Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or San Francisco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Francisco or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Francisco 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: San Francisco or Kailua-Kona?
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Francisco $222Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in San Francisco is $222, 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 San Francisco and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Francisco $130Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Francisco $260Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in San Francisco and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in San Francisco 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: San Francisco Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Francisco $16Kailua-Kona $45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from San Francisco Airport to City: $35
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown San Francisco: $96
- Airport Transfer: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Francisco: $107
- Private Airport Transfer: San Francisco to SF International Airport (SFO): $107
- Private Transfer from Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $108
- Private Airport Transfer from SFO to San Francisco (One-way): $110
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to San Francisco - Arrival Private Transfer: $110
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $110
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco HTL-APT (SFO): $119
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $120
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 San Francisco or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and San Francisco 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 daySan Francisco $46Kailua-Kona $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- San Francisco Virtual Food Tour with Local Guide: $19
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $79
- Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Bay: $82
- Secret Food Tours San Francisco: $83
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- Farmers' Market & Ferry Building Food Tour: $87
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $89
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco North Beach and Chinatown - Secret Food Tours: $89
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $89
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $89
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.San Francisco $46Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Leave your heart at the Wharf: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- San Francisco’s Chinatown on foot: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Embarcadero Self-Guided Audio Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.99
- San Francisco self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $6.42
- Ghosts & Hauntings Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Japantown & Stories: $6.99
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Design in the Financial District Audio Tour: $7.99
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
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Francisco $22Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- Chinatown San Francisco’s Bar Crawl: An Audio Tour: $4.99
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- 2 to 3 Hour Bar Crawl in Castro San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Private Wine Tour Napa or Sonoma from $99 per person up to 7 & Concierge Service: $99
- Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $109
- Big Bus Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour: $125
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $126
- From The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
- The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour: $139
When comparing the travel costs between San Francisco and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Francisco Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Francisco or Kailua-Kona?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
Both Kailua-Kona and San Francisco during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, San Francisco is cooler than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Francisco in July average around 63°F (17°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 78°F (25°C).
San Francisco usually gets less rain in July than Kailua-Kona. San Francisco 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 JulySan Francisco 63°F (17°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit San Francisco or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Francisco and Kailua-Kona. 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 San Francisco this time of year.
In October, San Francisco is generally cooler than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 63°F (17°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In October, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. San Francisco 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 OctoberSan Francisco 63°F (17°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit San Francisco or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Francisco as well as Kailua-Kona. Many travelers come to San Francisco for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
San Francisco is much colder than Kailua-Kona in the winter. The daily temperature in San Francisco averages around 50°F (10°C) in January, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
It's quite rainy in Kailua-Kona. San Francisco usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kailua-Kona. San Francisco 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 JanuarySan Francisco 50°F (10°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit San Francisco or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
Both Kailua-Kona and San Francisco are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to San Francisco in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, San Francisco is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Francisco in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (24°C).
In April, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. San Francisco 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 AprilSan Francisco 58°F (14°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and San Francisco
| San Francisco | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 51°F (11°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.