Which place is cheaper, Penang or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Penang? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kota Kinabalu or Penang?
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
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 Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kota Kinabalu.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Penang $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, 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 Kota Kinabalu and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Penang $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Penang $98
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Penang $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
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 Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Departure Transfer - Penang International Airport: $15
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Penang Airport Transfer to Georgetown/City Hotel or Resort/Beach Hotel: $18
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $25
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $38
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Kota Kinabalu 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 dayKota Kinabalu $15Penang $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Private Kinabalu Night Tour with Cultural Show and Dinner: $62
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $86
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $144
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
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
- Experience Malaysia: Authentic Malaysia Cooking Tour: $121
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Penang $49
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Sunset Charter Cruise Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $69
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: $5.37
- 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
- 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
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Admission Ticket: $14
- Entopia Penang Butterfly Farm Admission Ticket: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Penang $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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Penang?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu or Penang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Penang. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 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 Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Penang during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Penang in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Penang. Kota Kinabalu 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. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Penang. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Penang. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Kota Kinabalu during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 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 Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Penang. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Penang in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 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.