Which place is cheaper, Penang or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Penang, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Phuket or Penang?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, 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 dayPhuket $105Penang $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, 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 Phuket and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Penang $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Penang $98
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Phuket 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: Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Penang $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket’s Top Tours DISCOUNTED with Private Airport Transfer : $209
- Ziplines 28 platforms with Free Transfer RoundTrips: $70
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $140
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $117
- Airport Private Arrival Transfers to Phuket: $45
- Airport Private Departure Transfers from Phuket: $45
- Airport transfer from Phuket to Krabi: $108
- Andamanda Phuket Water Park Ticket Include Transfers: $61
- Arrival Phuket Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Phuket: $38
- Arrival Private Transfers from Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City: $92
- Arrival Transfer Phuket Airport HKT to Talang, Kathu or Muang: $21
- Best ATV Bike and Ziplines Adventure with Transfer : $42
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 Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Penang Airport (PEN): Transfer to Swettenham Cruise Port: $115
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Penang Airport(PEN) to Penang Island -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $125
- Penang Intl Airport (PEN): Transfer to Penang Island hotels: $115
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $22Penang $33
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 3 Dishes Menu): $39
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $44
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Twilight Stylish Sky Set Dinner - The SIS Kata Resort : $54
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $56
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
- Dinner at Penang Hill Including Train Ride: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Penang $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Botanic Garden Admission Ticket: $3.04
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunts and Gamified Tours: $11
- Phuket to Phi Phi Tonsai Ferry by Royal Jet Cruiser with Pickup Service: $13
- Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $14
- The Selfie Experience Phuket Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket Trickeye Museum Day Admission Ticket: $15
- Baan Teelanka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $16
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Original Discovery Tour: $17
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket (Ticket Only): $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: $6.09
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tropical Spice Garden E-Ticket: $7.14
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket - General: $7.18
- TeddyVille Museum Penang Malaysia Entry Ticket: $8.28
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- Wonderfood Museum in Penang Admission Ticket: $8.54
- Admission Ticket for Dark Mansion Glow-in-the-Dark Museum in Penang: $8.80
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- George Town: Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm Entry Ticket: $16
- THE TOP Komtar Penang Skywalk Admission Ticket : $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Penang $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $98
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $98
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
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 Phuket and Penang, we can see that Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Penang?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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 Phuket 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 Phuket or Penang in the Summer?
Both Penang and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Penang. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In July, Phuket usually receives more rain than Penang. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Penang receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Penang. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Penang during summer. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Phuket is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Penang in the Autumn?
Both Penang and Phuket during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Phuket. June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets less rain in October than Penang. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Penang in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Phuket is the dry season. In January, Phuket usually receives less rain than Penang. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Penang in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Penang in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Penang. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year.
June to October in Phuket is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Penang. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the spring. Phuket usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Penang receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Penang. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the spring, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Penang. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Phuket is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Phuket
| Phuket | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.