Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays?
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 Whitsundays. 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesWhitsundays Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Whitsundays $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $155. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Penang and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Whitsundays? 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 $14Whitsundays $55
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 : $275
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- 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
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $64Whitsundays $52
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 Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset Dinner Cruise: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Whitsundays $25
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
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $169
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- 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
- Enjoy Amazing Night Tour in Penang : $84
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $164
- MILADY Whitsundays 2-Night Private Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,953
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Whitsundays $12
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 comparing the travel costs between Penang and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Penang or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Penang. In the summer, Penang often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPenang 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Penang or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
In October, Penang is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPenang 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Penang or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Whitsundays. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang is much warmer than Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPenang 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Penang or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays 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 a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPenang 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Penang
| Penang | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.