Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Richmond?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Richmond or Kailua-Kona?
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 Richmond and Kailua-Kona can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Richmond or Kailua-Kona?
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
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 Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRichmond $161Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Richmond is $161, 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 Richmond and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRichmond $101Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRichmond $202Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Richmond and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Richmond 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: Richmond Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Richmond $72Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Richmond
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
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 Richmond or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Richmond 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 dayRichmond $21Kailua-Kona $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour: $80
- Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Arts District Walking Food Tour: $85
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $90
- Pizza & Ice Cream 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.Richmond $13Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Crazy Dash: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- Hollywood Cemetery Tour Richmond Lore and Civil War: $24
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $25
- Richmond Ghosts: Sinister Scares of Shockoe Bottom Tour: $26
- Haunted Capitol Hill Ghost Tour: $30
- Court End Walking Ghost Tour: $30
- Monroe Park Campus Walking Ghost Tour: $30
- Church Hill Guided Ghost Tour: $30
- Downtown & Capitol Square Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $30
- Capitol Hill Ghost Walking Tour with A Guide: $30
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 dayRichmond -Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Drink Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl: $74
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $74
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Richmond and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Richmond much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Richmond would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Richmond 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 Richmond.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Richmond Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Richmond or Kailua-Kona?
Richmond has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Richmond 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 Richmond or Kailua-Kona?
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.
Should I visit Richmond or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
Both Kailua-Kona and Richmond are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Richmond this time of year.
In the summer, Richmond is around the same temperature as Kailua-Kona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Richmond in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (25°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Kailua-Kona during summer. Richmond gets 305 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Richmond. In July, Richmond usually receives more rain than Kailua-Kona. Richmond gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRichmond 78°F (26°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Richmond or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
Both Kailua-Kona and Richmond during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Richmond for the shopping scene.
In October, Richmond is generally much colder than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Richmond average around 59°F (15°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Richmond. In the autumn, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Richmond gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 138 hours of full sun.
Richmond usually gets more rain in October than Kailua-Kona. Richmond gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRichmond 59°F (15°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Richmond or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Richmond and Kailua-Kona. Many visitors come to Richmond in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Richmond can get quite cold in the winter. Richmond is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the winter. The daily temperature in Richmond averages around 36°F (2°C) in January, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
Richmond usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kailua-Kona during winter. Richmond gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Kailua-Kona receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kailua-Kona receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Richmond usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Richmond gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRichmond 36°F (2°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Richmond or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Richmond as well as Kailua-Kona.
In the spring, Richmond is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Richmond in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Richmond this time of the year. In the spring, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Kailua-Kona. Richmond gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kailua-Kona receives 134 hours of full sun.
Richmond usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Kailua-Kona. Richmond gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRichmond 58°F (14°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Richmond
| Richmond | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (83 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.