Which place is cheaper, Freeport 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 Freeport?
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 Freeport. 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 Freeport?
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.
Freeport
When you picture the Bahamas you likely picture the beaches, resorts and playgrounds of Nassau. Just to the northwest of this tourist paradise is a tropical city founded on industry. Freeport began as mostly swampland and is now the second most populous city in the Bahamas.
This city is less of a tourist attraction - a place where you'll find the true Bahaman culture mixed in with some relaxing spots to help you unwind and get into your island vacation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesFreeport Prices
Bahamas Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $148Freeport $290
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $148, while the average daily cost in Freeport is $290. 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 Freeport in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $57Freeport $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $114Freeport $282
Compare Hotels in Penang and Freeport
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Freeport? 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 Freeport Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Freeport $59
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$1.47
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Island Ferry$0.59
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.66
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.34
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel/Port to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $174
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $147
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $140
- Penang City Hotes to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $125
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $80
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Freeport
Also for Freeport, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Freeport Private One-Way Airport or Cruise Port Car Transfer: $180
- Freeport to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport - Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Old Bahama Bay - Private Transfer: $74
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Old Bahama Bay -Round-Trip Transfer: $148
- Grand Bahama Airport(FPO) to Freeport -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $148
- Luxury SUV Transfer from Airport, cruise port, Celebration Key: $133
- Old Bahama Bay to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) - Private Transfer: $74
- Port Lucaya Private Round Trip Limousine Transfer From Freeport: $150
- Private Transfer from FPO to Freeport hotels or resorts: $174
- Private Transfer from FPO to Old Bahama Bay resort: $244
- Private Transfer from Freeport Port to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO): $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Freeport?
Prices for flights to both Freeport 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 $66Freeport $110
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$1.96
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$84
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$71
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Lassy Juice$1.71
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Dinner for 2$3.67
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Street Stall Food$0.69
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.65
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Penang Food Tour : A Feast That Taste Like History : 17+ Tasting: $54
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $65
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $65
- Penang Forest Island Catamaran Cruise with Dinner and Activities: $80
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- 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 Freeport
For Freeport, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Around Town/Bahamian Cooking Experience: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $57Freeport $40
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$7.59
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.34
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.49
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.45
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Hour of Penang Street Food Walkabout Tour The Heritage Site: $59
- 4-Hour Heritage Walking Tour of Georgetown: $60
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $70
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $174
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $99
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
- Bujang Valley Sharing Tour Old Civilization in South East Asia: $79
- Bukit Merah Orang Utan and Penang City Private Tour: $140
- Chinese Clan Secrets and History Guided Walking Tour in Penang: $57
- Colors of George Town Walking Tour: $161
- Culture History and Local Life Penang Half Day Experience: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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10 Dive Package$299
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4 Hr. Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Freeport
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Freeport.
- Bahamian Beer Tour with Beach stop from CelebrationKey/FPO Harbor: $52
- Rumbo Tour: $60
- Junkanoo Village Beach Club Experience: Lunch & 1 Signature Drink: $70
- Mamma Gal Native Experience: $80
- Mamma Gal Celeb-Key Native Exp. Shared Tour: $80
- Mamma Gal East End Native Experience: $95
- Bahamas Sea Scooter Snorkeling Adventure: $120
- Clear Kayak Tour: $120
- Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $126
- Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $127
- Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort Day Pass for cruise guests: $133
- Luxury JetCar Experience-Grand Bahama: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Freeport $30
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$1.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Freeport
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Freeport:
- Brewery & Taste with Beach & Shop at Largest Market on Freeport 4-hrs: $85
- Grand Bahama Brewery and Distillery Tour: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Freeport, we can see that Freeport is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Freeport is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Penang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Penang 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 Freeport would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Freeport than you might in Penang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Freeport Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Freeport?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Freeport. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Freeport, 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.
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.