Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan. 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Penang and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Koh Pha Ngan $15
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 Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $64Koh Pha Ngan $20
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 Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Koh Pha Ngan $19
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Koh Pha Ngan $11
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 Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Koh Pha Ngan?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Pha Ngan. It's quite rainy in Penang. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Penang is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Penang or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Koh Pha Ngan. October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Penang is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Penang or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Penang is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Penang or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Penang as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Penang is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Penang
| Penang | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.