Which place is cheaper, Penang or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Penang? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Sandakan or Penang?
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malaysia, and The Best Budget Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $58Penang $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, 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 Sandakan and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Penang $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Penang $98
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $33Penang $12
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 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-Arrival: $25
- Private Economy Penang Airport Transfer-Departure: $29
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $29
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $38
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $19Penang $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Penang $49
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
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
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Penang $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 Sandakan and Penang, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Penang?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan 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 Sandakan 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 Sandakan or Penang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Penang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Penang. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 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 Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Penang during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Penang receives 211 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Penang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Penang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Penang. Sandakan 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. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan usually gets less rain in October than Penang. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Penang receives 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Penang. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Penang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Penang in the Winter?
Both Penang and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Penang. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Penang receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Penang in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Penang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Penang in the Spring?
Both Penang and Sandakan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets less rain in April than Penang. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 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 Sandakan. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Penang. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Penang receives 218 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Penang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Penang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Penang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Penang and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Penang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.