Which place is cheaper, Penang or Hat Yai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai 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: Hat Yai or Penang?
Hat Yai
The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best Budget Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHat Yai $17Penang $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Hat Yai is $17, while the average daily cost in Penang is $114. 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 Hat Yai and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHat Yai $5.56Penang $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHat Yai $11Penang $106
Compare Hotels in Hat Yai and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Hat Yai 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: Hat Yai Hotel Prices and Penang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hat Yai $0.68Penang $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:
- Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $76
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pak Bara Pier: $80
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai City to Pak Bara Pier: $80
- Transfer from Hatyai Airport to Koh Lipe: $25
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$1.39
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Island Ferry$0.55
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.62
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$6.93
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
- Penang Airport Transfer to Georgetown/City Hotel or Resort/Beach Hotel: $14
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $18
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $18
- Private Departure Transfer - Penang International Airport: $18
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $25
- Private Transfer From Penang Airport to Town Area: $26
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $29
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Hat Yai or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Hat Yai 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 dayHat Yai $11Penang $36
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:
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Roti Snack$0.59
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$1.85
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$79
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$67
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Lassy Juice$1.62
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Dinner for 2$3.46
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Street Stall Food$0.65
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.39
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $70
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak: $92
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $96
- Dinner at Penang Hill: $102
- Private Dinner at THE TOP with Skywalk Experience from Penang: $103
- Chef Samuel's Private Malaysian Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour: $116
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hat Yai -Penang $54
Tours and Activities in Hat Yai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hat Yai are as follows:
- One Way Speedboat and Van Ticket Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport: $33
- One Way Van and Speedboat Ticket Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe: $33
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$7.16
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$6.93
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.46
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.31
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket: $5.92
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $5.92
- Malaysia: The Blue Mansion - Daily Tour: $5.94
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.71
- Glass Museum Standard Admission Ticket: $7.19
- Penang : DE'8000 Mini Golf Café Ticket: $7.19
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.54
- TeddyVille Museum Penang Malaysia Entry Ticket: $8.65
- Tropical Fruit Farm Ticket: $8.73
- Penang Street Food in Georgetown and History Walking Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHat Yai $2.74Penang $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:
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Beer$1.78
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$1.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hat Yai Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Penang?
Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai 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.
When is the best time to visit Hat Yai or Penang?
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.
Should I visit Hat Yai or Penang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Penang. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 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 Hat Yai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hat Yai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Penang during summer. Hat Yai gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Penang in the summer. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHat Yai 29°C (83°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Penang. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
May to December in Hat Yai is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Penang. Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in October than Penang. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hat Yai in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHat Yai 28°C (82°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Hat Yai is January to April. It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. In January, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Penang. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Hat Yai is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHat Yai 28°C (82°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Hat Yai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
January to April is the dry season in Hat Yai. May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai. In the spring, Hat Yai often gets more sunshine than Penang. Hat Yai gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Penang in the spring. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 30°C (85°F) in April, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHat Yai 30°C (85°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Hat Yai
| Hat Yai | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 30°C (85°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 588 mm (23.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 404 mm (15.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.