How much does it cost to travel to Kauai?
You should plan to spend around $190 per day on your vacation in Kauai. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $56 on meals
- $34 on local transportation
- $226 on hotels
A one week trip to Kauai for two people costs, on average, $2,664. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Kauai has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Kauai expensive to visit?
Prices in Kauai are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Kauai is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Raleigh or Gatlinburg.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Kauai Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Kauai?
The average Kauai trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Kauai travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation1(Double Occupancy) | $226 |
| Local Transportation1 | $34 |
| Food2 | $56 |
| Entertainment1 | $17 |
| Alcohol2 | $7 -22 |
Accommodation Budget in Kauai
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Kauai is $113. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Kauai is $226. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Accommodation1Hotel or hostel for one person
$113
Accommodation1Typical double-occupancy room
$226
Hotel Prices in Kauai
Looking for a hotel in Kauai? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Find the best hotel for your travel style.
Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Kauai based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $545. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.
Transportation Budget in Kauai
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The cost of a taxi ride in Kauai is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $34 per person, per day, on local transportation in Kauai.
Transportation1Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$34
Recommended Services
Flights to Kauai
How much does it cost to go to Kauai? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
Rental Cars in Kauai
The price of renting a car in Kauai will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Kauai
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
While meal prices in Kauai can vary, the average cost of food in Kauai is $56 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Kauai should cost around $22 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Kauai is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food2Meals for one day
$56
Recommended
Entertainment Budget in Kauai
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
Entertainment and activities in Kauai typically cost an average of $17 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment1Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$17
Recommended Activities
Alcohol Budget in Kauai
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average person spends about $14 on alcoholic beverages in Kauai per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcohol2Drinks for one day
$14
Kauai on a Budget
Kauai Coastline, Hawaii
Hawaii is certainly a bucket list destination, but what if you want to do it without being surrounded by tourists? You want the adventure of the land of volcanoes and less of the kids in water wings. Then Kaua'i is the island for you.
Kaua'i, or the "garden island," is full of tropical forests, little villages and even more laid back lifestyle – if you can imagine. It's a smaller island at 560 square miles with a population of only 68,000.
With more coastline miles than any other island, Kaua'i is the result of massive erosion forming awe-inspiring sights like the Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast. The island experiences more rainfall every year – keeping it lush and green all year.
You'll feel like you've walked into another world in Kaua'i. Because of height restrictions, this island's buildings are no taller than the coconut trees. So if you're looking for an escape from civilization, you'll want to head straight for Kaua'i.
Sights
Even if you're escaping the typical Hawaii experience, no trip to the islands is complete without a beach trip. Consistently voted one of Hawaii's best beaches is Hanalei Bay. This spread of four different, sandy beaches is perfect for activities like stand up paddle surfing or just lounging with a good book.
With all that extra rainfall, the island of Kaua'i is home to some of the most beautiful botanical wonders. The Allerton Garden is covered in waterfalls, pools and statues while the collection of flowers at the McBryde Garden will make you feel like you've found your very own floral oasis. For a more traditional Hawaiian garden, head over to the Limahuli Garden and gaze out at the beautiful colors native to this land.
To fill your afternoon, take a drive northwards from Kalihiwai. You'll be met with jungles hanging over rivers, ocean views and the greenest of green pastures.
Scenic drive Kalihiwai – jungles over the river, beside the ocean, green fields with horses grazing under tropical fruit trees,
Neighborhoods
Kaua'i is mostly divided up based on the prevailing trade winds. The north and east sides of the island are known as the "windward" side of the island since that's where the winds blow onto the shore, while the south and west sides of the island are known as the "leeward" side of the island.
Activities
Who says you can't have it all on vacation? Planning a trip with little ones can make that a tough goal to achieve. Luckily, Lydgate Beach Park has everything to keep them – and you – entertained. With lifeguard-staffed beaches, playgrounds, shallow lagoons for swimming, a paved path for walking, bicycling or even rollerblading, this little spot will have the whole family occupied.
For the adventurers, there are varying degrees of challenges to choose from. Maha'ulepu is an easily accessible undeveloped coastline where you can look down from cliffs to see wonders like rocky beaches being pounded by massive waves. It's a rugged spot for the explorer seeking a quiet spot to get back to nature.
If you've been hiking for a while and are ready to up your game, go over to the Alaka'i Swamp to get your fill of rainforest wildlife.
But if you're ready for the ultimate fitness challenge make your way to Na Pali Coast. It is legend for those in the hiking community and it's only accessible by helicopter, boat or the treacherous hike. This route is definitely not for beginners.
Food and Dining
Like the rest of Hawaii, Kaua'i has the simple "plate lunch" available most everywhere. However, if you're planning on heading out for one of the many hiking excursions available, there won't be very many places to eat. Pack a picnic lunch plenty of water! Roadside stands may have snacks along your journey, but save the restaurants for dinnertime.
Transportation
While there is a bus system that runs around the island, it won't take you to most of the tourist destinations. Renting a car is always your best option, but remember, Kaua'i doesn't have one road going around the entire island. The island is also very biker friendly with paved paths everywhere. Renting a bike may provide a more efficient and interesting option for your group.
Related:
Looking for a party hostel in Hawaii or Miami? Traveling alone to LA or New Orleans? Want a budget hostel in NYC?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
