How Much Does it Cost to go to Hawaii?

**This post may contain affiliate links. I may be compensated if you use them.

Do you want to know how much does it cost to go to Hawaii? I’m going to break it down for you and provide some tips on where and how you can save. When it comes to a beach vacation, Hawaii is one of the first places that comes to mind. Idyllic white beaches, great food, friendly locals, and stunning scenery made famous by Hollywood movies including Jumanji 2 and Jurassic Park.

For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest an itinerary of 7 days and 7 nights. I’m also going to base this article on Oahu prices as it is the main and most expensive island in Hawaii. That said, I’m going to throw in some mentions of what to do in Maui too. If you plan on doing additional Hawaiian islands, you’ll need to budget more. Please note that this guide is based on the costs for a single person. If you are travelling as a couple, make sure to double these estimates (except for hotels).

Estimated cost
Airfare$800
Accommodations$1,750 ($200 per night)
Local transportation$70 (or $50 a day for a car)
Food and drink$595 ($85 per day)
Attractions$400
Random spending$100
Total$3,715 USD

The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use XE.com to find out the average costs in your home country.

Airfare

Airfare to Hawaii can really vary in cost, but if you have some time to plan then keep an eye out for sales. Hawaii is a popular destination in North America and it’s pretty easy to find deals, flash sales, or promotions to Hawaii. To get the best deals, avoid the high season (summer months and over the holidays). April and September are great times for a Hawaii vacation.

I’ve estimated airfare to Hawaii to be $800 but if you’re travelling from within North America, I’ve seen prices in the $450. For those who live on the west coast of Canada or the US, e.g. in Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, prices could be even lower on Southwest Airlines. Expect your airfare to cost more if you’re coming from the east coast. Of course, if you live on the opposite side of the world, you could easily spend more than $800.

If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a generous welcome bonus that’s often worth more than $900 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees, and it comes with airport lounge access.   

how much does it cost to go to hawaii beach

Local transportation

How you get around Hawaii’s island of Oahu will depend on what your plans are. If you plan on basing yourself in Honolulu, then you can rely on the local bus, conveniently called ‘The Bus’. If you are staying on the North Shore, or are really looking to explore then your best bet is to get a rental car. Note that most resorts charge parking fees.

The bus costs $5 per day for a daily ticket while renting a car will put you back about 40 dollars a day without insurance. If you’re staying in Maui, renting a car is pretty much a must unless you plan on booking a tour for all of your activities.

To get to and from the airport I suggest using one of the shuttle services which cost $16 per person rather than a taxi which will cost $40+ to the Waikiki area. Uber is also an option both to/from the airport and around Honolulu.

Remember, my guide assumes you’re staying on a single island. If you plan on island hopping, you may need to budget another $250 per flight with Hawaiian airlines. Please note that the estimate given in this article is for using local transportation so prices will vary depending on where you stay.

Accommodations

From vacation rentals to luxury hotels, Hawaii has every accommodation possible. However, no matter what you choose, you will likely find it pricey compared to other destinations. I’m going to estimate $1,750 for seven nights ($250 per night) in a midrange hotel in Waikiki-the most popular part of the island for visitors. The average price for a hotel room in Maui is also $250 per night. Prices can drop below $250 per night during the off-season, so you could save a bit of money depending on your timing.

Certain parts of the island, such as Haleiwa, have limited options for accommodations, so be sure to book in advance. Overall, your cost to go to Hawaii will fluctuate depending on what accommodations you choose.

If you are looking for accommodation recommendations in Honolulu, I suggest the following:

Budget

Mid-range

Luxury

If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $300 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.

Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, which gives you up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels, which could easily have a value of over $500.

