Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona or Santa Monica?
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 Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Monica 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: Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona?
Santa Monica
When it comes to visiting Los Angeles, Santa Monica is high on the must-see-and-do list. Chances are you'll recognize the iconic ferris wheel from Pacific Park in films and TV shows, and nothing beats the relaxed yet bustling vibe of this laid-back city.
Santa Monica is a popular and diverse beach town, cultural hub, fitness venue, shopping district, and neighborhood full of unique and trendy restaurants, all rolled into one. Visited by more than 6 million people a year, it's no wonder you'll always find a crowd there.
So whether you're up for a high-end shopping spree, bicycling down the waterfront, an eclectic food crawl or simply a stroll down the promenade, Santa Monica is sure to have something in store for you.
The weather in Santa Monica is moderate, with average summer highs in the low to mid 70s and winter climate that rests comfortably around the low 50s. Though flip flops and sandals are considered year-round footwear in Los Angeles, bring comfortable walking shoes for browsing galleries, malls, and boutiques. Santa Monica is the perfect place to break out your California-casual wardrobe.
Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona, often simply called Kona, is a vibrant seaside town located on the west coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Known for its sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and laid-back atmosphere, Kona offers travelers an appealing mix of natural beauty and Hawaiian culture. The town is famous for its historic waterfront, local coffee farms, and as the gateway to many of the island’s unique adventures. Despite its popularity, Kailua-Kona remains more relaxed and less crowded than some of Hawaii’s other tourist hubs. Beach lovers, water sports enthusiasts, history buffs, and foodies will all find plenty to enjoy here. With a mix of affordable accommodations, local eateries, and free or inexpensive attractions, it’s a great destination for budget travelers. The nearby volcanic landscapes, snorkeling spots, and lively marketplaces make it an excellent base for exploring the west side of the Big Island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Santa Monica Prices
USA PricesKailua-Kona Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Monica $248Kailua-Kona $274
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Monica is $248, while the average daily cost in Kailua-Kona is $274. 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 Monica and Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Monica $123Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Monica $246Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in Santa Monica and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in Santa Monica 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 Monica Hotel Prices and Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Monica $50Kailua-Kona $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $191
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 Monica or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona and Santa Monica 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 Monica $91Kailua-Kona $100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Monica
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.
- City Cruises Los Angeles Dinner Cruise from Marina del Rey: $132
- Romantic-Surprise Dinner-Wine & Cheese or Sushi Boat Cruise: $149
- Gourmet Santa Monica Walking Food Tour with Delicious Dish: $159
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 Monica $38Kailua-Kona $40
Tours and Activities in Santa Monica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Monica are as follows:
- Santa Monica Superhero Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
- Santa Monica Pier Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
- Santa Monica Sinister Sins & Sorrow Ghost Tour: $26
- Santa Monica Art Museum: General Admission Ticket: $28
- LA & Self-Guided Aerospace Legacy Audio Tour: $30
- Highway 1 Pacific Coast Highway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $30
- Santa Monica Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Celebrity Home Tour: $49
- 3 ½-Hour Sea to the Stars Hollywood Hopper Tour: $55
- Hollywood Tour with Walk of Fame Stop: $55
- Venice Beach and Santa Monica eBike Tour : $56
- Best of LA Tour with 3 Iconic Stops: $59
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: Volcano & Waterfall Tour, Small Group: $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Monica $21Kailua-Kona $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Monica
Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Santa Monica Bar Crawl: $15
When comparing the travel costs between Santa Monica and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Monica Expensive? and Is Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona?
Santa Monica has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica 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.
When is the best time to visit Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona in the Summer?
Both Kailua-Kona and Santa Monica are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Santa Monica for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Santa Monica is generally cooler than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 70°F (21°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).
In July, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Santa Monica gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Monica 70°F (21°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona in the Autumn?
Both Kailua-Kona and Santa Monica during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Santa Monica in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Santa Monica is cooler than Kailua-Kona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 67°F (20°C) in October, and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in October than Kailua-Kona. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Monica 67°F (20°C)Kailua-Kona 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Monica and Kailua-Kona. Most visitors come to Santa Monica for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Santa Monica is much colder than Kailua-Kona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Monica in January average around 57°F (14°C), and Kailua-Kona averages at about 74°F (23°C).
Kailua-Kona receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Kailua-Kona. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Monica 57°F (14°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (23°C)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Kailua-Kona in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Kailua-Kona. The spring months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the beaches.
In April, Santa Monica is generally cooler than Kailua-Kona. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 61°F (16°C), and Kailua-Kona fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in April than Kailua-Kona. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain, while Kailua-Kona receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Monica 61°F (16°C)Kailua-Kona 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Kailua-Kona and Santa Monica
| Santa Monica | Kailua-Kona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Mar | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| Apr | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jun | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Jul | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Aug | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Sep | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| Oct | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Dec | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
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.