Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Philadelphia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona, 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.
Where Should I go: Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona?
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhiladelphia $188Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Philadelphia is $188, 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 Philadelphia and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhiladelphia $119Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhiladelphia $238Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Philadelphia and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Philadelphia 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: Philadelphia Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Philadelphia $28Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $353
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 Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Philadelphia 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 dayPhiladelphia $49Kailua-Kona $58
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $52
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $69
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
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.Philadelphia $28Kailua-Kona $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- Road to Revolution GPS Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $8.99
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Philadelphia In App Walking Audio Tour: $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $12
- National Liberty Museum Entrance Ticket: $12
- Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Fantastic Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
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 dayPhiladelphia $21Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Philadelphia and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Philadelphia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Philadelphia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Philadelphia 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 Kailua-Kona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kailua-Kona than you might in Philadelphia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Philadelphia Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona?
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Philadelphia as well as Kailua-Kona. The summer months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Philadelphia is generally around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Philadelphia average around 77°F (25°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. In the summer, Philadelphia often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Philadelphia gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun.
Philadelphia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Philadelphia usually gets more rain in July than Kailua-Kona. Philadelphia gets 3.9 inches (100 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 JulyPhiladelphia 77°F (25°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
Both Kailua-Kona and Philadelphia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
Philadelphia is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Philadelphia averages around 56°F (14°C) in October, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. Philadelphia usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during autumn. Philadelphia gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Philadelphia usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Philadelphia gets 1.9 inches (48 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 OctoberPhiladelphia 56°F (14°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
Both Kailua-Kona and Philadelphia during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Philadelphia for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Philadelphia. In the winter, Philadelphia is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Philadelphia in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (23°C).
In the winter, Philadelphia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kailua-Kona. Philadelphia gets 152 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. Philadelphia usually gets less rain in January than Kailua-Kona. Philadelphia gets 2.3 inches (58 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 JanuaryPhiladelphia 30°F (-1°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Philadelphia and Kailua-Kona. Many visitors come to Philadelphia in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Philadelphia is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Philadelphia average around 52°F (11°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
In Philadelphia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Philadelphia usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during spring. Philadelphia gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Philadelphia usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Philadelphia gets 2.8 inches (70 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 AprilPhiladelphia 52°F (11°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Philadelphia
| Philadelphia | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 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.