Which place is cheaper, Penang or Jakarta?
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 Jakarta or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Penang. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Jakarta or Penang?
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesPenang Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $69Penang $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $69, 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 Jakarta and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $30Penang $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $60Penang $114
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta 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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Penang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $18Penang $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$0.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Jakarta, Private Transfer: $26
- Airport Transfer: $30
- Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
- All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer: $15
- Asha Island Day Trip from Jakarta Beach Canoeing and Transfer: $204
- CGK - Private Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Departure Private Transfer: Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK: $107
- Easy & Simple Transfer Airport Jakarta: $17
- Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer: $69
- Jakarta Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
- Jakarta Arrival Private Transfers from Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City: $107
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:
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel/Port to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $174
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $147
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $125
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, Penang to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $120
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $80
- ATV Ride in Balik Pulau with Snacks and Transfers: $66
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
- Penang Island hotels to Swettenham Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Jakarta 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 dayJakarta $26Penang $66
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.46
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Dinner$0.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Food Tour Jakarta: $30
- Jakarta Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Glodok Stories Jakarta Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $39
- Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Cultural Food Tour and Cooking Class at House of Tuggu: $85
- Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
- Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120
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.
- 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 : A Feast That Taste Like History : 17+ Tasting: $54
- 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
- Penang Forest Island Catamaran Cruise with Dinner and Activities: $80
- 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.Jakarta $11Penang $57
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- Ancol Entrance Gate Entry Ticket: $4.00
- Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Atlantis Water Adventures at Ancol Entry Ticket: $9.61
- Jakarta Short Walking Tour in Old Batavia: $17
- Jakarta Faunaland Ancol Ticket: $19
- Dunia Fantasi at Ancol Entry Ticket: $20
- Jakarta Tour Guide: $25
- Pondok Indah Waterpark Ticket: $25
- Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $27
- Jakarta Aquarium Safari Admission Ticket: $32
- Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
- Jakarta Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
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:
- 3 Hour of Penang Street Food Walkabout Tour The Heritage Site: $59
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $70
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $119
- Balik Pulau Bicycle Tour: $33
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
- Bujang Valley Sharing Tour Old Civilization in South East Asia: $78
- Bukit Merah Orang Utan and Penang City Private Tour: $140
- Chinese Clan Secrets and History Guided Walking Tour in Penang: $56
- Colors of George Town Walking Tour: $161
- Culture History and Local Life Penang Half Day Experience: $50
- Customizable Penang Private Tour (8hrs usage): $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $3.81Penang $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 Jakarta and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jakarta 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 Jakarta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jakarta Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Penang?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.