Which place is cheaper, Hilo or Port-au-Prince?
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 Port-au-Prince or Hilo?
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 Port-au-Prince and Hilo. 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: Port-au-Prince or Hilo?
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital city and most-populous city of Haiti. The metropolitan area is divided into several districts with access to a number of landmarks and museums, as well as a lively cultural scene.
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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Port-au-Prince Prices
Haiti PricesHilo Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPort-au-Prince $31Hilo $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Port-au-Prince is $31, 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 Port-au-Prince and Hilo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPort-au-Prince $22Hilo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPort-au-Prince $44Hilo $142
Compare Hotels in Port-au-Prince and Hilo
Looking for a hotel in Port-au-Prince 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.Port-au-Prince $4.77Hilo $25
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 Port-au-Prince or Hilo?
Prices for flights to both Hilo and Port-au-Prince 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 dayPort-au-Prince $6.45Hilo $121
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.Port-au-Prince $0.76Hilo $32
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 dayPort-au-Prince $0.20Hilo $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Port-au-Prince and Hilo, we can see that Hilo is more expensive. And not only is Port-au-Prince much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Port-au-Prince 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 Port-au-Prince would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Port-au-Prince 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 Hilo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hilo than you might in Port-au-Prince.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Port-au-Prince Expensive? and Is Hilo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Port-au-Prince or Hilo?
Port-au-Prince has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hilo. When comparing the sizes of Port-au-Prince and Hilo, 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.