Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?
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 Lake Tekapo. 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesLake Tekapo Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Lake Tekapo $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $84. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Penang and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Lake Tekapo -
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 Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $19
- 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 Balik Pulau Countryside Morning Cycling with Transfers: $33
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang Island hotels to Swettenham Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $64Lake Tekapo $22
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
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $62
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Lake Tekapo -
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
- Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- 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 Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $34
- Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $36
- Virtual Stargazing and Astronomy Experience: $52
- Virtual Stargazing & Astronomy Experience in Lake Tekapo: $54
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $57
- Silver River Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $59
- Mt. Hay Farm Experience Genuine Country Farming(Carbon Positive): $59
- Stargazing Experience: $70
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $71
- Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $75
- Stargazing Experience at Cowan's Private Observatory: $79
- Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive): $86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Lake Tekapo -
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, 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 Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Lake Tekapo?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 540 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Lake Tekapo, 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.