Which place is cheaper, Penang or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Penang can help you decide which place is right for you.
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
Just off the northwestern coast of Malaysia is the charming and diverse island state of Penang. As the link between the ancient kingdoms of Asia and Europe's colonial empire, this area is enriched with Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences. This exciting culture is centered in George Town, the main city of the state.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $74, while the average daily cost in Penang is $104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bali and Penang in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bali or Penang? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Penang:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
Prices for flights to both Penang and Bali change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Penang:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
Here are a few typical costs in Penang for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Penang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Penang than you might in Bali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Bali has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Penang, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
April to September in Bali is the dry season. Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Penang. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Penang receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In Bali, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bali usually receives more sunshine than Penang during summer. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Bali is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bali in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The autumn brings many poeple to Bali as well as Penang. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
October to March in Bali is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Penang. Bali usually gets less rain in October than Penang. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Bali is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Both Penang and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Bali is October to March. In January, Bali usually receives more rain than Penang. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Bali is around the same temperature as Penang in the winter. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Penang and Bali during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
April to September is the dry season in Bali. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bali usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Penang receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bali. In the spring, Bali often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Penang. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Bali is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bali in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
Bali | Penang | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |