Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Penang or Nelson?
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 Nelson. 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 Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $103Nelson $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $103, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $94. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $49Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $98Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Penang and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Nelson? 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: Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $12Nelson $28
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:
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $13
- Private Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Penang Airport Transfer to Georgetown/City Hotel or Resort/Beach Hotel: $18
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $25
- Private Transfer From Penang Airport to Town Area: $26
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $33Nelson $27
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
- 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
- Experience Malaysia: Authentic Malaysia Cooking Tour: $121
- Dinner at Penang Hill Including Train Ride: $141
- Penang's Night Eat-Venture Vespa Food Tour: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $49Nelson $24
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:
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $5.38
- Malaysia: The Blue Mansion - Daily Tour: $5.67
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.11
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tropical Spice Garden E-Ticket: $7.17
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket - General: $7.18
- TeddyVille Museum Penang Malaysia Entry Ticket: $8.27
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.54
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.71
- Admission Ticket for Dark Mansion Glow-in-the-Dark Museum in Penang: $8.80
- Penang Street Food in Georgetown and History Walking Audio Tour: $10
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
- SKYWIRE Experience: $67
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
- Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $15Nelson $13
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97
When comparing the travel costs between Penang and Nelson, we can see that Penang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Penang is in Asia and Nelson is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Nelson?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Nelson, 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.