has become the focus for sustainable tourism – visiting a place as a tourist and trying to make only a positive impact on your destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Oahu is $333, while the average daily cost in Big Island of Hawaii is $250. 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 Oahu and Big Island of Hawaii in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Oahu or Big Island of 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.
Also for Oahu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Big Island of Hawaii and Oahu 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.
For Oahu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Oahu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Oahu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oahu and Big Island of Hawaii, we can see that Oahu is more expensive. And not only is Big Island of Hawaii much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Big Island of Hawaii would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Island of Hawaii 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 Oahu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oahu than you might in Big Island of Hawaii.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oahu Expensive? and Is Big Island of Hawaii Expensive?.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Oahu and Big Island of Hawaii. The summer months attract visitors to Oahu because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Oahu is generally a little warmer than Big Island of Hawaii. Daily temperatures in Oahu average around 81°F (27°C), and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
In Oahu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Oahu usually receives more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii during summer. Oahu gets 303 hours of sunny skies, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
Big Island of Hawaii receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Oahu usually receives less rain than Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu gets 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 9.7 inches (247 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Oahu as well as Big Island of Hawaii. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Oahu this time of year.
Oahu is around the same temperature as Big Island of Hawaii in the autumn. The daily temperature in Oahu averages around 80°F (26°C) in October, and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Oahu this time of the year. In the autumn, Oahu often gets more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 138 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu usually gets less rain in October than Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 9.8 inches (248 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Big Island of Hawaii and Oahu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Oahu for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Oahu is around the same temperature as Big Island of Hawaii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Oahu in January average around 73°F (23°C), and Big Island of Hawaii averages at about 72°F (22°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Oahu. Oahu usually receives more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii during winter. Oahu gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Big Island of Hawaii. In January, Oahu usually receives less rain than Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu gets 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 8.7 inches (221 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Big Island of Hawaii and Oahu during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Oahu in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Oahu is generally around the same temperature as Big Island of Hawaii. Daily temperatures in Oahu average around 76°F (24°C), and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in Oahu. In the spring, Oahu often gets more sunshine than Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu gets 253 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 134 hours of full sun.
Big Island of Hawaii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Oahu usually gets less rain in April than Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu gets 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 15.6 inches (395 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Oahu | Big Island of Hawaii | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 8.7 inches (221 mm) |
Feb | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 10.8 inches (274 mm) |
Mar | 74°F (24°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 13.6 inches (345 mm) |
Apr | 76°F (24°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 15.6 inches (395 mm) |
May | 78°F (25°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 10.7 inches (272 mm) |
Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 9.7 inches (247 mm) |
Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 9.7 inches (247 mm) |
Sep | 81°F (27°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 8.5 inches (215 mm) |
Oct | 80°F (26°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 9.8 inches (248 mm) |
Nov | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 14.8 inches (375 mm) |
Dec | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 12.6 inches (321 mm) |