Which place is cheaper, Zurich or Penang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Penang or Zurich?
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 Zurich. 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 Zurich?
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.
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.
-
Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesZurich Prices
Switzerland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $148Zurich $354
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $148, while the average daily cost in Zurich is $354. 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 Zurich in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $57Zurich $192
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $114Zurich $384
Compare Hotels in Penang and Zurich
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Zurich? 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 and Zurich Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Zurich $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Penang
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Penang:
-
Local Bus$1.47
-
Island Ferry$0.59
-
Bus From Airport to George Town$0.66
-
Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
-
Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.34
-
Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Penang Airport Transfer: $15
- Private Departure Transfer to Penang International Airport: $18
- Private Transfer from Penang International Airport to Your Hotel: $18
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $19
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $21
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $21
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $21
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $21
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Penang Airport Transfer - Arrival or Departure: $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
-
City Pass (2)$32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Airport Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Business Car: $93
- Airport Transfer: Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Business Car: $93
- Airport Transfer: Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $99
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City by Luxury Van: $102
- Arrival Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Luxury Van: $99
- Departure Private Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $102
- Departure Transfer from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Private Car/Van: $102
- From Zurich Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer To Zurich Hotel: $88
- Premium Private Transfer Zurich to Luzern or (Vice Versa): $290
- Premium Transfer from Zürich Airport to Zurich city or Zürich city to Airport: $148
- Privat Transfer Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $447
- Private Arrival Transfer: from Zurich Airport to Winterthur: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich 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 dayPenang $66Zurich $121
Typical Food Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Penang:
-
Snack$1.96
-
Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$84
-
Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$71
-
Lassy Juice$1.71
-
Dinner for 2$3.67
-
Street Stall Food$0.69
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.65
-
Italian Lunch (for Two)$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- Penang Food Tour : A Feast That Taste Like History : 17+ Tasting: $48
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang: $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $65
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $65
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak: $94
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $99
- Malay Culinary Journey Cooking Class for the Adventurous Foodie: $102
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
-
Breakfast for 2$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.
- Zurich Food Tour with 10 Local Delicacies, Cheeses & Chocolates: $176
- Taste Zurich – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $187
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $57Zurich $40
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$7.59
-
Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.34
-
Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.49
-
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.45
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Culture, Faith and Trade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of George Town: $5.00
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.92
- Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.15
- Malaysia: TeddyVille Museum Entry Ticket: $8.77
- George Town Penang App Guided Street Art Tour: $8.79
- The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket - Non-Malaysian: $11
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
- Malaysia: Discover Nature's Wonders with Entopia Entry Ticket: $16
- The Top Komtar Penang Observation Deck and Rainbow Skywalk Ticket: $21
- The TOP Penang Rainbow Skywalk and Observatory Deck Entry Ticket: $22
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- Zurich Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.51
- Original Zürich Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.67
- Zurich Old Town Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.87
- Stein am Rhein Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.91
- Zurich Audio Guided Walking Tour 1h45 and 20 audio reviews: $6.92
- Zurich Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- TOP Zurich : Private guided tour with your mobile: $12
- Zurich Historic Old Town Audio Self Guided Tour: $12
- Self-Guided Audio Tour to the Dark Side of Zurich: $13
- Self-Guided Audio City Tour in Zurich: $13
- Historical Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Through the city of 1,000 Fountains: $15
- Guided Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Zurich $33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Penang
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Penang:
-
Beer$1.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Zurich: $38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Zurich, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Zurich is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Penang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Penang 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich than you might in Penang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Zurich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Zurich?
Zurich has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Zurich, 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 Zurich?
Zurich 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 Zurich in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Zurich. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Furthermore, the music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zurich this time of year.
In July, Penang is generally a little warmer than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zurich this time of the year. In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives less sunshine than Zurich during summer. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Penang usually receives more rain than Zurich. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Zurich 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zurich in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Penang as well as Zurich. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Penang is much warmer than Zurich in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Zurich fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Penang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Penang usually gets more rain in October than Zurich. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Zurich 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zurich in the Winter?
Both Zurich and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Zurich in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Zurich can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Zurich. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Zurich averages at about 3°C (37°F).
In January, Penang usually receives less rain than Zurich. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Zurich 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Penang or Zurich in the Spring?
Both Zurich 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. Also, most visitors come to Zurich for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Penang. In the spring, Penang often gets more sunshine than Zurich. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 150 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. Penang usually gets more rain in April than Zurich. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Zurich 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Zurich and Penang
| Penang | Zurich | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.