Which place is cheaper, Darwin 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 Darwin?
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 Darwin. 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 Darwin?
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.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesDarwin Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Darwin $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Darwin is $139. 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 Darwin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Darwin $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Darwin $124
Compare Hotels in Penang and Darwin
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Darwin? 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 Darwin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Darwin $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:
- 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: $19
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Private Departure Transfer - Penang International Airport: $19
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- 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 Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station$9.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Arrival Private Transfer: $101
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $202
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $101
- DRW Airport to Darwin City Centre Private Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer from Darwin Airport (DRW) to Darwin Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $87
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin city hotels: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Darwin?
Prices for flights to both Darwin 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 $64Darwin $65
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.
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
- Sunset Harbour Cruise with Fish and Chips Dinner: $72
- Darwin Harbor Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $96
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $104
- Cape Adieu Sunset Cruise with 4-Course Dinner: $111
- Signature four course Sunset Dinner Cruise: $111
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $113
- Cape Adieu Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise: $113
- Waterfront Seafood Dinner with Wine for Two: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Darwin $15
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:
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- 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: $7.32
- Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.16
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
- Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Tour: $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
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
- Aquascene Fish Feeding Experience: $11
- Explore Delightful Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket: $26
- Adelaide River Queen Original Jumping Crocodile Cruise: $27
- Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Tour: $32
- Darwin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: $33
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $37
- Darwin History and Wartime Experience Tour: $40
- Adelaide River Cruises - Jumping Crocodile Experience: $40
- 1-Hour Bombing of Darwin Cruise: $43
- Discover Darwin Harbour: Darwin Harbour Afternoon Cruise: $43
- Discover Darwin Harbour 1 hour Darwin Harbour Cruise: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Darwin $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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar$16
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Glass of Wine$4.58
When comparing the travel costs between Penang and Darwin, 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. Even though Penang is in Asia and Darwin 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 Darwin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Darwin?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Darwin, 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 Darwin?
Darwin 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 Darwin in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Darwin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Also, most visitors come to Darwin for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Penang is generally around the same temperature as Darwinin January. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives more sunshine than Darwin during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 173 hours of full sun in the summer.
Darwin 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 Darwinin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Darwin 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Penang or Darwin in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Darwin. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Darwin because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Penang is around the same temperature as Darwin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Darwinin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Darwin 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Penang or Darwin in the Winter?
Both Darwin 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, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Darwin this time of year.
In the winter, Penang is a little warmer than Darwin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Darwin averages at about 25°C (77°F)in July.
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Darwinin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Darwin 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Penang or Darwin in the Spring?
Both Darwin 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Darwin for the beaches.
In April, Penang is generally around the same temperature as Darwinin October. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the spring, Penang often gets less sunshine than Darwinin October. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 291 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Darwinin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Darwin 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Darwin and Penang
| Penang | Darwin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 343 mm (13.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 342 mm (13.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 234 mm (9.2 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.