1 week in Kauai, Hawaii: Budget Breakdown
Visiting Kauai wasn’t part of our original world trip plan. But with Hawaii being just a hop away from Japan, we couldn’t resist booking a spontaneous trip. Little did we know, Kauai would quickly become one of our favorite places on earth. The island offers everything from stunning beaches to fantastic hiking trails and even the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Traveling long-term means keeping an eye on our budget, and with Hawaii’s reputation for being pricey, this was no easy task. Curious if we managed to enjoy Kauai without overspending? In this budget breakdown, we’ll share how much it costs to spend 1 amazing week in Kauai and offer some valuable tips on how to explore the island on a budget.
How much did our trip to Kauai in August 2024 cost? Here’s our budget breakdown for 1 week (6 nights) in Kauai:
Flights
To reach Kauai, we first flew from Tokyo to Honolulu with Zipair, spending EUR 592.88 for both of us. The flight took about 7.5 hours, and we had a 3-hour layover in Honolulu. From there, we hopped on a 40-minute flight to Kauai with Hawaiian Airlines, which cost us EUR 177.3 for both of us. In total, we spent EUR 770.18 for both of us, or EUR 385.09 per person, to get from Tokyo to Kauai. It’s certainly not cheap, but probably one of the most affordable ways to reach this paradise on earth from Asia.
Total for 2 people: EUR 770.18
Accommodation + transportation
Since we added Kauai to our world trip only two months in advance and booked our flights spontaneously, we were shocked to discover that accommodation prices started at EUR 300 a night. With our budget in mind, this was clearly not going to work for us.
After some research, we found an awesome solution: exploring Kauai with an SUV and a rooftop tent. It was perfect, giving us both accommodation and transportation in one. On top of that, we had all the freedom we wanted! We collaborated with Hawaiian Overlanders and paid only half the price in exchange for content. The total came out to EUR 699.47 for the SUV, tent, and some extras like snorkeling gear, a beach umbrella, and a portable shower. That worked out to just EUR 116.58 per night for both of us, such a steal!
We stayed at a mix of free camping spots, like one on the beach and another in the forest, along with some paid campgrounds, which added another EUR 276.24 to the total. On top of that, we spent EUR 167.17 on gas. All in all, our accommodation and transportation cost EUR 1,142.88, or EUR 163.27 per day for both of us.
Looking back, we didn’t end up using the beach umbrella, snorkeling gear, or portable shower as much as we thought we would. If we had skipped those extras, we could have saved about EUR 70. Since it was our first time camping, we didn’t really know what we’d need, so consider this a rookie mistake. Next time, we’ll be more careful about what to bring and skip the extras we didn’t use!
Total for 2 people for 6 nights: EUR 1,142.88
Read all about our unforgettable experience roadtripping Kauai with Hawaiian Overlanders. If you’re searching for the best places to stay on the island, don’t miss our guide on where to stay in Kauai.
Food
We spent EUR 214.54 on food during our week in Kauai, which comes out to EUR 30.65 per day for both of us. Since eating out was pretty expensive, we mostly stuck to fast food and cooking for ourselves. Our visits to Starbucks, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut added up to EUR 123.33. We did treat ourselves to two special meals: EUR 26.85 for delicious tacos at 22° Baked and EUR 64.36 for poke bowls at Hanalei Poke. Eating out every day quickly became too costly, so we were thankful for our portable camping stove and kitchen supplies! You’ll find our supermarket expenses under the category “Other”.
Total for 2 people: EUR 214.54
Drinks
We didn’t spend anything on drinks during our time in Kauai, mainly because everything on the island, including drinks, is pretty expensive. Drinking and driving is also a big no-go! Skipping the cocktails helped us save some money, which we put toward other things that really mattered to us, like unforgettable experiences!
Total for 2 people: EUR 0
Sightseeing
Our biggest sightseeing expense in Kauai was the unforgettable airplane tour we took over the island, which cost EUR 339.28 for both of us. We booked a private air tour through Wings over Kauai in a Cessna, and it was worth every cent. The experience was nothing short of magical, we had goosebumps the entire flight! It was easily one of the most surreal moments of our world trip, and something we’ll cherish forever. In addition to that, we paid EUR 13.85 for entrance to Waimea Canyon and EUR 9.45 for our reservation at Ha’ena State Park. Altogether, our sightseeing expenses came to EUR 362.58.
