Which place is cheaper, Yichang or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Penang or Yichang?
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 Yichang. 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 Yichang?
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.
Yichang
Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.
Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $103Yichang $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $103, while the average daily cost in Yichang is $58. 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 Yichang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $49Yichang $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $98Yichang $48
Compare Hotels in Penang and Yichang
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Yichang? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $12Yichang $14
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$1.26
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Island Ferry$0.50
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.57
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$9.64
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$6.29
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.10
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: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer : Penang International Airport: $15
- Penang Airport Transfer to Georgetown/City Hotel or Resort/Beach Hotel: $18
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Arrival: $25
- Private Transfer From Penang Airport to Town Area: $26
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Yichang?
Prices for flights to both Yichang 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 $33Yichang $21
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$1.68
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$72
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$61
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Lassy Juice$1.47
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Dinner for 2$3.14
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Street Stall Food$0.59
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.98
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- 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
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $87
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Cooking Classes In Penang By Penang Chiak: $93
- Private Dinner at THE TOP with Skywalk Experience from Penang: $103
- Chef Samuel's Private Malaysian Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour: $116
- Food Tour at Penang - Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a Local: $120
- Experience Malaysia: Authentic Malaysia Cooking Tour: $121
- Dinner at Penang Hill Including Train Ride: $141
- Penang's Night Eat-Venture Vespa Food Tour: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $49Yichang $18
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$6.50
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$6.29
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.42
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.10
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: $5.38
- Malaysia: The Blue Mansion - Daily Tour: $5.67
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.11
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tropical Spice Garden E-Ticket: $7.17
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket - General: $7.18
- TeddyVille Museum Penang Malaysia Entry Ticket: $8.27
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.54
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.71
- Admission Ticket for Dark Mansion Glow-in-the-Dark Museum in Penang: $8.80
- Penang Street Food in Georgetown and History Walking Audio Tour: $10
Tours and Activities in Yichang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:
- Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
- Private Tour: Essence of Yichang Day Tour: $165
- Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
- Yichang hotel/Sanxia Tourist Center/Maoping pier to Zhangjiajie: $290
- From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $761
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $15Yichang $14
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$1.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Yichang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Yichang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yichang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yichang 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 Yichang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Yichang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Yichang?
Yichang has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Yichang, 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 Yichang?
Yichang 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 Yichang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
In the summer, Penang is around the same temperature as Yichang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Yichang averages at about 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Yichang this time of the year. In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Yichang during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Yichang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Penang usually receives less rain than Yichang. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Yichang 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Penang or Yichang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Yichang. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Penang is generally a little warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Yichang. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Yichang 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Penang or Yichang in the Winter?
Both Yichang and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
Penang is much warmer than Yichang in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Yichang fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Yichang. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Yichang 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Penang or Yichang in the Spring?
Both Yichang 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 the spring, Penang is much warmer than Yichang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Yichang averages at about 18°C (65°F).
It's quite sunny in Penang. In the spring, Penang often gets more sunshine than Yichang. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 129 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Yichang. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Yichang 18°C (65°F)
Typical Weather for Yichang and Penang
| Penang | Yichang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.