Which place is cheaper, Atami 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 Atami?
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 Atami. 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 Atami?
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.
Atami
Sharing a home with the famous Mount Fuji inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Atami is a Japanese city set on the seaside of the Izu Peninsula. With volcanic hills and natural hot springs, visitors are very much drawn to the unique landscape of the place. There are many hot springs resorts that take advantage of the area's natural features, which have been attracting visitors since the 8th century.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.
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Penang Prices
Malaysia PricesAtami Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPenang $144Atami $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Penang is $144, while the average daily cost in Atami is $108. 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 Atami in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPenang $55Atami $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPenang $110Atami $88
Compare Hotels in Penang and Atami
Looking for a hotel in Penang or Atami? 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 Atami Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Penang $14Atami $37
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:
- Swettenham Pier to Penang Airport(PEN)-Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $58
- Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer: Penang Island to or from Perak: $131
- Private Transfer: Penang International Airport to or from Hotel: $49
- Private Transfer from Swettenham Cruise Terminal to Penang Island: $22
- Private Transfer from Penang Island to Swettenham Cruise Terminal: $22
- Private Transfer : Penang International Airport Departure: $13
- Private Transfer : Penang Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $207
- Private Transfer - Swettenham Cruise Port to Penang Airport (PEN): $22
- Private Transfer - Penang Airport (PEN) to Swettenham Cruise Port: $22
- Private Penang Arrival transfer to Hotel: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Penang or Atami?
Prices for flights to both Atami 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 $64Atami $43
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Penang $55Atami $7.96
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 Atami
For Atami, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Experience Tea Ceremony at a Traditional Japanese Inn : $46
- Japanese Traditional Music Experience: $48
- Odawara Ramen Crawl Experience: Visit 2 Iconic Shops: $52
- 2025 1 Day Winter Sumo Official Provincial Tour at Odawara: $104
- Ninja, Samurai, Odawara Castle Experience: $138
- Odawara Castle and Town Guided Discovery Tour: $138
- Odawara to Hakone Scenic Adventure: $172
- Hakone customized private one day tour: $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPenang $18Atami $5.65
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 Penang and Atami, we can see that Penang is more expensive. And not only is Atami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atami 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 Atami.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Penang Expensive? and Is Atami Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Penang or Atami?
Penang has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Penang and Atami, 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 Penang or Atami?
Atami has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Penang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Penang or Atami in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Penang as well as Atami. Penang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Atami because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Penang is generally around the same temperature as Atami. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 27°C (81°F), and Atami fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Penang this time of the year. In the summer, Penang often gets more sunshine than Atami. Penang gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Atami. Penang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Penang usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Atami. Penang gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPenang 27°C (81°F)Atami 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Penang or Atami in the Autumn?
Both Atami and Penang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Penang throughout the year. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Atami this time of year.
Penang is much warmer than Atami in the autumn. The daily temperature in Penang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Atami fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Penang. In October, Penang usually receives more rain than Atami. Penang gets 340 mm (13.4 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPenang 27°C (81°F)Atami 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Penang or Atami in the Winter?
Both Atami and Penang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Penang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Atami for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Penang is much warmer than Atami. Typically, the winter temperatures in Penang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Atami averages at about 5°C (42°F).
Penang usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Atami. Penang gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPenang 28°C (82°F)Atami 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Penang or Atami in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Penang and Atami. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Penang year-round. Also, many visitors come to Atami in the spring for the beaches.
In April, Penang is generally much warmer than Atami. Daily temperatures in Penang average around 28°C (82°F), and Atami fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Penang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Penang usually receives more sunshine than Atami during spring. Penang gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.
Atami receives a lot of rain in the spring. Penang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Penang usually receives more rain than Atami. Penang gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPenang 28°C (82°F)Atami 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Atami and Penang
| Penang | Atami | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 164 mm (6.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 330 mm (13 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 340 mm (13.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.