Which place is cheaper, Nassau 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 Nassau?
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 Nassau. 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 Nassau?
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.
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesNassau Prices
Bahamas Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Nassau $226
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Nassau is $226. 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 Nassau in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Nassau $108
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Nassau $216
Compare Hotels in Penang and Nassau
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Nassau? 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 Nassau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Nassau $32
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 Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi$7.99
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Taxi to Cable Beach$25
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Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- Airport Transfer Paradise Island: $118
- Airport Transfers : $58
- Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
- Baha Mar ( Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood Hotels) Private Airport Transfers : $160
- Chippies Airport/Hotel Transfers Transportation: $110
- Cruise Port Transfer with Optional Vehicle: $135
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau cruise port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $103
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $84
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $167
- Nassau City Escape Transfer (One Way): $50
- Nassau Cruise Port to Nassau hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- Nassau Cruise Port to Nassau hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Nassau?
Prices for flights to both Nassau 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 $64Nassau $91
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
- Nassau Sunset Dinner Cruise: $129
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $129
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $138
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Saturday Bahamian Cooking Class in Downtown Nassau: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Nassau $37
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 Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- All New Tour with Seafood Snack Português & Español : $7.00
- Historical & Cultural Walking Tour: $10
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Downtown, Bahamas: $25
- Group City Tour and Beach Experience from Cruise Port: $40
- Private Sightseeing in Fort Montagu with Crab and Seafood meal: $45
- Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours: $45
- Nassau City Tour: $46
- Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15): $50
- Electric Bus Tour with Food & Drink Samples: $50
- Banana Boat Adventure: $50
- Taste Tour and Capture Nassau Island Experience with Photos: $55
- Cultural Walking Tour of Downtown Nassau Attractions: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Nassau $19
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 Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
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Cocktail$6.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Nassau, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Nassau 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 Penang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Penang 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau than you might in Penang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Nassau Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Nassau?
Nassau has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Nassau, 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 Nassau?
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 Nassau in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Nassau. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Nassau receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Nassau. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Nassau during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Nassau receives 273 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Penang is around the same temperature as Nassau. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Nassau averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Nassau 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Penang or Nassau in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Nassau. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Nassau. Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Nassau. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Penang is generally around the same temperature as Nassau. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Nassau fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Nassau 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Penang or Nassau in the Winter?
Both Nassau 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 Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Nassau. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Penang is a little warmer than Nassau in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Nassau fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Nassau 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Penang or Nassau in the Spring?
Both Nassau 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 Nassau year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Nassau. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the spring, Penang often gets less sunshine than Nassau. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nassau receives 276 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Penang is a little warmer than Nassau. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Nassau averages at about 23°C (74°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Nassau 23°C (74°F)
Typical Weather for Nassau and Penang
| Penang | Nassau | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.