Which place is cheaper, Zhengzhou or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Penang or Zhengzhou?
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 Zhengzhou. 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 Zhengzhou?
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.
Zhengzhou
Along the Yellow River, a city from the future and the past resides. Ancient pagodas, futuristic domes, verdant gardens - Zhengzhou is a myriad of many worlds in one urban area. The provincial capital of the Henan Province, Zhengzhou is the encapsulation of a perfect city from its delicate balance of the natural and urban spheres. It was born during the Sui Dynasty, and its actual location was in the modern-day Chenggao. Moreover, Zhengzhou works as the political, economic, technological, and educational center of the province. The city is also one of the eight great ancient capitals of China, with a collection of architecture and art originating during iconic dynasties. These relics of the old world include the Shaolin Monastery, Henan Museum, the Pagoda Forest, the Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory, the Songyue Pagoda, the Emperors of Yan and Huang, and the scenic views of the Yellow River. With over nine million inhabitants, Zhengzhou continues to grow at a thriving rate. It also should be noted that in June 2012, Greater Zhengzhou was named one of the thirteen emerging megacities in China according to the Economist Intelligent Unit. Known internationally for its amazing culmination of culture and history, Zhengzhou is the ideal city for travelers and inhabitants alike.
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 Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $103Zhengzhou $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $103, while the average daily cost in Zhengzhou is $98. 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 Zhengzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $49Zhengzhou $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $98Zhengzhou $72
Compare Hotels in Penang and Zhengzhou
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Zhengzhou? 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 $12Zhengzhou $63
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:
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $138
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $211
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private Transfer : $38
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $43
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Penang Airport (PEN): Transfer to Swettenham Cruise Port: $116
- Penang Airport PEN to Penang Island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $85
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Penang Airport Transfer to Georgetown/City Hotel or Resort/Beach Hotel: $18
- Penang Airport(PEN) to Penang Island -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhengzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhengzhou:
- One-Way Private Transfer from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng: $70
- One-Way Private Transfer from Zhengzhou to Luoyang: $80
- Private Transfer from Zhengzhou to Luoyang Longmen Grottoes : $95
- Private Transfer to Guoliang Village and Tunnel from Zhengzhou: $160
- Private Transfer to Shaolin Temple or Dengfeng from Zhengzhou Train station: $132
- Private transfer to Shaolin Temple from Zhengzhou: $108
- Zhengzhou Airport Transfer( Hotel to Airport): $59
- Zhengzhou Special Car Service, Zhengzhou Airport Transfer: $27
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport Chauffeur Transfer , Zhengzhou Airport Transfer : $53
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport Chauffeur Transfer , Zhengzhou Airport Transfer : $65
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport Chauffeur Transfer, Zhengzhou Airport Transfer: $27
- Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport Chauffeur Transfer, Zhengzhou Airport Transfer: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Zhengzhou?
Prices for flights to both Zhengzhou 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 $33Zhengzhou $28
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
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $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
- Dinner at Penang Hill: $102
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhengzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zhengzhou.
- Zhengzhou Erqi Square and Night Markets Private Tour including Dinner: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $49Zhengzhou $8.20
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: $5.37
- 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
- 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
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Admission Ticket: $14
- Entopia Penang Butterfly Farm Admission Ticket: $14
Tours and Activities in Zhengzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Zhengzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kaifeng City Highlights Independant Tour from Zhengzhou: $80
- Private Independent Tour to Shaolin Temple from Zhengzhou: $126
- Private Independent Tour to Guoliangcun from Zhengzhou: $158
- Private Independent Tour to Yuntai Mountain from Zhengzhou: $169
- Independent Tour to Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes from Zhengzhou: $188
- Private Day Tour to Shaolin Temple from Zhengzhou with Flexiable Departure Time: $198
- All inclusive Anyang Yin Xu ruins and Character Museum day tour from Zhengzhou: $209
- Zhengzhou Yellow River Scenic Spots Private Tour : $209
- Private Day Tour to Luoyang Longmen Grottoes from Zhengzhou: $210
- Zhengzhou Private Half-Day Tour: Shaolin Temple & Kungfu Show: $222
- Private Tour to Zhongyue Temple and Shaolin Temple from Zhengzhou: $233
- Private Day Tour to Shaolin Temple and Songyang Academy from Zhengzhou: $233
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $15Zhengzhou $6.32
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 comparing the travel costs between Penang and Zhengzhou, we can see that Penang 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Zhengzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Zhengzhou?
Zhengzhou has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Zhengzhou, 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 Zhengzhou?
Zhengzhou 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 Zhengzhou in the Summer?
Both Zhengzhou and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
In the summer, Penang is around the same temperature as Zhengzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Penang in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhengzhou averages at about 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Zhengzhou. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Zhengzhou during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Zhengzhou receives 215 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhengzhou. It's quite rainy in Penang. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Zhengzhou. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Zhengzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zhengzhou in the Autumn?
Both Zhengzhou and Penang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Penang is generally much warmer than Zhengzhou. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhengzhou fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Zhengzhou. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Zhengzhou 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zhengzhou in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Zhengzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
The weather in Zhengzhou can be very cold. Penang is much warmer than Zhengzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Zhengzhou fluctuates around 1°C (34°F).
In January, Penang usually receives more rain than Zhengzhou. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Zhengzhou 1°C (34°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zhengzhou in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Penang as well as Zhengzhou. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Penang is much warmer than Zhengzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Penang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhengzhou averages at about 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zhengzhou. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In the spring, Penang often gets more sunshine than Zhengzhou. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zhengzhou receives 201 hours of full sun.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Zhengzhou. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zhengzhou receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Zhengzhou 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Zhengzhou and Penang
| Penang | Zhengzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 6 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.