Which place is cheaper, Penang or Kanchanaburi?
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 Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi or Penang?
Kanchanaburi
If the hustle and bustle of the big city of Bangkok is just getting to you, there's an easy escape. Kanchanaburi, Thailand is a city located at the meeting of Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, and is ideal for backpackers looking to reflect and relax. With easily accessible waterfalls and national parks, you'll wonder why anyone ever leaves.
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 Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesPenang Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $58Penang $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Penang is $144. 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 Kanchanaburi and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Penang $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Penang $110
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi Hotel Prices and Penang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Penang $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99
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$1.43
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Island Ferry$0.57
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.64
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.13
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $58
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- Private Transfer: Penang International Airport to or from Hotel: $49
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $22
- Private Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $207
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $22
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $22
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Kanchanaburi 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 dayKanchanaburi $24Penang $64
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thai Cooking Class: $39
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$1.90
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$81
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$69
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Lassy Juice$1.66
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Dinner for 2$3.57
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Street Stall Food$0.67
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.52
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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.
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $65
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- Malay Culinary Journey Cooking Class for the Adventurous Foodie: $92
- Authentic Indian Penang Cooking Class: $92
- Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak: $94
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Penang $55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Entry Park TreeHouse$6.28
Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $35
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $45
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $53
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $59
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $108
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
- Kanchanaburi Tour: Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway: $112
- Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $112
- Romantic Getaway in A Walking Tour: $174
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$7.37
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.13
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.48
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.38
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- George Town Highlights & Upside Down Museum tours (5 Hours): $67
- Penang City Temple Tour with Penang Hill(Fast Lane) & Kek Lok Si: $147
- 4 Hour Food and Heritage Walking Tour in Penang George Town: $93
- 4-Hour Heritage Walking Tour of Georgetown: $60
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $68
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $169
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- All-Inclusive Penang George Town Private Tour: $154
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $88
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.24Penang $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$1.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Kanchanaburi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kanchanaburi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Penang?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi or Penang?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Penang in the Summer?
Both Penang and Kanchanaburi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kanchanaburi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in July than Penang. Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Penang receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Kanchanaburi often gets less sunshine than Penang. Kanchanaburi gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Kanchanaburi is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kanchanaburi in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanchanaburi 29°C (84°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanchanaburi and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kanchanaburi year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season. Also, July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi. Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kanchanaburi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Penang. Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Kanchanaburi is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanchanaburi 28°C (82°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Penang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kanchanaburi as well as Penang. Kanchanaburi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in January than Penang. Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Kanchanaburi is cooler than Penang in the winter. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanchanaburi 25°C (77°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Kanchanaburi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi is November to May. It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. In April, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Penang. Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Penang receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Penang. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi usually receives more sunshine than Penang during spring. Kanchanaburi gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Kanchanaburi. In the spring, Kanchanaburi is a little warmer than Penang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kanchanaburi in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanchanaburi 32°C (89°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Kanchanaburi
| Kanchanaburi | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 30°C (87°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 218 mm (8.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 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.