Which place is cheaper, Santiago 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 Santiago?
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 Santiago. 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 Santiago?
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.
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.
Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.
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 Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Penang and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Santiago? 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 Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Santiago $5.41
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 Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Departure Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $19
- Private Departure Transfer - Penang International Airport: $19
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- 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
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
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Metro Ride$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Airport Transfer and Halfday City tour Santiago de Chile: $362
- Airport Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- Airport transfer between Santiago city center and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago de Chile: $80
- City tour santiago with excursion to valparaiso and airport transfer: $150
- Departure Transfer: Santiago to Airport SCL by Business Car: $87
- From Viña Santa Rita Tour w/Transfer: $120
- Luxury Airport Private Transfer SCL: $90
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour, Concha y Toro, Private Transfer from Santiago: $262
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Santiago Airport SCL to Santiago: $96
- Private Round Trip Transfer on Santiago Of Chile City: $68
- Private Santiago Visit Haras de Pirque Winery & Transfer Hotel: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago 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 $64Santiago $23
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.
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $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
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.88
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Hamburger$2.50
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Dinner$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $122
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
- Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Santiago $47
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:
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- 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: $7.32
- Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.16
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
- Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Tour: $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
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Santiago $8.40
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 Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
When comparing the travel costs between Penang and Santiago, we can see that Santiago 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 Santiago is in South America, 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 Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Santiago, 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 Santiago?
Santiago 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 Santiago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Penang or Santiago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Santiago. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Penang or Santiago in the Winter?
Both Santiago and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Penang usually receives less rain than Santiagoin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Penang or Santiago in the Spring?
Both Santiago 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.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Penang
| Penang | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.