Tips that will help you have fun in Hawaii at low costs

ArabiaWeather - Among the US states, Hawaii had the highest cost of living in 2022, according to the Missouri State Economic Information and Research Center. And the price of a single home on Oahu is over $1 million. Gasoline costs about $5 a gallon.

But there are still plenty of low-cost (and even free) ways to enjoy the best the islands have to offer--pristine beaches, local flavors, and outstanding natural beauty--without sacrificing your experience. This guide to daily costs in Hawaii, along with top tips for budget travelers, can help you save money.

A guide to daily costs in Hawaii

• Hostel room: $40 to $150 per night
• Basic room for two people: from $150 to $300 per night
• Self-Rental Apartment (including Airbnb): $80 (private room) to $6,000 per night (where President Obama is staying in Kailua)
• Public Transportation Pass: Adult fares on TheBus on Oahu are $3 (one way), with discounts for seniors 65 and over and youth 6-17.
• Coffee: $2.25 (hot coffee at Starbucks) to $12.50 (Kona Estate coffee freshly brewed using a Chemex pour-over brewer at Honolulu Coffee)
• Sandwich: $7 (Andy's Sandwiches & Smoothie) to $13 (at Sprout Sandwich Shop)
• Dinner for two: $50 to $500
• Lager at the bar: $7 to $12 per glass

Planning a fall or spring vacation

Hawaii is a year-round destination, which is good for travelers on a budget. You can find deals on airfare and accommodation during the slower shoulder periods - September, October, January, February, April and May - avoiding peak periods like summer, winter and spring break.

Be smart about moving between islands

Why fly to Hawaii and stay on one island? If you are determined to see more than one island on your vacation, you should take advantage of the cheaper options on inter-island airfare.

Southwest Airlines offers one-way fares sometimes as low as $39 with no-detail service and no seat selection. Mokulele Airlines operates nine-passenger Cessna 208EX Grand Caravans that fly to smaller airports, offering round-trip tickets for under $200 per person.

Planning tip: If you're in Maui and want to visit Lanaʻi, book a trip on the Expeditions Maui-Lanaʻi Passenger Ferry. Tickets start at $30 one way and take about an hour. Bonus: If you're traveling between the islands from January to April, you might see staring whales along the way.

Getting between islands can be expensive - you pay for airfare and extra accommodation, and if you're not on Oahu, you'll likely have to rent a car, and the price changes based on demand.

By staying on one island, you can explore all that it has to offer. Oahu is known for its buzz, with plenty of restaurants, shopping, beaches, museums, and hiking trails. Maui is a similar place, with more rustic charm and small towns like Hana and Macau.

Kawaʻi is the most relaxed of all the islands, with green scenery, stunning beaches, and a more relaxed pace. Nicknamed the Big Island, the island of Hawaii is characterized by active volcanoes, rolling grasslands, and the charm of ancient Hawaii.

Make sure to keep the car rental period short

While it may be the most cost-efficient to do without a rental car for the duration of your vacation, it's also very limited—even on Oahu, which has a great public bus system. You'll want to get out of the resort areas and venture into different neighborhoods, find bistros and experience the islands the way the locals do.

Instead of renting a car for the duration of your stay, consider renting a car for just a few days, which will keep your costs under $100.

Many hotels and malls offer free entertainment and lessons in cultural practices, such as lei-making, ukulele, and hula. The Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki offers all of this, plus converting quilts and free Hawaiian entertainment. The Kaanapali Beach Hotel on Maui offers free cultural lessons to its guests at Hale Hukipa; Learn hula, make tapa cloth, reshape a cookie nut, speak short words and phrases in Hawaiian and even find your way using traditional navigational techniques (bananas).

On Oahu, you can rent surfboards from shops around Waikiki Beach for $20, or pay more to take a lesson from a beach attendant. You can also rent surfboards, paddle boards, kayaks, buggy boards with fins, snorkeling gear, and more from Surf in the City Waikiki.

Choose self-tours to save some money

The Hōlualoa Kona Coffee Company on the island of Hawaii offers free coffee roasting and tasting tours for a small fee. Walk comfortably through the grounds of the state's largest coffee plantation, Kauaʻi Coffee Co., to learn more about coffee and its history on the islands.

For about $35, you can go on a walking tour of Oahu's historic Chinatown neighborhood with the Hawaiian Heritage Center, where you'll learn about the neighborhood's rich history, Chinese immigration to Hawaii, and architecture. The fee includes admission to exhibitions, visits to sites of cultural and historical interest, and food from neighborhood shops and restaurants.

Planning tip: Download the Shaka Guide app for self-guided, GPS-guided audio tours of popular attractions across the islands. Featured tours include Road to Hana on Maui, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaii, and Waimea Canyon on Kauai. Each round is $20 and works offline.