Which place is cheaper, Lima 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 Lima?
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 Lima. 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 Lima?
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.
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Lima $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Lima is $95. 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 Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Penang and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Lima? 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 Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Lima $6.06
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:
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $22
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $22
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $22
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Assistance - Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel & Viceversa: $40
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $22
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores city - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer: $25
- Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
- Lima Bus Station Arrival Transfer: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima 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 $64Lima $32
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 Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
- Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
- 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Lima $9.15
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Lima City Tour with Baby Alpaca Class and Pisco Tasting: $16
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Bike Tour Lima: $19
- Water Magic Circuit Lima Night Tour by Panoramic Bus: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Bohemian and artistic ravine walking tour: $22
- Lima Half-Day City Walking Tour (Small Groups): $24
- Pisco Sour experience with mini causitas at República del Pisco: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Lima $5.95
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 Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Local Wine Tour : $55
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Lima, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Lima is in South America, 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 Lima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lima 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 Lima.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Lima, 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 Lima?
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 Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Lima. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Penang is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Penang or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Lima. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Penang is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Penang or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Lima. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Penang is a little warmer than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Penang or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Penang during the spring 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 Lima year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Penang. In the spring, Penang often gets more sunshine than Lima. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Penang is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Penang
| Penang | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.