Which place is cheaper, Penang or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Penang, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Penang?
Koh Samet
The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?
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 in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $96Penang $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Penang is $103. 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 Koh Samet and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Penang $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Penang $98
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet 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: Koh Samet Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Penang $12
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$1.26
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Island Ferry$0.50
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.57
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$9.64
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$6.29
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Private Departure Transfer - Penang International Airport: $15
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $25
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $38
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $38
- Penang Island hotels to Swettenham Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Koh Samet 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 dayKoh Samet $27Penang $33
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$1.68
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$72
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$61
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Lassy Juice$1.47
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Dinner for 2$3.14
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Street Stall Food$0.59
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.98
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- 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: $65
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $87
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Cooking Classes In Penang By Penang Chiak: $93
- 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
- Food Tour at Penang - Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a Local: $120
- Dinner at Penang Hill Including Train Ride: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Penang $49
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$6.50
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$6.29
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.42
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.10
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $5.35
- Malaysia: The Blue Mansion - Daily Tour: $5.68
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.11
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tropical Spice Garden E-Ticket: $7.17
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket - General: $7.18
- TeddyVille Museum Penang Malaysia Entry Ticket: $8.28
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.54
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.71
- Admission Ticket for Dark Mansion Glow-in-the-Dark Museum in Penang: $8.80
- Penang Street Food in Georgetown and History Walking Audio Tour: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Penang $15
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$1.68
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samet Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet or Penang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Penang. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 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. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Penang during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samet in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Penang. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Penang. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in October than Penang. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Penang. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Koh Samet is cooler than Penang in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Koh Samet during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 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 Koh Samet. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Penang. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samet in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.