Which place is cheaper, Alice Springs or Penang?
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 Penang or Alice Springs?
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 Alice Springs. 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 Alice Springs?
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.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs is in the middle of Central Australia and is most famous as a base for exploring the famous rock, Uluru. Alice Springs itself has grown dramatically from what was once a small outpost. The tourist boom began in the early 1980s and the population is now somewhere around 28,000. The city now has all of the necessary facilities to cater to the influx of tourists who swing through to see Uluru. The town is 1500km from Darwin, which is the closest major city. Adelaide is just as far to the south. It's remote location means that costs can be higher than they are elsewhere in Australia. Expect to pay more for anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. When making a reservation for a hotel, do note that the rating scale differs from elsewhere in Australia or in most western countries. The ratings come from the amenities available and have little to do with the actual room quality.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Australia, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesAlice Springs Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Alice Springs $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Alice Springs is $113. 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 Alice Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Alice Springs $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Alice Springs $100
Compare Hotels in Penang and Alice Springs
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Alice Springs? 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 Alice Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Alice Springs $20
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:
- Full-Day Private Transfer in Penang City : $277
- Penang to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $207
- Chauffeur: Penang Island to Singapore Van Transfer: $147
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $140
- Penang City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Penang City to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $107
- Penang to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $107
- Private Half Day Tour to Penang Island with Transfer Included: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs
Also for Alice Springs, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) Coach Transfer: $171
- Uluru to Alice Springs or Alice to Uluru 1-Way Luxe Transfer: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Alice Springs?
Prices for flights to both Alice Springs 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
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Food Meals for one dayPenang $64Alice Springs $42
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.
- Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Penang Food Tour - Georgetown: $62
- Local Street Food Tour in Georgetown Penang : $62
- Eat Like A Local: Penang Street Food Tour: $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
- Private Half Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour: $99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alice Springs
For Alice Springs, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner: $242
- Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner: $246
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Alice Springs $14
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:
- George Town Highlights & Upside Down Museum tours (5 Hours): $67
- Penang City Temple Tour with Penang Hill(Fast Lane) & Kek Lok Si: $147
- 4 Hour Food and Heritage Walking Tour in Penang George Town: $93
- 4-Hour Heritage Walking Tour of Georgetown: $60
- 4-Hour Private Heritage Tour in George Town: $68
- 6 Hours Highlights of Penang Shared Tour : $75
- 6-Hours Penang Private Tour: $169
- 8 Hours of Penang Tour: $60
- All-Inclusive Penang George Town Private Tour: $154
- Asia Camera Museum Admission Ticket: $6.10
- Back of the Bike Street Food Experience – Real Penang!: $88
- Best of Historical George Town Half Day Tour: $80
Tours and Activities in Alice Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alice Springs.
- Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility: $15
- Desert Park Entry Ticket: $26
- Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $27
- Alice Springs Desert Park Nocturnal Tour: $28
- Art Centre Tour in Alice Springs: $50
- West MacDonnell Ranges Half day Tour -Small Group: $100
- From Alice Spring: West MacDonnell Ranges Half-Day Tour: $103
- Alice Springs Airport to West MacDonnell Half-Day Tour : $107
- Red Centre Journey Tour with Morning Tea: $114
- Alice Springs Tour to West MacDonnell Ranges with Lunch: $116
- Red Centre Journey Tour: $116
- West MacDonnell Ranges Tour from Alice Springs: $117
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Alice Springs $17
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Alice Springs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Alice Springs:
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Glass of Wine in Alice Springs$4.58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Penang and Alice Springs, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Alice Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Penang is in Asia and Alice Springs is in Pacific, 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 Alice Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alice Springs 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 Alice Springs.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Alice Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Alice Springs?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Alice Springs. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Alice Springs, 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.