Attractions

It’s easy to get caught up with Hawaii’s attractions. From visiting Pearl Harbor to taking a taking a day trip around the island, checking out the film sets, or swimming with wild dolphins. Not to mention taking part in a traditional Hawaiian Luau. There is no shortage of things to see and do in Hawaii and the costs for these attractions can get really high really quickly. I recommend choosing what you want to do ahead of time so you can shop around for the best pricing, rather than just making impulsive decisions. Day trips will normally cost a minimum of $80- $100 per person, so you can use that as your baseline when looking around. For those staying in Maui, the road to Hana and Haleakalā Summit are the most popular tours.

Keep in mind if you are renting a car, you will be able to shave some of these costs off your total estimate. Most tours do provide transportation, but if it isn’t required, you will receive a discount.

A couple of budget-friendly tips: If you are staying in a hostel or you’re a student, you should ask to see if there is a discounted rate. Also, Pearl Harbor is free- though you do need to book your slot ahead of time online ($1.50 to hold your place). This is the basic tour that takes you to the USS Arizona Memorial. The surrounding museums do have fees. If you plan on visiting a lot of attractions, consider buying the Go Oahu Card, which gives you discounts for multiple days.

Also, most of Hawaii’s beaches are free as are the big hikes, so that helps for travellers on a budget looking for fun things to see and do. Just make sure to bring proper shoes for those hikes!

Food and drink

Food will likely be one of the most expensive parts of your budget in Hawaii. Even groceries here are more expensive than you are used to at home, making it hard to ‘eat cheap.’ That being said, Oahu also has some great food. From poke bowls to fruit bowls, you’ll be happy to spend money on the delicious food here. If you are eating out for all of your meals, you can expect your daily food costs to look something like this:

  • Breakfast – $15
  • Lunch – $20
  • Dinner + drink – $50

That works out to an average of $85 per day.

You can, however, drop this down significantly (especially the dinner bit) if you are more flexible with your food venues. There are some great takeaway spots and food truck style options where you can get delicious food for around $15-20 per meal. I recommend Poke Bar in Waikiki for delicious poke bowls on a budget.

Please note that tap water is drinkable in Hawaii, but if you plan on drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages, you will need to add more to your budget.

how much does it cost to go to hawaii sunset

Random spending

Waikiki is great for shopping and chances are you will want to grab a couple of small souvenirs to take home with you. From local artwork to aloha shirts, jewelry, and designs by the biggest fashion brands, Hawaii is a shopping mecca. You also may find you need to stock up on sunscreen (get a reef-safe one available in the ABC stores!). I recommend budgeting at least an additional $100 for random spending.

Hawaii trip cost

So how much does it cost to go to Hawaii? I’ve estimated that 7 days and 7 nights in Oahu will cost about $3,715 per person. While Hawaii, especially the island of Oahu, is definitely a pricey travel destination, savvy travellers can cut this budget down by using some of the tips and advice I’ve listed above to make the most of their tropical beach vacation. Alternatively, you can check out my guides to Southeast AsiaBarcelonaGreeceJapanEurope and Egypt if you’re looking for more inspiration.

What is the cheapest time of year to visit Hawaii?

Fall and spring tend to be the cheapest time of year to visit Hawaii. Most come to the islands during summer vacation or to escape the cold winter. For those trying to figure out how much it costs to go to Hawaii, planning your visit around those popular times will help cut costs.

What are the best islands in Hawaii?

This really depends on what you want to see and do. Many first-timers go to Oahu as it has the capital, Honolulu, and many attractions including Pearl Harbour and the North Shore which is famous for surfing. The Big Island is also a popular pick for those who are more keen on nature over the city. The Big Island is known for volcanoes and scuba diving- especially night dives with manta rays. If you want a peaceful vacation with fewer crowds then consider Lanai, Molokai, and Kauai to some extent.

Is Hawaii worth the cost?

I would say it depends. If you just want to go to an island and have a tropical beach getaway where you stay at a hotel or a resort the whole time, then probably not. If you are looking for adventure and lots of activities both on land and in the water, then I say yes.

What should I do on my first trip to Hawaii?

