Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Yellowstone National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Yellowstone National Park or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yellowstone National Park or Kailua-Kona? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Yellowstone National Park or Kailua-Kona?
Yellowstone National Park
The world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. The area is famous for its many geysers, hot springs, and thermal areas. It also has a wide diversity of wildlife and stunning beauty, making it one of the most impressive places you can visit in the United States. The national park takes up an area of about 3,472 square miles and is mostly located within the state of Wyoming. It also touches the states of Idaho and Montana.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYellowstone National Park $147Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Yellowstone National Park is $147, 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 Yellowstone National Park and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYellowstone National Park $74Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYellowstone National Park $148Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Yellowstone National Park and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Yellowstone National Park 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: Yellowstone National Park Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yellowstone National Park $37Kailua-Kona $45
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 Yellowstone National Park or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Yellowstone National Park 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 dayYellowstone National Park $46Kailua-Kona $58
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.Yellowstone National Park $34Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Yellowstone National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Yellowstone National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Self-Guided Grand Teton National Park Driving Tour: $8.99
- Grand Prismatic Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Yellowstone Old Faithful Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- West Thumb Geysers Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Yellowstone National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Early Morning Guided Kayak Tour: $125
- Lake Yellowstone Half Day Kayak Tours Past Geothermal Features : $135
- Small-Group Sunset Kayaking Tour on Lake Yellowstone : $150
- Yellowstone Lake & Hot Springs / 3 Hour Morning or Twilight Tour : $150
- 6-Mile Geyser Hiking Tour in Yellowstone with Lunch: $182
- Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch: $182
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 dayYellowstone National Park $19Kailua-Kona $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yellowstone National Park and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. And not only is Yellowstone National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yellowstone National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yellowstone National Park 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 Yellowstone National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yellowstone National Park Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
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.