Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Penang?
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 Penang or Airlie Beach?
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 Penang and Airlie Beach. 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: Penang or Airlie Beach?
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.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesAirlie Beach Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Airlie Beach $165
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $165. 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 Penang and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Airlie Beach $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Airlie Beach $118
Compare Hotels in Penang and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Airlie Beach? 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: Penang Hotel Prices and Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Airlie Beach $19
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:
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $22
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $22
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $22
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- Airport Transfer to Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- Established Return Airport Transfer Proserpine to Airlie Beach: $28
- One Way Airport Transfer: Proserpine-Airlie Beach (or vice versa): $17
- Private Transfer to/from Shute Harbour: $134
- Private Transfer to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $148
- Whitsundays: Airport Transfer to/from Airlie Beach: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Penang 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 dayPenang $64Airlie Beach $55
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.
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- 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
- 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
- Private Dinner at THE TOP with Skywalk Experience from Penang: $103
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $82
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Airlie Beach $161
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:
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.92
- Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket: $7.31
- Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.15
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
- Malaysia: Discover Nature's Wonders with Entopia Entry Ticket: $17
- Penang Rainbow Skywalk at The Top Komtar Observation Deck Tickets: $22
- Entopia Butterfly and Nature Discovery Park Entry Ticket Penang : $28
- Half-Day Penang Countryside Cycling Tour: $32
- Georgetown Half Day City Tour: $42
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Roundtrip Tour to Cedar Creek.: $45
- Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
- Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $57
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- #1 Sightseeing Explorer 3hr tour.: $62
- Half Day Turtle Tour Sea Kayaking Adventure: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Airlie Beach $9.06
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 comparing the travel costs between Penang and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach 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. Even though Penang is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Penang or Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Penang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Penang or Airlie Beach in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Airlie Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In the summer, Penang is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Penang usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Penang or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Airlie Beach. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Penang is generally a little warmer than Airlie Beachin April. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Penang or Airlie Beach in the Winter?
Both Airlie Beach and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Penang is much warmer than Airlie Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Penang or Airlie Beach in the Spring?
Both Airlie Beach and Penang during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Penang is a little warmer than Airlie Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the spring, Penang often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Penang
| Penang | Airlie Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.