This depends on where you go. If you go to Oahu, I suggest exploring Waikiki, snorkelling at Hanauma Bay, and watching the surfers at the North Shore. If you enjoy water activities, try swimming with wild dolphins (there are special tours for this) or whale watching if you visit during the winter months. If you’re headed to Maui, then you need to do the road to Hana and visit Haleakalā National Park.

What should you not miss when visiting Hawaii?

Hawaii is so popular because it is a beautiful travel destination so don’t miss that natural beauty. Get out of your hotel or resort and leave the cities to explore jungles, beaches, and waterfalls around the islands. Also, make sure to try Hawaiian shave ice and poke bowls.

What to do in Hawaii with kids?

There are plenty of kid-friendly activities in Hawaii. Beaches for swimming or kid-friendly surfing lessons, and outdoor adventures such as hikes are always possible. If you are on Oahu, consider visiting Kualoa Ranch, which offers zip lining, movie tours, and more. Obviously, the more activities you do, the greater your cost to go to Hawaii.

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter:@barrychoi

4 Comments

  1. Jem on October 9, 2018 at 4:13 PM

    You forgot to mention the amazing shopping deals of lux brands and stores not available in Canada! I love Hawaii esp how low their tax is only 4%, so for international travelers (both Canadians and Asian countries) it’s a great bargain. We go every year and found it “safer” than vacationing the Caribbean islands esp if you’re a visible minority. Costcotravel has the best deals and offers tourist packages, love how they include complimentary pick-up / drop-off from airport; very important when you’re jet-lagged and confused about the time-zone.

    It should also be noted that tipping a min of 15% is important given their minimum wage is $8.xx/hr, the locals rely on tourism and tips to survive.

    • Barry Choi on October 9, 2018 at 5:07 PM

      Jem,

      Good points, the lower tax rate is definitely noticeable for Canadians and tipping is important.

  2. Aku Ahakuelo on October 24, 2019 at 12:52 PM

    Well if I may,as a local boy born & raised in Hawai’i but live in California it doesn’t hurt to actually know people from Hawai’i,they can show you around,take you places like I have when I go home and I let people I’ve met in the mainland,Europe etc.and enjoyed 1st hand Hawaiian hospitality w/my ohaha (family)like no other,they stay in touch & till this day 20-30 yrs.later still reach out to my ohana even when I’m not there and are treated like ohana,so that’s 1,2 if you’re in Waikiki you can either walk to or bus it to Ala Moana shopping mall where there’s not only over 150 stores to go to they have incredible food courts that’s inexpensive but they serve you up a lot of food,but if you have a fridge & microwave that may help as well ,but ask the front desk for info to take bus’s beaches (cost 2-3$)i.e.Sandy beach,Makapu’u and ask your bartender,waiter,waitress,they will give you some good advice, and you can also take a direct bus route to downtown Honolulu,to see I’olani Palace where our Kings and Queens once reigned and from there not even a mile away you have China town,and let me tell you once you try Hawaiian style Chinese food the 1’s in the mainland will make you think twice about Pandas,so really I would suggest that you google the island your visiting,check foods of Hawai’i,any nationalities you want in particular you will “find”it there(well maybe just 99.999%)so a little homework and I believe your budget will be far less than you expected, So I could go on for days about crazy good things to do and how to save $ oh and more tip that may or may not help ask the front desk,concierge about Kama’aina(ka-ma-eye-nah)rates if you’ve been to Hawai’i before they have discounts at various places that could also save you $,I hope some of this info I have shared is helpful,after all we are”The Aloha State” Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much)

    • Luis Juarez on December 13, 2019 at 12:05 AM

      My wife and I are going to Hawaii (will stay in Waikiki) for the first time and i would like to know what can we do to have a great time on the island

Leave a Comment





Get a FREE copy of Travel Hacking for Lazy People

Subscribe now to get your FREE eBook and learn how to travel in luxury for less