Which place is cheaper, Hilo or Eagle Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Eagle Beach or Hilo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or Hilo, 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: Eagle Beach or Hilo?
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
Hilo
Hilo is a town on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is also the county seat and largest city in Hawaii County, so many people use it as the starting point to explore the eastern half of the island. The town has a population of just over 40,000 people. It looks out over Hilo Bay and most of the town's development is between Hilo Bay and Waiakea-Uka near the active volcano of Mauna Loa. Hilo is where you will find the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corportation and Hilo International Airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Eagle Beach Prices
Aruba PricesHilo Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEagle Beach $500Hilo $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Eagle Beach is $500, while the average daily cost in Hilo is $222. 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 Eagle Beach and Hilo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEagle Beach $290Hilo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEagle Beach $580Hilo $142
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and Hilo
Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach or Hilo? 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: Hilo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eagle Beach $42Hilo $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.84
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One Day Scooter Rental$51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- VIP luxury limousine airport transfer one way!: $190
- Private Transfer for Small and Mid-Sized Groups and Families: $180
- Private Guided Beach Meditation & Hike + Transfer + Breakfast: $165
- Private Sea Glass Island Kayak Morning + Transfer: $149
- Round Trip Private Airport Transfer: $120
- VIP Luxury Sedan Airport Transfer: $105
- Private One-Way Transfer Reina Beatrix Airport to Aruba: $83
- Private One-Way Transfer from Aruba To Reina Beatrix Airport: $83
- Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island - Round-Trip Transfer: $79
- Private Round - Trip Airport Transfer in Aruba: $69
- Transfers & Pickups: $67
- Private roundtrip Airport Transfers in Aruba: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hilo
Also for Hilo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Kona International Airport (KOA) to Hotels - Big Island: $15
- Departure Transfer from Hotels to Kona International Airport: $15
- Kona International Airport (KOA) to Kailua-Kona - Arrival Private Transfer: $48
- Kona Intl. Airport (KOA) to Waikoloa beach hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer from Keahole Kona Airport KOA: $72
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kona International Airport to Big Island Hotels: $204
- Private Departure Transfer: Big Island Hotels to Kona International Airport: $204
- Private Transfer From Hotels in Kailua-Kona to Kona International Airport: $70
- Private Transfer From Hotels in Waikoloa & Waimea to Kona International Airport: $85
- Private Transfer From Kona International Airport to Hotels in Waikoloa & Waimea : $95
- Private Transfer from Hilo Cruise Port to Kona city hotels: $202
- Private Transfer from Kailua Kona Port to Kona Airport (KOA): $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Eagle Beach or Hilo?
Prices for flights to both Hilo and Eagle Beach 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 dayEagle Beach $150Hilo $121
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $86
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $135
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hilo
For Hilo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Farm to Table Cooking Class at Kulaniapia Falls: $169
- Historical Dinner Cruise to Kealakekua Bay: $189
- Farm-to-Table Chef's Dinner at Kulaniapia Falls: $249
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eagle Beach $155Hilo $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$32
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$126
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Horseback Riding Tour$89
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$95
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aruba Private Tour Mini Bus with SeaFood/Caribbean Food Included: $175
- Aruba Semi-Submarine Cruise from Oranjestad: $60
- Discover Snorkeling Tour Mangel Halto & Baby Beach: $115
- Explore Aruba Coastline with Kayaking Tour: $104
- 2-Hour Horseback Riding Tour to Little Natural Bridge in Aruba: $93
- 2-Seater UTV Island Tour in Aruba: $99
- Action-Packed Half Day Aruba UTV Tour and Cave Pool: $210
- Adventure Kayak & Snorkeling at Reef Island Aruba: $115
- Adventurous Clear Kayak And Snorkeling Tour At Mangel Halto: $105
- Alto Vista Chapel and Arashi Beach Adventure: $77
- Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour: $120
- Art, Facts & Baby Beach UTV Adventure by Fofoti: $235
Tours and Activities in Hilo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hilo.
- Kona Coffee Farm Tour from Tree to Tasting Room: $5.00
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Big Island: $20
- Big Island Kohala Coast Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Big Island - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Driving Tour: $23
- Experience Our Honey Farm And Beekeeping Tour: $30
- Big Island Farms Tour in Hawaii: $33
- Hamakua Coast Farm Small-Group Walking and Tasting Tour: $49
- 2-Hour Hilo Ghost Walks Tour: $59
- Hawaiian Rainforest Banana Cultivation Experience: $60
- Walking Ghost Tour: $64
- Snorkel Tour to Captain Cook Monument Kailua-Kona, Big Island: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEagle Beach $40Hilo $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eagle Beach and Hilo, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is Hilo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands and Hilo is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hilo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hilo 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in Hilo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eagle Beach Expensive? and Is Hilo 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.