Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie. 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Zhangjiajie $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Penang and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Zhangjiajie? 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 $14Zhangjiajie $15
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $64Zhangjiajie $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.
- 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 Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Zhangjiajie $23
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 Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
- Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
- Exclusive VIP Zhangjiajie 4 Days and 3 Nights Private Tour: $50
- Exclusive VIP Zhangjiajie 5 Days and 4 Nights Private Tour: $50
- Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
- Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
- One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
- Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Zhangjiajie $16
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 Zhangjiajie, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Zhangjiajie?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 July, Penang is generally around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
Penang is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Penang as well as Zhangjiajie. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).
Penang usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 April, Penang is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. It's quite rainy in Penang. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Penang
| Penang | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.