Budget · Honolulu · United States
Honolulu on a budget
What a trip to Honolulu really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daderot, Public domain
Quick answer
Honolulu is very expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $130–$200 per person per day on a tight budget, $300–$500 mid-range and $700–$2,000 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in May and September–October.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $130–$200 a day
- Mid-range
- $300–$500 a day
- Luxury
- $700–$2,000 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 8
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $130–$200 | $390–$600 | $650–$1,000 | $910–$1,400 |
| Mid-range | $300–$500 | $900–$1,500 | $1,500–$2,500 | $2,100–$3,500 |
| Luxury | $700–$2,000 | $2,100–$6,000 | $3,500–$10,000 | $4,900–$14,000 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Honolulu, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| TheBus fare | about $3 |
| Plate lunch | about $13–$18 |
| Poke bowl | about $15–$22 |
| Shave ice | about $6–$9 |
| Malasada | about $2–$3 |
| Mai tai at a beach bar | about $15–$20 |
| Hanauma Bay entry (non-resident) | about $25 |
| Mid-range Waikīkī hotel | about $280–$450 per night |
Money-saving tips
- Many Waikīkī hotels add a daily resort fee and parking charges on top of the room rate; compare total prices before booking.
- Beaches, the Kūhiō Beach hula shows, Chinatown, Mānoa Falls and the Makapuʻu lighthouse trail are all free.
- Supermarket poke counters and plate-lunch spots cost a fraction of beachfront restaurants.
- A HOLO card caps daily bus fares, and TheBus reaches Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay without a hire car.
- April–May and September–October usually have the lowest hotel rates of the year.
- Rent a car only for the days you leave Honolulu to avoid overnight parking charges.
Free things to do
- Waikīkī Beach — Waikīkī's golden sands run about 3 km from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Kapiʻolani Park, divided into sections such as Kūhiō Beach, with its sheltered swimming pools behind a seawall, and Queen's.
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial — The visitor centre at Pearl Harbor tells the story of the attack of 7 December 1941 through museum galleries and a film, followed by a short Navy boat ride to the white memorial that spans the sunken USS Arizona, where more than 900 of the crew members killed in the attack remain entombed.
- Chinatown — One of the oldest Chinatowns in the US, Honolulu's has lei-makers stringing flowers on Maunakea Street, the 1904 Oʻahu Market selling fish and produce, dim sum halls, herbalists and the restored 1922 Hawaii Theatre.
- Kakaʻako street murals — The warehouse blocks of Kakaʻako, between Ward Village and Downtown, are covered in large murals painted by local and international artists, many during the annual POW!
- Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island — Honolulu's main locals' beach has a long, reef-protected swimming area, shaded lawns for picnics and Magic Island, a man-made peninsula with a calm lagoon ideal for small children.
- Mānoa Falls trail — Just 15 minutes from Waikīkī, this trail of about 2.6 km round trip climbs through the rainforest of upper Mānoa Valley, past bamboo groves and banyan roots, to a waterfall of about 45 metres.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for culture, nightlife and food lovers
Downtown and Chinatown
ʻIolani Palace, lei stands and Honolulu's best cocktail bars
Eating well for less
- Loco moco — Diners, drive-ins and local chains such as Zippy's, and on most plate-lunch menus.
- Spam musubi — Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and ABC Stores in Waikīkī, and local delis and musubi shops.
- Garlic shrimp — Shrimp trucks around Kahuku and Haleʻiwa on the North Shore, such as Giovanni's.
- Manapua — Chinatown bakeries and dim sum restaurants, plus convenience stores across the island.
Getting around for less
HOLO card
A reloadable fare card for TheBus and Skyline with daily and monthly fare caps, sold at convenience stores and online.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Honolulu cost?
About $1,500–$2,500 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $650–$1,000 on a tight budget.
+Is Honolulu expensive?
It is very expensive for international visitors. Many Waikīkī hotels add a daily resort fee and parking charges on top of the room rate; compare total prices before booking.
+How much money do I need per day in Honolulu?
Roughly $130–$200 on a budget and $300–$500 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Honolulu?
Usually in May and September–October.