Is Honolulu expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Honolulu is expensive, with hotel and food prices among the highest in the United States, because almost everything is shipped to the islands. Plan on about US$200 a day per person on a budget, US$410 mid-range and US$950 for comfort. Hotels with their taxes and resort fees take the biggest share, followed by car hire, parking and eating out.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$100 | US$200 | US$450 |
| Food & drink | US$45 | US$90 | US$200 |
| Sights & tickets | US$20 | US$60 | US$200 |
| Local transport | US$35 | US$60 | US$100 |
| Per person, per day | US$200 | US$410 | US$950 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Honolulu day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Plate lunch (meat, two scoops of rice, macaroni salad) | about US$14–20 |
| Poke bowl | about US$15–22 |
| Shave ice | about US$6–10 |
| Mai tai at a Waikiki beach bar | about US$16–22 |
| TheBus fare | about US$3 |
| Hanauma Bay entry (non-residents) | about US$25, reservation required |
| Surf lesson at Waikiki | about US$80–120 |
| Hotel parking in Waikiki | often US$40–60 a night |
| Mid-range Waikiki room | US$300–500 a night |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the main expense: Waikiki hotels are expensive, taxes add around 18–19%, and many add a daily resort fee and parking charges. Food comes next, because groceries and restaurant meals cost much more than on the mainland, and tips of 18–20% are expected. Getting around the island usually means hiring a car, with fuel and parking on top. Many of the best things — beaches, sunsets, short hikes and the USS Arizona Memorial — are free or nearly free.
When it is cheaper
April to early June and September to mid-December (outside Thanksgiving) are the shoulder seasons, when hotel prices are often lower than over Christmas and New Year, spring break and the summer holidays.
How to spend less
- Stay on the back streets of Waikiki around Kuhio Avenue, a few minutes from the beach, for lower rates.
- Hire a car only for the days you leave Waikiki, to save on daily hotel parking.
- Eat plate lunches, poke from supermarkets and food trucks instead of beachfront restaurants.
- Check the full price including resort fees and taxes when comparing hotels.
- Book Hanauma Bay and the USS Arizona Memorial on the official sites to avoid reseller mark-ups.
- Use TheBus for Pearl Harbor, downtown and Ala Moana.
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Common questions
Why is Honolulu so expensive?
Most goods are shipped to Hawaii, and hotels add taxes of around 18–19% plus resort and parking fees.
How much does a hotel in Waikiki cost?
About US$180–260 for a budget room and US$300–500 for a mid-range room, before taxes and fees.
Do I need a car in Honolulu?
Not for Waikiki and downtown. A car helps for the windward coast and North Shore.