Which place is cheaper, Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads?
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 Noosa Heads. 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 Noosa Heads?
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.
Noosa Heads
A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesNoosa Heads Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Noosa Heads $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Noosa Heads is $135. 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 Noosa Heads in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Noosa Heads $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Noosa Heads $116
Compare Hotels in Penang and Noosa Heads
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Noosa Heads? 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 Noosa Heads Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Noosa Heads $17
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:
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $277
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $70
- ATV Ride in Balik Pulau with Snacks and Transfers: $66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads
Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Australia Zoo Transfer from Noosa and Sunshine Coast: $91
- Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer: Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast & Noosa : $32
- Private Morning Transfer From Noosa to Rainbow Beach: $91
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $238
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 13 pax: $262
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (2pax): $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Noosa Heads?
Prices for flights to both Noosa Heads 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 $64Noosa Heads $58
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 Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $121
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Noosa Heads $40
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:
- George Town Highlights & Upside Down Museum tours (5 Hours): $67
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $169
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- All-Inclusive Penang George Town Private Tour: $154
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $88
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
- Bukit Merah Orang Utan and Penang City Private Tour: $140
- Colors of George Town Walking Tour: $138
- Countryside Cycling Tour. T1.0 by Matahari: $97
- ESCAPE Penang Theme Park Admission Ticket : $73
Typical Entertainment Prices in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Surf Lesson$43
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Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)$85
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Sunset Cruise (for 2)$13
Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.
- Noosa Queen Sunset Cruise River: $22
- 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $24
- The Original 1-Hour Mooloolaba Canal Cruise: $24
- SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium Entrance Ticket: $26
- Maleny Botanic Gardens Bird Aviary Experience Ticket: $32
- Sunset Cruise Mooloolaba: $33
- Aquaduck Sunshine Coast - 1hr Mooloolaba Amphibious Tour: $34
- The Ginger Factory Play, Taste & Discover Bundle Experience: $36
- Stillwater Luxury Noosa Sunset Cruise : $37
- Noosa Stand Up Paddle & Mangrove Tunnel Tour (Self Guided): $39
- Seafood Lunch Cruise: $46
- Sunshine Coast Adventure Park TreeTop Challenge: $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Noosa Heads $10
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads
Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sunshine Coast Bar Crawl Sippin on Sunshine: $15
- Sunshine Coast Brewery Tour with Lunch: $164
- Hinterland Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour - with 2 course lunch included: $188
When comparing the travel costs between Penang and Noosa Heads, 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 Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Noosa Heads?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Noosa Heads. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Noosa Heads, 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 Noosa Heads?
Noosa Heads has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Penang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Penang or Noosa Heads in the Summer?
Both Noosa Heads 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Noosa Heads because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Noosa Headsin January. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Headsin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Penang or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Noosa Heads. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Noosa Heads this time of year.
Penang is much warmer than Noosa Heads in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in April.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Penang or Noosa Heads in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Noosa Heads. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Noosa Heads for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 7°C (44°F)in July.
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Noosa Headsin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Penang or Noosa Heads in the Spring?
Both Noosa Heads and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Noosa Heads in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Noosa Headsin October. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Penang
| Penang | Noosa Heads | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 117 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.