Which place is cheaper, Havana 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 Havana?
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 Havana. 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 Havana?
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.
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesHavana Prices
Cuba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Havana $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Havana is $74. 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 Havana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Havana $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Havana $84
Compare Hotels in Penang and Havana
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Havana? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Havana $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:
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $275
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
- Penang Airport Transfer - Arrival or Departure: $36
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- ATV Ride in Balik Pulau with Snacks and Transfers: $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Havana?
Prices for flights to both Havana 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 $64Havana $18
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
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Havana $11
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 Havana
Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Havana $5.76
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 Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Havana, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Havana 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 Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana 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 Havana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Havana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Havana?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Havana, 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 Havana?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Penang or Havana in the Summer?
Both Havana and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Havana. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Havana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Penang is around the same temperature as Havana in the summer. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Havana fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Havana 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Penang or Havana in the Autumn?
Both Havana and Penang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Havana. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Havana receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Penang is around the same temperature as Havana. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Penang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Havana averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Havana 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Penang or Havana in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Havana. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Havana. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Havana receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Penang is generally a little warmer than Havana. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Havana fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Havana 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Penang or Havana in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Penang as well as Havana. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Havana. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Havana receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Penang is a little warmer than Havana in the spring. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Havana fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Havana 24°C (75°F)
Typical Weather for Havana and Penang
| Penang | Havana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.