Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Santa Fe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe and Kailua-Kona can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santa Fe or Kailua-Kona?
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.
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 Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Fe $159Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Fe is $159, 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 Santa Fe and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Fe $81Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Fe $162Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Santa Fe and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Santa Fe 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: Santa Fe Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Fe $61Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe
Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Santa Fe Airport (SAF): $62
- Private Departure Transfer to Santa Fe Airport SAF: $125
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 Santa Fe or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Santa Fe 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 daySanta Fe $43Kailua-Kona $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe
For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $184
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Railyard Arts District: $189
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor': $209
- Downtown Plaza "Sip and Savor" Half-day Food Tour: $209
- Savor Wine Pairing Dinner: $228
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.Santa Fe $17Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Santa Fe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.
- Historic Downtown Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Santa Fe Historic Downtown Smart Phone Audio App Self Guided GPS Walking Tour : $9.75
- Santa Fe's Historic Gems: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of Historic Santa Fe: $15
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Santa Fe, NM: $15
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Santa Fe Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $49
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $53
- Canyon Road Arts District Walking Tour: $69
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $70
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 daySanta Fe $9.68Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Fe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:
- Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery Tour and Tasting: $18
- Architectural Walking Tour & Wine Tasting: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Fe and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Santa Fe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Fe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Fe Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Fe or Kailua-Kona?
Santa Fe has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Santa Fe 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.
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.