Total for 2 people: EUR 362.58
Other
This category includes our ESTA application, a sim card, and supermarket expenses. We each needed an ESTA, costing EUR 39.66 in total. The sim card was EUR 10.65. We also spent EUR 161.64 on groceries from Target and Walmart. In total we spent EUR 211.95 on these miscellaneous items.
Total for 2 people: EUR 211.95
Budget for 1 week in Kauai
Here is our budget breakdown for 1 week in Kauai in August 2024:
Total per category for the two of us
✈️ Flights: EUR 770.18
⛺️ Accommodation + transportation: EUR 1,142.88
🍜 Food: EUR 214.54
🍸 Drinks: EUR 0
🌊 Sightseeing: EUR 362.58
🛒 Other: EUR 211.95
💰 Total excluding flights: EUR 1,931.95 | EUR 275.99 per day for 2 | EUR 138 per day per person
💰 Total including flights: EUR 2,702.13
Excluding our flight costs, we spent an average of EUR 275.99 per day for both of us, or EUR 138 each. We’re pretty pleased with this total, especially since we initially estimated around EUR 300 daily. Managing to keep our costs down feels like a win!
We’re so glad we decided to add Kauai to our world trip itinerary at the last minute, it turned out to be one of the best weeks of our lives. Kauai captured our hearts from the moment we arrived, and even though it’s not the most budget-friendly destination for a world trip, we wouldn’t change a thing! We were lucky to collaborate with Hawaiian Overlanders, which helped keep our accommodation and transportation costs down. Our splurge on the airplane tour was our biggest expense, but it was absolutely worth it. An unforgettable experience we’d repeat in a heartbeat!
Looking back, there are a few areas where we could have saved more. We didn’t use the extras we rented, like snorkeling gear, a beach umbrella, and a portable shower, as much as we expected. Skipping those could have saved us EUR 70. We could have also opted for more free campgrounds, though they lack showers and toilets. And, if we had cut back on our Starbucks treats, we’d have saved a good chunk of change too.
Daily budget for Kauai
For budget travelers in Kauai, a daily budget of around EUR 110 per person is reasonable. This includes renting an SUV with a rooftop tent, enjoying free activities, and preparing your own meals.
For mid-range travelers, a daily budget of around EUR 200 per person works well. Hotels on Kauai start at EUR 180 per night for two. By combining home-cooked meals with dining out, and focusing on free activities with the occasional splurge, like a flight over the island, EUR 200 per day will cover most expenses.
For luxury travelers, a daily budget of EUR 600 per person should be sufficient. 5-star hotels on the island start at EUR 500 per night for two. With fine dining at every meal and plenty of activities, EUR 600 per day offers a comfortable budget for a high-end Kauai experience.
Tips and tricks for saving money in Kauai
We spent EUR 138 per person per day in Kauai, which was less than we initially expected but still quite a bit. After reviewing our expenses, we’ve come up with some useful tips to help you save money while exploring Kauai. Here are some practical suggestions for enjoying Kauai on a budget.
1. Accommodation + transportation
The best way to explore Kauai is by renting an SUV with a rooftop tent. When we looked for accommodation at the last minute, prices were around EUR 300 per night, which is really expensive! Even if you book 6 months in advance, you can find options closer to EUR 150 per night, but that still doesn’t include transportation.
That’s why we recommend renting an SUV with a rooftop tent, which costs between EUR 160 and EUR 180 per night with Hawaiian Overlanders. This way, you cover both accommodation and transportation. Extra costs will be for gas and camping fees, but you can save money by mixing free and paid camping spots. Kauai also has plenty of public toilets and some public showers, so you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And if you decide to go with Hawaiian Overlanders, they provide you with a comprehensive list of public restrooms, showers, campgrounds… all that good stuff!
2. Food
Our next tip is about food. Eating out in Kauai can get pretty pricey, but if you follow our first tip and rent an SUV with a rooftop tent, you’ll also get a portable camping stove, a coolbox, plates, cutlery, and more. Basically everything you need to cook your own meals! This can save you a lot of money, which you can then put toward something unforgettable, like an airplane tour. 😉 One last tip: don’t make the same mistake we did by spending too much on fast food. While it’s cheaper than restaurants, it’s still more expensive than cooking your own meals!
Kelvin
Kelvin is the tech mind behind Tasting Sunsets. He takes care of everything from managing the website to finding the best travel deals and capturing drone footage of our trips. His favorite way to explore is going on a road trip. So far, Australia has been his favorite destination for its mix of nature and cities. With a background in IT, he also ensures the blog runs smoothly and securely.
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