Which place is cheaper, Osaka 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 Osaka?
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 Osaka. 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 Osaka?
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.
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesOsaka Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $147Osaka $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $147, while the average daily cost in Osaka is $101. 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 Osaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $56Osaka $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $112Osaka $88
Compare Hotels in Penang and Osaka
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Osaka? 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 Osaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Osaka $13
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$1.45
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Island Ferry$0.58
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.65
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.25
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $56
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $140
- Private Transfer: Penang International Airport to or from Hotel: $49
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $21
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $21
- Private Transfer from Penang International Airport to Your Hotel: $18
- Private Transfer Penang Airport To/From Hotel (1way only): $20
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel/Port to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $172
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $21
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $80
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $48
- Private Departure Transfer to Penang International Airport: $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$7.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport-to-City Transfer, from Kansai Airport to Each City: $200
- Awa Dance Festival Ticket with Car Transfer from Osaka: $35
- City-to-City Transfer, from Central Osaka to Each City in Kansai: $114
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Car: $205
- Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer from/to Osaka or Kyoto: $42
- Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer to/from Osaka or Kyoto city: $121
- Kansai Airport (KIX) Private Airport Transfer to Osaka/Kyoto: $143
- Kansai Airport (KIX) Transfer to Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Nara/Wakayama: $59
- Kansai Airport (KIX) to Kyoto city Arrival Private Transfer: $136
- Kansai Airport (KIX): Private Transfer To/From Kyoto City Hotels: $230
- Kansai Airport (KIX): Private Transfer To/From Osaka City Hotels: $139
- Kansai Airport Osaka City Private Taxi Transfers: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Osaka?
Prices for flights to both Osaka 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 $66Osaka $41
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$1.93
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$83
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$70
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Lassy Juice$1.69
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Dinner for 2$3.63
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Street Stall Food$0.68
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.59
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$12
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: $49
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Penang Food Tour : A Feast That Taste Like History : 17+ Tasting: $55
- 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
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- Malay Culinary Journey Cooking Class for the Adventurous Foodie: $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 Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Osaka Cooking Class 17 Tastes Takoyaki Making: $21
- Japanese Home cooking in Osaka: $25
- Osaka Umeda: PICCADILLY DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting: $32
- Welcome to Osaka Matrix and Local food tour with Ninja Guide: $36
- Kobe Beef Bowl Cooking Class in Osaka Afternoon: $38
- 1.5 Hour Food Tour at the Kuromon Market in Osaka: $41
- Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $41
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Experience!: $48
- Osaka Cooking for Japanese Pescatarian dishes: $48
- Private Food Tour & Bar Hopping in Namba: $48
- Family Friendly Osaka Tempura Cooking Class: $50
- Osaka Takoyaki Okonomiyaki and Onigiri Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $56Osaka $19
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$7.49
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.25
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.48
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.42
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Hour of Penang Street Food Walkabout Tour The Heritage Site: $49
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $69
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour: $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $172
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $119
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
- Bukit Merah Orang Utan and Penang City Private Tour: $140
- Countryside Cycling Tour. T1.0 by Matahari: $100
- Culture History and Local Life Penang Half Day Experience: $51
- Customizable Penang Private Tour (8hrs usage): $64
- Day Tour of Penang with Train Ride To Penang Hill: $170
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$29
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Osaka Dotonbori: CHEVAL Nightclub Ticket & Drinks (Foreign Only): $5.08
- Osaka Dotonbori: GIRAFFE Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.34
- Osaka Farplane Parco Bar Admission Ticket with Drink for Foreign: $6.34
- Osaka Umeda: OWL Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.35
- Osaka Shinsaibashi: AMMONA Nightclub Entry Ticket (For Foreign): $6.35
- Osaka Food Quest: Self-Guided Culinary & History Adventure: $6.66
- Osaka Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- General Admission ticket to ABENO HARUKAS in Osaka: $13
- Osaka Dotonbori Wonder Cruise: $13
- Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign & Neon Lights View: $13
- Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign: $13
- Osaka Oracle GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Osaka $11
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$1.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $22
- Osaka Nights: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide: $33
- Osaka Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting: $41
- 3Hour Osaka Pub Crawl Bar Hopping Nightlife Guided Tour in Namba: $46
- Off The Beaten Path Osaka Local Bar Crawl: $51
- Osaka Winery Tour with Wine Tasting & Vineyard Walk: $82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Osaka, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Osaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Osaka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Osaka 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 Osaka.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Osaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Osaka?
Osaka has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Osaka, 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 Osaka?
Osaka 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 Osaka in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Penang as well as Osaka. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Osaka for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Penang is around the same temperature as Osaka in the summer. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Osaka fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In the summer, Penang often gets more sunshine than Osaka. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Osaka receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Osaka. Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang usually gets more rain in July than Osaka. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Osaka 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Penang or Osaka in the Autumn?
Both Osaka and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Osaka because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Penang is a little warmer than Osaka. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Penang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Osaka averages at about 19°C (66°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Osaka. It's quite rainy in Penang. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Osaka. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Osaka 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Penang or Osaka in the Winter?
Both Osaka and Penang during the winter 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Osaka this time of year.
In January, Penang is generally much warmer than Osaka. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Osaka fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Osaka. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Osaka 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Penang or Osaka in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Osaka. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Osaka for the activities around the city.
Penang is much warmer than Osaka in the spring. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Osaka fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives more sunshine than Osaka during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Osaka receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Osaka receives a lot of rain in the spring. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Osaka. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Osaka receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Osaka 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Osaka and Penang
| Penang | Osaka | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.