Which place is cheaper, Hawaii or Texas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Texas or Hawaii?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Texas and Hawaii. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Texas or Hawaii?
Texas
Texas is the second largest and second most populated state in the United States. It measures 267,000 square miles in size and exploring even a large section of the state takes longer than you might expect. The size and distinctive culture of the area brings much pride to the state's natives. The state was briefly its own country for ten years, starting in 1836 after the residents rebelled as a territory of first Spain and then Mexico. It then joined the United States in 1845. The state maintains its independent personality and many Texans proudly display the state flag near their home or car.
Hawaii
Located towards the center of the Pacific Ocean and the northeast corner of Polynesia, Hawai'i is the 50th state of the United States of America. It is a major tourist destination for travelers from around the world and as such, its economy is very dependent on the tourist dollar. Historically, the state had strong whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, but today tourism and the military make up a significant part of the economy. The state includes many islands that spread over 1,500 miles, but there are eight main islands which have a diversity of natural beauty and interesting landscapes. The islands offer visitors many impressive features from the beautiful beaches to the lush interior. There is a lot of hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving available throughout the islands. The capital of the state is Honolulu, which is also the largest city. Both Hawaiian and English are spoken throughout.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTexas $198Hawaii $342
The average daily cost (per person) in Texas is $198, while the average daily cost in Hawaii is $342. 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 Texas and Hawaii in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTexas $80Hawaii $214
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTexas $160Hawaii $428
Compare Hotels in Texas and Hawaii
Looking for a hotel in Texas or 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Texas $49Hawaii $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Texas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Texas:
- William P. Hobby Airport to Galveston Port Arrival Transfer: $168
- Transfer private executive car from Dallas Airport (DFW)- City Center: $60
- Transfer in private vehicle from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $60
- Transfer in private minivan from Houston George Bush Airport to Houston Downtown: $88
- Transfer in private minivan from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DFW): $69
- Transfer in private minivan from Dallas Airport (DFW) - City Center: $69
- Transfer in private minivan from Dallas Airport (DAL) - City Center: $91
- Transfer in executive private car from Dallas City Center - Dallas Airport (DAL): $71
- SUV Airport Transfer in Houston: $200
- RoundtripTransfer Executive Private Car Dallas Airport (DFW) -Dallas City Center: $120
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Dallas Airport (DFW) - Dallas City Center: $138
- RoundTrip transfer in private minivan from-to HoustonAirport in Houston Downtown: $176
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hawaii
Also for Hawaii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Honolulu HNL Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer in SUV: $272
- Arrival Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by Executive Car: $157
- Arrival Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by SUV: $211
- Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Chief's Luau Admission Including Transfers: $181
- Departure Transfer from Hotels to Kona International Airport: $15
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle From Ko'olina To Honolulu Airport: $53
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- HNL Airport & Waikiki Private Transfer by Brand New Mercedes Van: $160
- Honolulu / Waikiki to Honolulu Airport (HNL) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Honolulu Airport & Ko Olina Hotels Private Transfer by Minivan (up to 5 people): $90
- Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5 people): $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Texas or Hawaii?
Prices for flights to both Hawaii and Texas 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 dayTexas $43Hawaii $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Texas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Texas.
- Billy Bob's Texas Honky Tonk Dinner and Photo Package: $51
- Seasonal Pizza From Scratch Experience in Houston: $55
- Murder Mystery Dinner and Show: $66
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $72
- The Haunted Dinner Tour: $75
- The Heights Food Tour in Houston: $76
- Downtown Houston Food Tour: $76
- Deep Ellum Foodie Lovers Tour with Food Tours of America: $85
- Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $85
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
- Howdy H-Town EADO Food Tour: $90
- Private Texan Barbecue Cooking Class in Corpus Christi: $96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunchtime Walking Food Tour in Honolulu: $99
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $107
- Ahi Uila Fire Show and Dinner: $110
- Walking Food Tour Exploring Hanalei: $119
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Dinner Cruise Aboard the Quicksilver: $120
- Honolulu Sunset & Fireworks Dinner Cruise: $129
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise Aboard Calypso: $130
- Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Prime Rib or Mahi Mahi Dinner Cruise : $140
- Farm to Taco: A Farm to Table Cooking Class: $149
- Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path : $150
- Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise from Ka’anapali Beach: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Texas $23Hawaii $38
Tours and Activities in Texas
Here are a few actual costs in Texas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hour Dallas Night Sightseeing E-Scooter Tour: $90
- Austin Glass Bottom Kayak Tour with Olympian: $50
- Cow Town Ghost Tour: Hauntings of the Wild West: $30
- Houston Ghosts and Hauntings By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Pioneer Farms Ghost Hunt by The Original Austin Ghost Tours : $55
- Private Walking Tour of Dealey Plaza Assassination of JFK: $135
- 1-Hour JFK Assassination Walking Tour: $28
- 1-Hour JFK Assassination Walking Tour : $28
- 1.5-Hour Historical Jet Ski Tour in South Padre Island: $173
- 2 Hour Festive Walk Tour in Dallas: $245
- 2 Hours H- Town Tour with 15ft Open Air Party Truck On Wheels: $46
- 2 Hours Private Cemeteries of Galveston Walking Tour: $180
Tours and Activities in Hawaii
For Hawaii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Diamond Head Hiking Narrated Tour: $5.00
- Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour: $5.00
- Walk The Deck of The USS Arizona Virtual Reality Tour: $5.99
- USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Chief'sTour: $7.99
- Historic Downtown Honolulu GPS-Led Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- GPS-Guided Waikiki Walking Tour Part 1: Hawaiian Royalty: $7.99
- Honolulu Historic District a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- Waikiki Military and Entertainment History GPS-Led Walking Tour: $7.99
- Honolulu's Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Kauai Poipu & Koloa Town Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
- Oahu: Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Driving Tour: $9.99
- Commander's 1-Hour Official Pearl Harbor Narrated Multimedia Tour: $9.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTexas $19Hawaii $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Texas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Texas:
- Galveston Island Brewing Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting : $10
- Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl: $12
- Epic San Antonio Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Experience Best the Happy Hour Pub Crawl Tour in Galveston: $20
- Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Death Warmed Over: San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Galveston Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Texas’ Oldest Haunted Pub Crawl Shared Walking Tour: $30
- Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Dallas Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- Stockyards History Tour Fort Worth Pub Crawl: $45
- Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas: $55
Sample the Local Flavors in Hawaii
Also in Hawaii, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Whiskey Tour - Koʻolau Distillery - Kailua, Hawai'i 96734: $25
- Honolulu Haunts Ghost Tours And Pub Crawls: $30
- Shaxi Dive Bar Tour: $37
- History Tour Pub Crawl in Waikiki: $45
- Maui Farm Distillery and local craft experience Full-Day Tour: $224
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Texas and Hawaii, we can see that Hawaii is more expensive. And not only is Texas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Texas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Texas 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 Hawaii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hawaii than you might in Texas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Texas Expensive? and Is Hawaii Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Texas or Hawaii?
Texas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hawaii. When comparing the sizes of Texas and Hawaii, 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.