A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Penang vs. Tiger Leaping Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Penang or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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 Tiger Leaping Gorge. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Penang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Penang Prices
    Malaysia Prices
    Tiger Leaping Gorge Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Penang $144
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $54

The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Penang $55
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Penang $110
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Penang and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Penang or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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.

Hotels in Penang


Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Penang $14
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Penang

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Penang:


  • Local Bus
    $1.43
  • Island Ferry
    $0.57
  • Bus From Airport to George Town
    $0.64
  • Taxi From Airport to George Town
    $11
  • Motorbike Rental (One Day)
    $7.13
  • Bicycle Rental (One Day)
    $2.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:

  • Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
  • Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $275
  • Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
  • Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
  • Penang Airport Transfer - Arrival or Departure: $36
  • Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
  • Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
  • Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
  • Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
  • Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
  • Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
  • ATV Ride in Balik Pulau with Snacks and Transfers: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Penang $64
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
Typical Food Prices in Penang

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Penang:


  • Snack
    $1.90
  • Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)
    $81
  • Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)
    $69
  • Lassy Juice
    $1.66
  • Dinner for 2
    $3.57
  • Street Stall Food
    $0.67
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $4.52
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Penang $55
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Penang

Here are a few typical costs in Penang for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Butterfly Gardens
    $7.37
  • Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
    $7.13
  • Fort Cornwallis Entrance
    $0.48
  • 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:

  • 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: $7.31
  • Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.15
  • Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
  • The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
  • Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $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
  • Half-Day Penang Countryside Cycling Tour: $32
  • Georgetown Half Day City Tour: $42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Penang $18
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.46
Typical Alcohol Prices in Penang

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:


  • Beer
    $1.90


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Tiger Leaping Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tiger Leaping Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.