Which place is cheaper, Penang or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Doha or Penang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Penang can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Penang?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesPenang Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Penang $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Penang is $144. 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 Doha and Penang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Penang $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Penang $110
Compare Hotels in Doha and Penang
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Penang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Penang $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $131
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Business Car: $86
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car: $118
- Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $131
- Desert Horse Riding Tour With Transfers From Doha: $152
- Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers: $30
- Doha Airport (DOH) Private Transfer to Doha City Centre/Hotels: $32
- Doha Airport Arrival Departure Transfer to Doha City and Hotel: $34
- Doha Airport Transfer: $99
- Doha Airport Transfer Services with Pickup and Drop Off : $49
- Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
- Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $39
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$1.43
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Island Ferry$0.57
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Bus From Airport to George Town$0.64
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Taxi From Airport to George Town$11
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Motorbike Rental (One Day)$7.13
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$2.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Penang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Penang:
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $146
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $275
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Penang Island - Arrival Private transfer: $19
- Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Penang Airport Transfer ( 24/7): $59
- Penang Airport Transfer - Arrival or Departure: $36
- Penang Balik Pulau Countryside Morning Cycling with Transfers: $33
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang Island hotels to Swettenham Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Penang Island to Penang Airport(PEN) - Departure Private transfer: $19
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Penang?
Prices for flights to both Penang and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Penang $64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Qatar Island District Sightseeing, Boat & Food Tour – 7 Tastings: $144
- Doha Desert Safari Full day With Dinner,Dune Bashing,Sandboarding: $152
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160
- Private Full Day Desert Safari Dinner and Camel Ride in Doha: $190
- Full-Day Desert safari With BBQ Dinner and Camp Activities : $190
- Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $195
- Overnight Desert Safari Adventure:BBQ Dinner & Breakfast Included: $210
- Overnight Desert Safari – Includes BBQ Dinner & Breakfast: $233
- Desert Safari 7 Hours Tour with Dinner and Camp: $270
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $299
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$1.90
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Dinner at The Suffolk House (for 2)$81
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Lunch at Sakae Sushi (for 2)$69
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Lassy Juice$1.66
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Dinner for 2$3.57
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Street Stall Food$0.67
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.52
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Italian Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Penang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Penang.
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Private Half-Day Hawker Trails Food Tour in George Town: $51
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $62
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang: $65
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour: $88
- Authentic Local Food Tour with Scenic Walk: $89
- Malay Culinary Journey Cooking Class for the Adventurous Foodie: $92
- Authentic Indian Penang Cooking Class: $92
- Penang Cooking Class:Dive into Malaysian Cuisine with PenangChiak: $94
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Penang $55
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Doha City Tour in Qatar: $15
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
- Doha Tour App Hidden Gems Game and Big Qatar Quiz: $21
- Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide: $22
- Qatar Sunset Desert Safari: Dune Bashing & Golden Sands Adventure: $30
- Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .: $30
- Picture-Perfect Tour of the City Most Instagrammable Spots: $39
- Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $39
- Doha Highlights Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide : $40
- Moonlight on the Marina A Traditional Dhow Cruise Experience: $42
- Doha Evening Cruise on a Traditional Arabic Dhow: $45
- Doha City Tour: Guided Tour to Souq Waqif, Katara, Pearl Island : $45
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$7.37
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$7.13
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Fort Cornwallis Entrance$0.48
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Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance$2.38
Tours and Activities in Penang
Here are a few actual costs in Penang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Tour of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in George Town: $6.35
- Tech Dome Entrance Ticket: $6.92
- Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket: $7.31
- Tropical Spice Garden Entrance Ticket & Guided Tours: $8.15
- Penang Hill Funicular Ticket: $8.35
- The Vanilla Village Farm Tour by Kairos: $9.39
- Malaysia: Penang Habitat Entry Ticket: $15
- Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Penang Rainbow Skywalk at The Top Komtar Observation Deck Tickets: $22
- Entopia Butterfly and Nature Discovery Park Entry Ticket Penang : $28
- Half-Day Penang Countryside Cycling Tour: $32
- Georgetown Half Day City Tour: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Penang $18
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$1.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Penang, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Penang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha Expensive? and Is Penang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Penang?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Penang. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.
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.