Which place is cheaper, Tianjin 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 Tianjin?
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 Tianjin. 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 Tianjin?
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.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesTianjin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Tianjin $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $92. 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 Tianjin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Tianjin $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Tianjin $70
Compare Hotels in Penang and Tianjin
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Tianjin? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Tianjin $37
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
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $207
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $147
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beijing Airport Transfer from Tianjin International Cruise Port: $130
- Beijing Daxing or Capital Int’l Airport Private Departure Transfer from Tianjin : $128
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Hotels : $225
- Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
- Port Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotels: $100
- Private 1-Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port to Beijing: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN): $39
- Private One Way Tianjin Port Transfer to Beijing including Great Wall Sightseeing: $198
- Private One Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port and Beijing: $132
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Tianjin?
Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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 $64Tianjin $36
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Tianjin $10
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
- Penang City Temple Tour with Penang Hill(Fast Lane) & Kek Lok Si: $147
- 4 Hour Food and Heritage Walking Tour in Penang George Town: $93
- 4-Hour Heritage Walking Tour of Georgetown: $60
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $68
- 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
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Tianjin International Cruise Home Port to Beijing Airport/City Tr: $119
- Guided Day Tour to Tianjin Downtown with Lunch: $148
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Tianjin Port-up To Beijing City Self-Guide Tour and Drop-off at Beijing Hotel: $192
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $214
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $215
- Private Tianjin Shopping Tour: $218
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Tianjin $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$1.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Tianjin, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Tianjin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Tianjin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Tianjin?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Tianjin, 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 Tianjin?
Tianjin 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 Tianjin in the Summer?
Both Tianjin 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.
In the summer, Penang is around the same temperature as Tianjin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Tianjin averages at about 27°C (80°F).
In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tianjin. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 224 hours of full sun.
Tianjin 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 Tianjin. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Tianjin 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Penang or Tianjin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Tianjin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
In October, Penang is generally much warmer than Tianjin. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Tianjin fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Tianjin. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Tianjin 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Penang or Tianjin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Tianjin. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tianjin can be very cold during winter. Penang is much warmer than Tianjin in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Tianjin fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Tianjin. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Tianjin -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Penang or Tianjin in the Spring?
Both Tianjin and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
In the spring, Penang is much warmer than Tianjin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Tianjin averages at about 14°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Tianjin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Tianjin during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Tianjin. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Tianjin 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tianjin and Penang
| Penang | Tianjin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.