Which place is cheaper, Penang or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Penang can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Penang?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Penang $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Penang is $103. 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 Petra and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Penang $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Penang $98
Compare Hotels in Petra and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Penang? 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: Petra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Penang $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
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-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
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $38
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Penang $33
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
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.Petra $47Penang $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
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: $5.68
- 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
- Entopia Penang Butterfly Farm Admission Ticket: $14
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Penang $15
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 Petra and Penang, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Penang is in Asia, 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Penang?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Penang, 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 Petra or Penang?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Petra or Penang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Penang. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Penang receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Penang during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is a little warmer than Penang in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Petra as well as Penang. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Penang. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Penang. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Petra is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Petra usually receives less rain than Penang. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Petra is generally much colder than Penang. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Petra during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Penang receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Penang. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
Petra is cooler than Penang in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Petra
| Petra | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.