Which place is cheaper, Penang or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai 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 Pai 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: Pai or Penang?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, 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 dayPai $64Penang $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, 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 Pai and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Penang $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Penang $98
Compare Hotels in Pai and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Pai 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: Pai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Penang $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
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:
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal: Transfer to Penang Island: $116
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, Penang to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $120
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Private Transfer: Penang International Airport to or from Hotel: $49
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $38
- Private Transfer From Penang Airport to Town Area: $26
- Private Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $38
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Pai 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 dayPai $21Penang $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
- 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
- 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
- Dinner at Penang Hill Including Train Ride: $141
- Penang's Night Eat-Venture Vespa Food Tour: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Penang $49
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
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:
- Penang City Temple Tour with Penang Hill(Fast Lane) & Kek Lok Si: $100
- 4 Hour Food and Heritage Walking Tour in Penang George Town: $75
- 4-Hour Heritage Walking Tour of Georgetown: $58
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $151
- Admission Ticket for Dark Mansion Glow-in-the-Dark Museum in Penang: $8.80
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $5.38
- Countryside Cycling Tour by Matahari: $82
- Discover Georgetown Heritage Private Tour in Penang: $51
- Discover Penang City Tour: $47
- Discover Penang City in Amazing Tour: $82
- Enjoy Hill & Temple Sightseeing Tour - Penang City: $68
- Entopia Butterfly Farm & Tropical Spice Garden Tour: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Penang $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 Pai and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Pai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai 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 Pai or Penang in the Summer?
Both Penang and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai 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 Pai. Pai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Penang. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 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, Pai often gets less sunshine than Penang. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun.
In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Pai or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Penang. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Pai is around the same temperature as Penang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Pai or Penang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Penang. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
Pai usually gets less rain in January than Penang. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Pai is cooler than Penang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Pai or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Penang. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 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 Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Penang during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.
Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Penang. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Pai
| Pai | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.