Which place is cheaper, Cairns 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 Cairns?
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 Cairns. 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 Cairns?
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.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $116. 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 Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Penang and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Cairns? 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 Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Cairns $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$1.43
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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: $57
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- 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
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $70
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- AIRPORT TRANSFER between Cairns Airport & Port Douglas (6am-5pm): $40
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $24
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Palm Cove - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $171
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
- Cairns Airport Transfers: $160
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer 1-7 Pax: $174
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns 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 $64Cairns $49
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 Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $66,130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Cairns $37
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
- 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
- Bukit Merah Orang Utan and Penang City Private Tour: $140
- Colors of George Town Walking Tour: $138
- Countryside Cycling Tour. T1.0 by Matahari: $97
- ESCAPE Penang Theme Park Admission Ticket : $73
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $10
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $15
- Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $26
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
- Cairns Tomb Of The Pharaohs General Admission Ticket: $32
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $34
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $37
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Cairns $13
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Cairns, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Cairns much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Cairns is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cairns would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairns 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 Cairns.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Cairns?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Cairns, 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 Penang or Cairns?
Cairns 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 Cairns in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Penang as well as Cairns. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Penang is around the same temperature as Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Penang or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Penang is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Penang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. It's quite rainy in Penang. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Cairnsin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Cairns is April to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Penang or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Penang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Penang is generally a little warmer than Cairnsin July. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Penang or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches.
Penang is around the same temperature as Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. April to October in Cairns is the dry season. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Penang
| Penang | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 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.