Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Penang or Koh Tao?
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 Tao. 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 Tao?
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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $103Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $103, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $49Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $98Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Penang and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Koh Tao? 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: Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $12Koh Tao $8.67
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$1.26
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Island Ferry$0.50
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.57
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$9.64
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$6.29
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $210
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $165
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang Intl Airport (PEN): Transfer to Penang Island hotels: $115
- Penang Airport (PEN): Transfer to Swettenham Cruise Port: $115
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal: Transfer to Penang Island: $115
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Private Transfer: Penang International Airport to or from Hotel: $49
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $42
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $33Koh Tao $9.21
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$1.68
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$72
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$61
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Lassy Juice$1.47
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Dinner for 2$3.14
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Street Stall Food$0.59
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.98
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- 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
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $87
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Cooking Classes In Penang By Penang Chiak: $93
- Dinner at Penang Hill: $102
- Private Dinner at THE TOP with Skywalk Experience from Penang: $103
- Chef Samuel's Private Malaysian Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour: $116
- Food Tour at Penang - Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a Local: $120
- Dinner at Penang Hill Including Train Ride: $141
- Penang's Night Eat-Venture Vespa Food Tour: $160
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $49Koh Tao $26
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$6.50
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$6.29
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.42
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.10
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Penang City Temple Tour with Penang Hill(Fast Lane) & Kek Lok Si: $100
- 4 Hour Food and Heritage Walking Tour in Penang George Town: $75
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $60
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $151
- Admission Ticket for Dark Mansion Glow-in-the-Dark Museum in Penang: $8.80
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $5.37
- Discover Georgetown Heritage Private Tour in Penang: $51
- Discover Penang City Tour: $47
- Discover Penang City in Amazing Tour: $82
- Enjoy Hill & Temple Sightseeing Tour - Penang City: $68
- Entopia Butterfly Farm & Tropical Spice Garden Tour: $81
- Entopia Butterfly Farm And Tropical Spice Garden Tour: $83
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $126
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $15Koh Tao $7.14
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$1.68
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Koh Tao, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Tao.
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 Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Koh Tao?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Koh Tao, 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 Tao?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Penang or Koh Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao and Penang during the summer 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 Tao year-round.
Koh Tao 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 July than Koh Tao. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Penang or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao. Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Penang is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Penang or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Koh Tao. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. Penang usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Penang is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Penang or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Penang is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Penang
| Penang | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.