Which place is cheaper, Penang or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Doha or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Penang can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Penang?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Penang
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 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesPenang Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $244Penang $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $244, while the average daily cost in Penang is $148. 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 Doha and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Penang $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Penang $114
Compare Hotels in Doha and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Doha Hotel Prices and Penang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Penang $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $129
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Business Car: $84
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $129
- Departure Transfer From Doha City: $15
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Departure Transfer from Lusail: $27
- Desert Horse Riding Tour With Transfers From Doha: $160
- Doha Airport Transfers Taxi: $35
- Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
- Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- Doha Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $139
- Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Penang
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Penang:
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Local Bus$1.47
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Island Ferry$0.59
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.66
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.34
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $147
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $19
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Port - Round-Trip Transfer: $45
- Penang Airport PEN to Penang Island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $38
- Penang Airport Transfer: $15
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
- Penang Airport Transfer - Arrival or Departure: $37
- Penang Airport(PEN) to Penang Island -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $38
- Penang Balik Pulau Countryside Morning Cycling with Transfers: $59
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Doha 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDoha $106Penang $66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $35
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $50
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Qatar: Desert Dune Bashing with lunch/dinner in Desert Beach Camp: $55
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $59
- Full-day Desert Beach Camp with Buffet lunch/dinner: $60
- Private Souk Waqif Tour with Lunch/Dinner: $85
- Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $99
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $149
- Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
Typical Food Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Penang:
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Snack$1.96
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$84
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$71
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Lassy Juice$1.71
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Dinner for 2$3.67
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Street Stall Food$0.69
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.65
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- Penang Food Tour : A Feast That Taste Like History : 17+ Tasting: $48
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang: $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $65
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $65
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak: $94
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $99
- Malay Culinary Journey Cooking Class for the Adventurous Foodie: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Penang $57
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Doha Tour App Hidden Gems Game and Big Qatar Quiz: $20
- National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
- The Heart of the Desert – Doha Safari & Inland Sea Tour: $28
- Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .: $28
- Half Day Desert Safari from Cruise Airport or Hotel: $28
- Doha Desert Safari Adventure CamelRide, DuneBashing & Inland Sea: $29
- Doha Group Tour Skyline Souq and Cultural Village: $29
- Doha 4 Hours City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $29
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Top Doha Night City Tour Including Souq Waqif , Lusail And Katara: $30
- Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Penang
Here are a few typical costs in Penang for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Butterfly Gardens$7.59
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.34
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.49
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.45
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Culture, Faith and Trade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of George Town: $5.00
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.92
- Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.15
- Malaysia: TeddyVille Museum Entry Ticket: $8.77
- George Town Penang App Guided Street Art Tour: $8.79
- The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket - Non-Malaysian: $11
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
- Malaysia: Discover Nature's Wonders with Entopia Entry Ticket: $16
- The Top Komtar Penang Observation Deck and Rainbow Skywalk Ticket: $21
- The TOP Penang Rainbow Skywalk and Observatory Deck Entry Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Penang $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:
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Beer$1.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Penang, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Penang is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Penang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Penang 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Penang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Penang?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.